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City of Duluth, Duluth Fire Department launch water safety buoy

[DULUTH, MN] Duluth Fire Department recently launched a water safety buoy approximately 1000 meters off the shore of Park Point Beach to enhance the ability to forecast rip currents and water safety conditions accurately.

The buoy, which reports data to the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS), measures waves, wind, water temperature, and other data to allows the National Weather Service to better predict the potential for rip currents and other unsafe water conditions.

“This buoy allows Duluth Fire to really enhance our beach flag program by measuring the waves, water turbidity, and temperature, which gives the NWS forecast information more accurately and condition changes as quickly as they come,” said Assistant Fire Chief Brent Consie.

The buoy was purchased with a tourism tax allocation secured by Duluth Parks and Recreation to improve beach-goer safety.

“This buoy is a prime example of the enhanced public safety and of the creativity that can come from the collaborative character of our staff in the cross-departmental work they do every day,” said Mayor Emily Larson.

Buoy data can be viewed at https://seagull.glos.org/map?coords=-92.0754946%2C46.7664495%2C13.7&platform=SPOT-31141C

Beach goers can view up-to-the-minute beach and water conditions before they head out to Park Point Beach at www.parkpointbeach.org.

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