Lake Superior, 2013

Marine High Wind in Lake Superior, December 15, 2013

December 15, 2013 · NWS MQT · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

West to north storm force winds developed at both Granite Island and Stannard Rock on the 15th in the wake of a strengthening mesolow pressure system over eastern Lake Superior.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS MQT wrote it up.

West to north storm force winds developed at both Granite Island and Stannard Rock on the 15th in the wake of a strengthening mesolow pressure system over eastern Lake Superior.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Marquette, MI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 15, 9:20 AM EST, 2 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 15, 9:20 AM EST, 2 hours before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 15, 9:54 AM EST, 1 hour 26 minutes before
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In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 15, 9:45 AM EST, 1 hour 35 minutes before
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Local storm report, Dec 15, 10:06 AM EST, 1 hour 14 minutes before
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Local storm report, Dec 15, 10:07 AM EST, 1 hour 13 minutes before
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Local storm report, Dec 15, 10:16 AM EST, 1 hour 4 minutes before
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Local storm report, Dec 15, 11:02 AM EST, 18 minutes before
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Local storm report, Dec 15, 11:03 AM EST, 17 minutes before
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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 marine high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Marine High Wind, Eagle River to Manitou Island Mi

When
December 15, 11:20 AM EST to 1:50 PM EST
Where
Eagle River to Manitou Island Mi forecast zone, 49.03 mi S of Manitou Island
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
46.721, -87.412

The observing station at Granite Island Light measured storm force west to north winds through the period with a peak wind gust of 52 knots.

Marine High Wind, Manitou Island to Marquette Mi Beyond 5nm From Shore

When
December 15, 11:20 AM EST to 1:50 PM EST
Where
Manitou Island to Marquette Mi Beyond 5nm From Shore forecast zone, 11.81 mi N of Marquette
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
46.721, -87.412

The observing station at Granite Island Light measured storm force west to north winds through the period with a peak wind gust of 52 knots.

Marine High Wind, Manitou Island to Marquette Mi and W of Grand Marais Mi to Us/Canadian Border Beyond 5nm of Shore

When
December 15, 12:00 PM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where
Manitou Island to Marquette Mi and W of Grand Marais Mi to Us/Canadian Border Beyond 5nm of Shore forecast zone, Stannard Rock Light
Measured
54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by
C-MAN Station
Coordinates
47.180, -87.230

The Stannard Rock Light Station measured a peak north gust to 54 knots.

What these are

Marine High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 48 knots or more over water.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Lake Superior in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather history

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 486861, 486862, 486863.