Waves could crack 20 feet on Lake Michigan today

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The National Weather Service says a low-pressure system and strong winds should kick up some notable waves over the next few days on Lake Michigan, including some that could potentially break 20 feet.

Sign up for the Storm Team 8 daily forecast newsletter

The National Weather Service updated its marine forecast Thursday morning. Winds could reach up to 45 knots, triggering a gale warning for Lake Michigan.

The warning splits the lake into two regions, a hypothetical line between Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and Pentwater, Michigan. To the north, waves Thursday should measure between 7 and 10 feet, with some reaching up to 13 feet. To the south, waves could build up to 12 and 16 feet, potentially peaking at 21 feet.

According to the NWS, waves should stay strong for the next several days, but they will be the strongest on Thursday and Friday.

Looking back: Grand Haven’s deadly 1929 meteotsunami

In the southern region, waves should temper down to the 7 to 10-foot range Thursday night and pick back up Friday to between 10 and 14 feet.

Despite the warning, weather watchers shouldn’t expect any 21-footers to come crashing over West Michigan’s piers.

The marine forecast focuses on waters more than five nautical miles off the shoreline. While the waves will still be elevated, it’s highly unlikely they will be at that height by the time they reach the shore. Wind direction, topography and the shallower waters tend to slow down waves on their approach.

The Nelson: 125 years later, one of Lake Superior’s darkest tales retold

According to the NWS, the largest recorded wave on record for Lake Michigan was 23 feet, captured by a mid-lake buoy about 40 miles east of Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sept. 30, 2011. But closer to shore, those waves measured in around 17.6 feet.

That’s not to say they can’t happen. Notably, to meteotsunami swept into Grand Haven on July 4, 1929, with one wave estimated at 20 feet, and killed 10 people.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.