December 2006 Storm on Lake Erie
( All photos are the personal property of Donna M. Rasmussen and not to be used without permission.)
The Following are photographs I took to show the water phenomenon on Lake Erie and the quickness of the storm that came in on December 1st.
On November 30th we had a really strong South Easterly wind at 25Knots which was pushing all the water from the Eastern side of Lake Erie to the Western Basin. This was the lowest I'ld ever seen the water out front of our house since we've lived here. The first set of photos were taken The 30th at 11 AM in the morning.
By12PM the next day ( December 1) the wind started to change direction and I could see the storm front that was heading our way coming across the Lake. The weather was forecasting 40knot southwesterly winds with higher gusts. The water was making its way back to our side of the lake.
By 1PM that afternoon the wind had picked up again and they upgraded our gale to a storm with expected winds up to 50 knots with higher gusts. Lucky for me that later on the wind would switch directly West and we've got alot of protection from the wind that way. The Skies were getting really overcast and the lake was starting to pick up a chop.
You can see how much the water has risen already comparing it to the first image.
2 PM ..stronger winds and cloudier skies overhead..the lake is now getting some good waves.
Can't see any of the rocks from the shoal in front of the house anymore and the rain stopped.
I don't know why but some guy picked this moment to go duck hunting..he was setting up his decoys when all heck broke out. Most of them got blown away down the beach and he picked up the others an hour later..guess he should of listened to the Lake Forecast. Most people who go out on the Lake get in trouble for just that reason. Look what the difference of an hour made.
45 Minutes Later...they've already clocked the wind at 58Knots steady. The sound of the lake is deafing..between the crashing waves and the wind the sound is amazing.
The waves here don't look too big but you have to realize I never get waves in front of the house because of the shoal..I can walk 100' or more in front of the house and not get water above my waist so seeing these waves breaking here made me realize that they must be HUGE out on the Lake.
The water was already all the way up to the bank in front of our house, normally its at least 12-15' down to the water from the bank.
Well it got worse and that was just another 15 or 20 minutes, the wind was starting to switch over now but the waves were coming in pretty good and the wind was getting progressivly stronger..I was so glad at this point that my husbands Ship was tied up to a dock in the St. Clair River safe and sound.
Things were pretty wild at this point and I decided not to venture too far off our deck in fear something could fly around and smack me in the head or something. I could see my neighbors steel framed gazebo was taking a beating...
5:00 the sun was setting , the lights were starting to flicker on and off in the house so I got candles and flashlights ready just incase.
Yep the gazebo I think has seen better days...
The waves were getting bigger even still....I hear that out on the Lake they've been estimated up to 20'!!
9AM the following Day on Dec 2nd the storm is over, and they've lifted the Gale Warning.. The ships who were anchored around the corner in Long Point Bay are now making their way down the Lake to the canal.
That was a wild storm..its still pretty windy out on the Lake and the cold front sure is here with temps only in the 30's but the windchill its like 20..brr!!
And the Neighbors Gazebo? This is what it looks like now...I can only imagine what some other places look like that took a direct hit from that wind!
Hope you enjoyed this journal of the weather here. One of my favorite subjects the weather..and I live in a great place to watch it!