Duluth, Minnesota – Chilly air moving into northern Wisconsin and Minnesota could help trigger waterspouts over Lake Superior on Sunday, with the greatest risk along the South Shore from Saxon Harbor through the Apostle Islands.
According to the National Weather Service in Duluth, conditions are lining up for fair-weather waterspouts—non-tornadic funnels that form when cool air flows over warmer lake water, typically aided by a nearby low-pressure system or weak front. The chance of development sits at 10–20% during the day Sunday, especially in nearshore waters west of the Apostle Islands.
While not usually dangerous over open water, waterspouts can capsize small boats and pose risks to paddlers or anglers. If you’re boating, officials urge you to steer away at a 90-degree angle to the funnel’s path. If any funnel appears to be moving toward land, seek shelter immediately.
Photos from past events show these spouts forming as dark spots on the lake before spiraling into dramatic vertical funnels. The NWS encourages anyone spotting a waterspout or its early stages to take a photo and report it.
More updates are possible through Sunday evening as cooler air continues spilling into the region.
