UPDATE: 22 Rescued After Squall Flips 15 Sailboats on Severn River

(UPDATED at 10:40 PM) ANNAPOLIS, MD — Authorities pulled 22 people from the Severn River on Sunday afternoon after a wind gust flipped 15 sailboats near Annapolis, according to Maryland Natural Resources Police.

All people have been accounted for and the victims range in age from between 16 to 70 years old.

Coast Guard Sector Maryland-National Capital Region rescued four people from the water and helped with the recovery of 15 overturned sailboats. Officials received a report from the event manager of Severn Sailing Association reporting 22 people had fallen into the water off of 15 small sailboats during a race at about 2:20 p.m.

According to a report in WBAL-TV, 16 boats overturned when they encountered strong wind gusts. Many people thrown overboard were wearing wet suits.

The Coast Guard launched a 45-foot response boat-medium boat crew from Coast Guard Station Annapolis. Maryland State Police, Anne Arundel County Fire Rescue and Maryland Natural Resources Police also launched to assist.

Once all people in the water were rescued and accounted for, the Coast Guard boat crew began assisting Anne Arundel County Fire Rescue and Severn Sailing Association by recovering overturned sailboats.

Wind speeds at the time of the race were sustained at 24 knots with gusts up to 30 knots.

The Coast Guard urges mariners to exercise caution during forecasted heavy weather.

“The water temperature in the Chesapeake Bay today was 42 degrees, an extremely dangerous temperature for people in the water," said Lt. Cmdr. Sara Wallace, chief of response at Sector Maryland-NCR, in a statement. "If all 22 people participating in the race weren't wearing a personal floatation device along with a wet or dry suit, we may have had a different outcome today. Thanks to the mariners and the quick reaction and communication among agencies, all 22 people were rescued without serious injury."

A high of 63 degrees was in the forecast for the afternoon in Annapolis. Showers and wind gusts of up to 30 miles per hour were also forecast as temperatures dropped.