July 13, 1938 Tsunami: Holland, Michigan, United States

Holland, July 13, 1938; A strong westerly squall line thunderstorm crossed Lake Michigan; Meteotsunami “surges” over breakwater, sweeping people off (~100 ft inland); 5 dead (reference #13569)

Wednesday, July 13, 1938 began quietly enough at Ottawa Beach in Holland State Park. Lake Michigan was absolutely calm and the sky was clear at 5:00 a.m. Then, 10 minutes later, the first of many 10-foot waves raced ashore, pushing water 75 to 100 feet farther up the beach than usual. Coast Guard watchmen recorded the odd--and what they assumed was isolated--event. No warning was issued.

By 7:00 a.m., a stillness had returned to the shore and, though the sky was overcast, beachgoers began to gather. While bathers played in the water, a second set of waves, spurred by a strong westerly squall line, had already started its journey from the Wisconsin side of the lake. As the waves traveled east toward Holland, they continued to build in height until--at approximately 3:45 p.m.--they crashed against the breakwater. Surprised by the sudden surge of water, 15 people standing on the manmade wall were forced to cling to a navigational beacon or scramble back onto the breakwater after being swept off. Before the sun would set, this inland tsunami, or "seiche" (pronounced saysh), would take a terrible toll on the shoreline community […]

the seiche had already taken the lives of three others a little farther north. (reference #13570)