Lake Superior, 2017

Marine High Wind in Lake Superior, December 5, 2017

December 5, 2017 · NWS MQT · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

Storm force westerly winds impacted all of Lake Superior early December as a strong low pressure system tracked across the region.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

Storm force westerly winds impacted all of Lake Superior early December as a strong low pressure system tracked across the region.

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 4, 6:48 PM EST, 10 hours 12 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 4, 6:48 PM EST, 10 hours 12 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 4, 4:21 PM EST, 12 hours 39 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Marquette MI
421 PM EST Mon Dec 4 2017

MIZ001-003-052130-
Keweenaw-Northern Houghton-
421 PM EST Mon Dec 4 2017

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western Upper
Michigan.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

Isolated thunderstorms are expected tonight.

Strong west winds up to 60 mph late tonight may lead to downed
tree limbs and power outages.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

Strong west winds of 50 to 60 mph will be possible through the day
on Tuesday. These strong winds will also result in large waves on
the western shoreline of the Keweenaw Peninsula which will lead
to beach erosion and lakeshore flooding Tuesday and Tuesday night.
See the latest winter weather message and and lakeshore hazard
message for complete details.

Moderate to heavy lake effect snow and blowing snow Tuesday
through Wednesday will create hazardous driving conditions.
Blizzard conditions are possible on the Keweenaw Peninsula Tuesday
afternoon into early Wednesday. See the latest winter weather
message for details.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather spotters are encouraged to submit reports of wind damage,
snowfall and low visibilities to the National Weather Service in
Marquette. The public may also submit reports through our webpage
or Facebook page or on Twitter.

MIZ002-004>007-009>014-084-085-052130-
Ontonagon-Baraga-Marquette-Alger-Luce-Gogebic-Iron-Dickinson-
Menominee-Delta-Southern Schoolcraft-Southern Houghton-
Northern Schoolcraft-
421 PM EST Mon Dec 4 2017 /321 PM CST Mon Dec 4 2017/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western Upper
Michigan and central Upper Michigan.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

Isolated thunderstorms are expected tonight.

Strong west winds gusting to 55 mph are possible late tonight.
Sporadic tree damage and power outages are possible. See the
latest weather message for complete details.

High waves and minor beach erosion are expected tonight into
early Tuesday along the Lake Michigan beaches of Schoolcraft
county.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

Strong gusty winds may linger through the day on Tuesday with
gusts upwards of 50 mph. Sporadic tree damage and power outages
are possible. See the weather message for details.

Late Tuesday through Wednesday moderate to heavy lake effect snow
will develop in the west to northwest wind snow belts. The
combination of gusty winds and accumulating snow will make for
difficult travel across the far west Tuesday afternoon through
Wednesday. See the latest winter weather message for complete
details. East of Marquette, moderate lake effect snow is possible
late Wednesday and may make for difficult travel at times.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather spotters are encouraged to submit reports of wind damage,
to the National Weather Service in Marquette. The public may also
submit reports through our webpage or Facebook page or on
Twitter.

LSZ162-240>251-263>267-052130-
Lake Superior west of a line from Saxon Harbor WI to Grand
Portage MN beyond 5NM-Saxon Harbor WI to Black River MI-
Black River to Ontonagon MI-
Ontonagon to Upper Entrance of Portage Canal MI-
Upper Entrance of Portage Canal to Eagle River MI-
Eagle River to Manitou Island MI-
Manitou Island to Point Isabelle MI-
Point Isabelle to Lower Entrance of Portage Canal MI-
Lower Entrance of Portage Canal To Huron Islands MI Including
Keweenaw and Huron Bays-Huron Islands to Marquette MI-
Marquette to Munising MI-Munising to Grand Marais MI-
Grand Marais to Whitefish Point MI-
Lake Superior from Saxon Harbor WI to Upper Entrance to Portage
Canal MI 5NM off shore to the US/Canadian border including Isle
Royale National Park-
Lake Superior from Upper Entrance to Portage Canal to Manitou
Island MI 5NM off shore to the US/Canadian Border-
Lake Superior West of Line from Manitou Island to Marquette MI
Beyond 5NM from shore-
Lake Superior East of a line from Manitou Island to Marquette MI
and West of a line from Grand Marais MI to the US/Canadian Border
Beyond 5NM from shore-
Lake Superior from Grand Marais MI to Whitefish Point MI 5NM off
shore to the US/Canadian border-
421 PM EST Mon Dec 4 2017 /321 PM CST Mon Dec 4 2017/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Eastern Lake
Superior...Central Lake Superior and Western Lake Superior.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

West to southwest storm force winds to 50 knots are expected late
tonight. See the latest marine weather message for details.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

Westerly storm force winds of 50 to 55 knots are expected over
most of Lake Superior Tuesday and Tuesday night. West to
northwest gales to 40 knots will continue on Lake Superior
Wednesday into Wednesday night. See the latest marine weather
message for details.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

The need for weather spotter reports is not anticipated at this
time.

LMZ221-248-250-052130-
Green Bay North of line from Cedar River MI to Rock Island
Passage-Seul Choix Point to Point Detour MI-
5NM East of a line from Fairport MI to Rock Island Passage-
421 PM EST Mon Dec 4 2017

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Northern Lake
Michigan.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

South gales to 40 knots will shift to southwest gales to 45 knots
late tonight. See the latest marine message and nearshore forecast
for further details.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

Southwest to west gales of 45 knots Tuesday will diminish below
gales by early Wednesday morning. See the latest marine message
and nearshore forecast for further details.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

The need for weather spotter reports is not anticipated at this
time.

Ritzman

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

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

When
December 5, 5:00 AM EST to 5:10 AM 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
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
C-MAN Station
Coordinates
47.180, -87.230

Storm force winds were observed on December 5th at the Stannard Rock Platform. The peak sustained winds during this event were measured at 60mph at times. Persistent wind gusts measured during this event ranged from 57mph to 68 mph. A couple of peak gust did exceed 70mph, one measured in at 71mph around 10am EST on 12/5 and the other measured in at 75mph around 6:33pm EST.

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

When
December 5, 5:00 AM EST to 5:10 AM EST
Where
Manitou Island to Marquette Mi Beyond 5nm From Shore forecast zone, 23.65 mi SE of Manitou Island
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
C-MAN Station
Coordinates
47.180, -87.230

Storm force winds were observed through December 5th at the Stannard Rock platform. The peak sustained winds during this event were measured at 60mph at times. Persistent wind gusts measured during this event ranged from 57mph to 68 mph. A couple of peak gust did exceed 70mph, one measured in at 71mph around 10am EST on 12/5 and the other measured in at 75mph around 6:33pm EST.

Marine High Wind, Grand Marais Mi to Whitefish Point Mi 5nm Offshore to the Us/Canadian Border

When
December 5, 5:00 AM EST to 5:10 AM EST
Where
Grand Marais Mi to Whitefish Point Mi 5nm Offshore to the Us/Canadian Border forecast zone, 66.57 mi W of Caribou Island
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
C-MAN Station
Coordinates
47.180, -87.230

Storm force winds were observed on December 5th at the Stannard Rock Platform. The peak sustained winds during this event were measured at 60mph at times. Persistent wind gusts measured during this event ranged from 57mph to 68 mph. A couple of peak gust did exceed 70mph, one measured in at 71mph around 10am EST on 12/5 and the other measured in at 75mph around 6:33pm EST.

Marine High Wind, Upper Entrance of Portage Canal to Manitou Island Mi 5nm Offshore to Us/Canadian Border

When
December 5, 6:00 AM EST to 6:15 AM EST
Where
Upper Entrance of Portage Canal to Manitou Island Mi 5nm Offshore to Us/Canadian Border forecast zone, Passage Island Light
Measured
47 kt (54 mph) measured gust
Reported by
C-MAN Station
Coordinates
48.220, -88.370

Measured wind gusts of 54 to 60mph were observed during this event.

Marine High Wind, Saxon Harbor Wi to Upper Entrance of Portage Canal Mi 5nm Offshore to Us/Canadian Border Inc Isle Royal Np

When
December 5, 8:00 AM EST to 8:15 AM EST
Where
Saxon Harbor Wi to Upper Entrance of Portage Canal Mi 5nm Offshore to Us/Canadian Border Inc Isle Royal Np forecast zone, Upper Entrance Portage Canal
Measured
47 kt (54 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
47.200, -88.700

Measured storm force wind gusts began around 8am EST. The maximum measured wind gust during this event at PCLM4 was 50mph around 3:10pm EST.

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 2017Every state in 2017This 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: 729602, 729652, 729653, 729603, 729604.