MARQUETTE, Mich. – Powerful fall gales are battering Lake Superior tonight, creating hazardous conditions for vessels from Eagle River to Manitou Island and beyond. Winds up to 40 knots and waves reaching seven feet are making navigation dangerous through early Monday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Marquette, a Gale Warning remains in effect until 8 a.m. EDT Monday, followed immediately by a Small Craft Advisory through 8 a.m. Tuesday. Southwest to northwest winds will persist Monday, gusting up to 30 knots and keeping waves between three and six feet.
The advisory zone covers nearshore waters from Eagle River to Point Isabelle, as well as offshore areas between Manitou Island, Marquette, and Grand Marais. Mariners are urged to remain in port or seek safe harbor until conditions ease. Visibility may also be reduced in heavy spray and shifting winds.
Emergency management officials warn that the combination of large waves and gusty winds could damage docks, buoys, and moored vessels. Boaters who must travel should ensure radios and life jackets are accessible and secure all onboard equipment. Those along the shoreline should avoid piers and breakwalls, where rogue waves could sweep people into the cold water.
Conditions are expected to gradually improve by late Monday night as winds weaken and shift north. Calmer weather is likely to return to the Upper Great Lakes by midweek, offering a brief break from this round of turbulent fall marine weather.
