A powerful cold front sweeping through the Great Lakes region is generating a significant storm surge on Lake Erie, creating a dramatic phenomenon where strong winds are pushing water from the western basin to the eastern end of the lake.
According to David Marsalek, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Cleveland, the event is “one of the strongest we have had in a while,” with the potential to shift 3 to 4 feet of water eastward.
The effect is starkly visible on the western shoreline. In Port Clinton, Ohio, the Jet Express Ferry company shared photos of a dramatically receded waterline, revealing a vast expanse of exposed lakebed. This displacement is being driven by sustained southwesterly winds of 40 to 46 mph, which align with the lake’s west-to-east orientation.
A low water advisory is in effect for western Lake Erie until 4 a.m. Friday, warning that the drop in depth could pose a hazard to marine navigation. Meanwhile, the eastern basin near Buffalo is experiencing the opposite effect, with forecasts calling for waves building up to 24 feet.
Experts note that this phenomenon is more common in shallower bodies of water. “The effectiveness of the wind to create these large coastal displacements is a function of how deep the lake is,” said Jay Austin, a professor at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. “Shallow lakes are more prone to that than a deep lake like Superior or Ontario.”
This type of event can sometimes lead to a seiche, where the displaced water sloshes back, creating a large, fast-moving wave. A deadly seiche on Lake Michigan in 1954 swept eight people to their deaths in Chicago. However, Marsalek stated that a seiche is not anticipated in this instance, as the winds are expected to decrease and shift direction gradually, allowing the water to return to the western basin slowly.
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