Weather Bomb

[GordMay]

The Minnesota State Climatology Office reported that “it appears that the minimum pressure, of 955.2 millibars, or 28.21 inches of mercury, at 5:13 p.m. Tuesday ... measured at Bigfork is the new record low pressure for a non-tropical storm in the Continental U.S. (excluding tornadoes).”

For comparison, they also noted that the lowest pressure recorded in the “Edmund Fitzgerald storm” was 28.95 inches, and the lowest pressure record in the Armistice Day Storm (Nov. 11/12, 1940) was 28.55 inches.

This storm also set local records for low pressure at Duluth and International Falls, and a new Wisconsin state record set at Superior, which recorded a reading of 961.3 millibars, or 28.39 inches of mercury, at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday.

In general, the lower the pressure, the stronger the storm. A reading of 960 millibars is more or less comparable to a Category 2 or 3 hurricane.

A ship reported 61 mph winds in the open waters of western Lake Superior, and, just east of Grand Portage, the Rock of Ages observation site on Isle Royale recorded a sustained 68 mph wind at 3 a.m. Tuesday, with gusts to 78 mph. Significant wave heights up to 18.7 feet also were recorded at the western mid-lake buoy on Lake Superior.

Below: Visible satellite image of the October 26, 2010 superstorm taken at 5:32pm EDT

[capn_billl]

Glad I'm not on the great lakes. It even looks like a hurricane.

[knottybuoyz]

Spray towers over the 57-foot-tall Ludington Lighthouse in Ludington, Mich., on Tuesday as wind gusts reached 64 mph. (Jeff Kiessel / Ludington Daily News / AP) Observation Hill | Northland weather information, photos and history

[Southern Star]

Nowhere near comparable, of course, but we've been able to hear a non-stop rumble from Lake Ontario the last couple of nights in our backyard - and we are a block away from the water!

Brad

[Capt Phil]

Hey, Gord... what kind of fetch would produce the 18.7 foot wave in Lake Superior? That must be some kind of a record for the great lakes! Capt Phil

[zeehag]

wow ..weathergods mad at michigan?? what they do wrong except make cars??

looks like is a good time not ot be there-- be safe, folks-- dont go sailing yet....winds toooo big to make that size wave in that lake.....goood luck.

[Ben M-P]

Wow, Glad I'm not sailing on the lakes (or a light keeper for that matter) beautiful pictures though.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Capt Phil

Hey, Gord... what kind of fetch would produce the 18.7 foot wave in Lake Superior? That must be some kind of a record for the great lakes! Capt Phil

According to ➥ Lake Superior Great Lakes Facts and Stats

Lake Superior’s Maximum Recorded Wave Height was 31 feet.
The length of the lake is 350 miles.
The width of the lake is 160 miles.

Accounts from the S.S. “Authur M. Anderson” claimed 35 foot waves, the night (Nov. 10, 1975) the S.S. “Edmund Fitzgerald” sank.
I’ve personally been out in 15 - 18 footers, during a gale (±35-40 Kts), with a 12 hour fetch of about 125 - 150 miles.

It's possible that waves over 50 ft. in height might rarely occur on Lake Superior.

[Capt Phil]

And I always thought the Great Lakes were relatively tame compared with the ocean. Thanks for the info...

[Blue Stocking]

The "witch of November", eh Gord?
Beating into square waves even on the Georgian Bay is no fun.

[hummingway]

Looks like the pressure is rising though the storm is supposed to continue tomorrow. At least it's not blowing snow yet.

That grey stuff that passes for fall weather out here lifted for a bit yesterday and we could see fresh snow on the mountain tops around Howe Sound. Me thinks winter is on its way.

[Connemara]

Originally Posted by Capt Phil

And I always thought the Great Lakes were relatively tame compared with the ocean. Thanks for the info...

Mostly, they are, but -- to quote Gordie Lightfoot -- don't take the Lakes for granted.

You can get some big wind and big water. And even when the waves are relatively small, they have a very short period, compared with the sea. Bouncy.


Connemara

[highseas]

Some of the skihills in BC's interior are ready to open now.

[svsanuk]

This photo is amazing!

[knottybuoyz]

I sailed on Superior aboard the CCGS Samuel Risley for 6 years and was recently recounting a story about one trip across the lake during a storm. It was late November or early December ('88 I think) and we were running down the lake towards Batchawanna Bay being chased by 25 footers and the ship started to ice up. Most of the crew were in their bunks in their survival suits hugging their lifejackets praying we get to see the next sunrise. The ship developed a list as the ice built up on the ship. The Chief Engineer estimated we had over 600 tonnes of ice on the decks. It took the deck crew the better part of three days to clear it all off.

I've never seen 35 footers on Superior but crossing the lake in early December '89 to respond to the grounding of the USCG Mesquite. Probably 20 footers taken right on the beam all the way across the lake. I'm sure there's always the possibility of rogue waves there too.