Marine Strong Wind in Lake Superior
Every marine strong wind event the National Weather Service has filed in Lake Superior, year by year, with the most significant episodes. Non-thunderstorm winds of 34 to 47 knots over water.
The most significant on the map
The most significant marine strong wind episodes in Lake Superior.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 5
- Deaths
- 8
- Injuries
- 1
- Damage
- $5,000
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Superior, August 30, 2018A family of five fell into Lake Superior when their kayak overturned in rough water. The father and three children tried swimming to shore but were found deceased due to hypothermia. The mother was found alive with the kayak. Everyone was wearing life jackets.
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Superior, December 23, 2014Waves as high as 6 feet washed a man into the lake as he was sitting on a rock along the shore of Lake Superior at Bluefin Bay Resort. He was wearing swimming trunks as he had just exited a nearby sauna.
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Superior, August 23, 2008Strong west winds gusting in excess of 30 knots at times whipped up high waves over Grand Traverse Bay on Lake Superior on the 23rd. The high waves sank a 16-foot fishing boat which claimed the life of a Laurium man.
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Superior, September 30, 2019A 21-foot aluminum boat exited the Superior Entry and entered Lake Superior the morning of the 30th. Waves of 2 to 4 feet swamped the boat and then capsized it, sending the three occupants into the water.
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Superior, August 21, 2021Wind gusts of 20 to 25 knots lead to waves of 3 to 4 feet along the Bayfield Peninsula during the afternoon of the 21st. A group of 11 kayakers were caught in the 3 to 4 foot waves and many capsized and had to be rescued by the National Park Service.
More
Marine Strong Wind everywhereEvery kind of event in Lake Superior
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 2026-09-24.