Gale force winds so intense they could match or exceed the level that sunk the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975 are expected across the Great Lakes on Dec. 29 and continue on through the night.
The National Weather Service in Marquette, Michigan, has issued storm and gale warnings for portions of Lake Superior until 10 p.m. for Monday, Dec. 29. In Milwaukee, the Weather Service’s office has issued a gale warning for Lake Michigan until midnight Monday.
National Weather Service meteorologist Cameron Miller told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel the “highest wave activity” in Lake Superior is expected throughout Monday morning.
“Those waves look to remain elevated at least into Tuesday morning … and then taper off through Tuesday,” Miller said.
Early Monday morning, winds of about 69 mph were reported both west and east of Marquette, The Detroit Free Press reported, generating waves an average of 22 to 27 feet. Occasional waves could reach up to 34 feet in ice-free areas, and perhaps exceed the highest ever recorded on Lake Superior.
The November 1975 storm that sunk the Edmund Fitzgerald saw winds up to 75 mph that produced waves from 16 to 18 feet, according to the NWS Marquette office. However, in the ship’s final hours, the storm reached near hurrican force, with waves of 25 to 35 feet or more.
The Weather Service’s Milwaukee office said winds on Lake Michigan could produce waves as high as 8 feet. Northwest winds from Sheboygan to the North Point light house could reach up to 45 mph throughout Dec. 29, and could gust up to storm force, between 55 to 63 mph, over the northern half of the lake near the Michigan state shoreline.
“The winds are going to ease going into tonight, but they’ll still remain gales into early Tuesday,” Miller said.
A storm warning remains in effect until 6 a.m. Tuesday for all open waters on Lake Michigan.
Miller noted freighters are typically the only vessels on open waters during this time of year. However, the National Weather Service urges mariners to alter any plans to avoid these conditions, including remaining in port, securing vessels and seeking safe harbor.
The Weather Service has also issued a winter weather advisory for all of Wisconsin south of Wisconsin Dells. It lasts through around noon for southwestern Wisconsin on Dec. 29 and until 6 p.m. for the southeast part of the state.
Wisconsin weather radar
Brandi Addison and Kelli Arseneau contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Great Lakes storm could produce highest waves on Superior ever recorded
Reporting by Cailey Gleeson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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