All docks are vulnerable to bad weather. The powerful storms of spring and summer storms at Lake of the Ozarks have been known to flip a dock completely upside-down... while leaving neighboring docks in the cove unscathed.

Strong winds can rip a dock from its anchoring any time of the year. During the deepest cold of winter, as coves freeze over, docks without deicers are threatened by the accumulating ice around them. And with the annual winter drawdown—when Ameren drops the Lake level from its full pool level of 660 to about 654 feet of elevation—dock cables can endure immense strain.

Heavy snow, however is among a dock's worst enemies, and Lake of the Ozarks dock owners discovered how true that was in 2011, when "Snowpocalypse" dumped upwards of two feet of snow across the Lake area amid blizzard conditions over multiple days. Many docks couldn't handle the weight, and capsized along with the boat lifts and boats inside. Five years earlier, the snow and ice storms of 2006 also sunk boats and docks alike all over the Lake of the Ozarks.

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Depending on a dock's weight and flotation, few docks are impervious to heavy snow: it's just a matter of how much it will take to sink it. Many docks will weather the up-to-seven inches of snow expected to fall at the Lake on Wednesday just fine. But as the snow begins to accumulate, dock owners would be wise to keep an eye on their dock—or, if they're away and don't have a dock security camera, have a neighbor take a look.

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There's often little recourse if your dock begins to sink under the weight of snow, other than a brush on a long pole that can perhaps provide some relief. (Reminder: if you go out to the dock ramp or dock in the winter, always wear a life jacket! Even excellent swimmers can drown quickly in frigid water.) Some dock owners have been known to climb atop the dock roof to clear off the snow, but especially in slick conditions, that's hardly worth the risk of a fall. Dock owners' best bet is to simply make sure their dock—and everything inside it—is completely insured. Plan for the worst, hope for the best, and then enjoy the picturesque view of the Lake blanketed in fresh snowfall. Boating season will be here before you know it!


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