HOLLAND, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – While some of the Great Lakes are known for producing massive waves, weather forecasts predict all the Great Lakes could be expecting huge waves in excess of 20 feet.
For perspective, the highest measured wave on Lake Superior to date was 29 feet in 2017, and the storms this weekend will produce swells that rival it.
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The National Weather Service issued heavy freezing spray warnings for Lake Michigan, Superior, Huron, and Erie for today. The combination of strong winds and cold air produce freezing spray and large waves according to the weather service.
NOAA issued a weather warning for Friday morning through tomorrow morning on the Great Lakes warning also of the heavy freezing spray but a note of caution to those crossing the turbulent waters.
“Operating a vessel in heavy freezing spray is hazardous,” the NOAA weather warning states. “Freezing spray may render mechanical and electronic components inoperative. Rapid ice accretion on decks and superstructures may result in a catastrophic loss of stability. Very strong winds will cause hazardous waves which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility.”
The alerts also advise watercraft to “remain to port, alter course and/ or secure the vessel for severe conditions.”
In a Tweet warning of wave predictions, the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory anticipates near highest record heights on Lake Superior.
“#Great Lakes wave forecasts are quite impressive for the expected winter storm this holiday weekend! All the lakes’ waves are big, but #LakeSuperior takes the cake, w/ wave forecasts along the southern shore peaking around 26-27 ft the morning of 12/24,” the Tweet said.
Though slightly smaller, Lake Erie could experience southwest winds 35-55 knots with gusts to 60 knots and waves 17-22 feet according to the weather service. Meanwhile, Lake Huron could potentially have winds up to 42 knots and gusts up to 56 knots with the largest waves between 16 and 23 feet tall. Lake Michigan may have winds between 30 and 40 knots in some portions with waves reaching between 14-20 feet high.
The NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory is also anticipating seiches on Lake Erie, that are as Tweet indicates, “off the charts literally.” Seiches occur when strong winds combined with rapid atmospheric pressure changes push water from one end of a body of water to another. When the wind stops the water rebounds from one side of the enclosed area to the other, and can continue to oscillate back and forth for as little as few hours or even days according to the account.
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