The Weather in November 1975
On November 8, 1975, a storm was generated over the
Oklahoma Panhandle. By 0700 on November 9, the storm was centered over
south-central Kansas and the National Weather Service (NWS) predicted that the
storm would travel in a northeasterly direction and pass just south of Lake
Superior by 1900 on November 10.
At 1300 on November 9, the storm was centered over
the northeast corner of Kansas and the NWS predicted that the storm would shift
to a more northerly direction, pass over Lake Superior east of Michipicoten
Island, and by 1900 on November 10 be over James Bay,
Canada.
At 1900 on November 9, the NWS issued gale warnings (expected winds from 34 to 47 knots) for all of Lake Superior. Winds in the eastern half of the lake were predicted to be "east to northeast, increasing to 25 to 37 knots during the night, and northeasterly by Monday afternoon (November 10), waves 5 to 10 feet." At 2239, on November 9, the forecast was revised to "easterly winds 32 to 42 knots, becoming southeasterly Monday morning, and west to southwest 35 to 45 knots Monday afternoon, rain and thunderstorms, waves 5 to 10 feet increasing to 8 to 15 feet Monday."
At 0100 on November 10, the storm was located over central Wisconsin, had a minimum barometic pressure of 29.24 inches of mercury and was moving at an average speed of 29 knots. At 0100 on November 10, the FITZGERALD was about 20 miles south of Isle Royal and reported winds from 030 T at 52 knots and waves of 10 feet.
At 0200 on November 10, NWS issued a storm warning (expected winds over 48 knots) predicting "northeast winds 35 to 50 knots, becoming northwesterly 28 to 38 knots, waves 8 to 15 feet."
At 0700 on November 10, the FITZGERALD was about 45 miles north of Copper Harbor, Michigan, and reported winds from 050 T at 35 knots and waves of 10 feet.
At 1034 on November 10, the NWS predicted "north to northwest winds 32 to 48 knots this afternoon becoming northwesterly 25 to 48 knots tonight and westerly 20 to 30 knots Tuesday, waves 8 to 16 feet decreasing Tuesday.’’
At 1300 on November 10, the storm center had crossed Lake Superior to the west of Michipicoten Island and was over White River, Ontario. At 1300 on November 10, the ANDERSON was 20 miles northwest of Michipicoten Island and reported winds from 150 T at 20 knots, waves of 12 feet; the M/V SIMCOE was 15 miles to the southwest of the ANDERSON and reported winds from 270 T at 44 knots and waves of 7 feet. At the same time, Stannard Rock Weather Station reported winds from the west—northwest at 50 knots, gusting to 59 knots, and the Whitefish Point Station reported winds from the south—southwest at 19 knots, gusting to 34 knots.
At 1639, on November 10, the NWS predicted for Eastern Lake Superior: "Northwest winds 38 to 52 knots with gusts to 60 knots early tonight and northwesterly winds 25 to 35 knots diminishing Tuesday, waves 8 to 16 feet tonight, decreasing Tuesday."
At 1900, on November 10, as the storm center passed over the southern tip of James Bay, Canada, the ANDERSON reported winds from 3000 T at 50 knots, waves of 16 feet, and Stannard Rock reported wind west—northwest (292.50 T) at 40 knots, gusting to 65 knots. The highest winds recorded by Stannard Rock were west—northwest at 56 knots gusting to 66 knots at 1700 on November 10.
The log of the ANDERSON shows the following on November 10:
1. At 1350, just north of Michipicoten Island, the winds were northwest by west at 5 knots.
2. At 1445, west of Michipicoten Island, the winds were northwest at 42 knots.
3. At 1520, just south of Michipicoten Island, the winds were northwest at 43 knots.
4. At 1652, north east of Caribou Island, the winds were northwest at 52 knots.
The master of the ANDERSON testified that 10 or 12 miles north of Caribou Island, the seas were running 12 to 18 feet, and south of Caribou Island, the seas were running 18 to 25 feet. He further testified that he observed winds gusts of 70 or 75 knots.
A NWS meteorologist testified that before the FITZGERALD sank, the average sustained wind speed was 45 knots from the northwest for a period of 6 to 7 hours and that these conditions would produce waves with a significant height of 15 feet. He also testified that there are usually 4 or 5 intense storms on the Great Lakes during the fall to spring shipping seasons. A storm of the intensity of the one recorded on November 10 would not occur every year; however, more intense storms have been recorded on the Great Lakes.
At 1900 on November 9, the NWS issued gale warnings (expected winds from 34 to 47 knots) for all of Lake Superior. Winds in the eastern half of the lake were predicted to be "east to northeast, increasing to 25 to 37 knots during the night, and northeasterly by Monday afternoon (November 10), waves 5 to 10 feet." At 2239, on November 9, the forecast was revised to "easterly winds 32 to 42 knots, becoming southeasterly Monday morning, and west to southwest 35 to 45 knots Monday afternoon, rain and thunderstorms, waves 5 to 10 feet increasing to 8 to 15 feet Monday."
At 0100 on November 10, the storm was located over central Wisconsin, had a minimum barometic pressure of 29.24 inches of mercury and was moving at an average speed of 29 knots. At 0100 on November 10, the FITZGERALD was about 20 miles south of Isle Royal and reported winds from 030 T at 52 knots and waves of 10 feet.
At 0200 on November 10, NWS issued a storm warning (expected winds over 48 knots) predicting "northeast winds 35 to 50 knots, becoming northwesterly 28 to 38 knots, waves 8 to 15 feet."
At 0700 on November 10, the FITZGERALD was about 45 miles north of Copper Harbor, Michigan, and reported winds from 050 T at 35 knots and waves of 10 feet.
At 1034 on November 10, the NWS predicted "north to northwest winds 32 to 48 knots this afternoon becoming northwesterly 25 to 48 knots tonight and westerly 20 to 30 knots Tuesday, waves 8 to 16 feet decreasing Tuesday.’’
At 1300 on November 10, the storm center had crossed Lake Superior to the west of Michipicoten Island and was over White River, Ontario. At 1300 on November 10, the ANDERSON was 20 miles northwest of Michipicoten Island and reported winds from 150 T at 20 knots, waves of 12 feet; the M/V SIMCOE was 15 miles to the southwest of the ANDERSON and reported winds from 270 T at 44 knots and waves of 7 feet. At the same time, Stannard Rock Weather Station reported winds from the west—northwest at 50 knots, gusting to 59 knots, and the Whitefish Point Station reported winds from the south—southwest at 19 knots, gusting to 34 knots.
At 1639, on November 10, the NWS predicted for Eastern Lake Superior: "Northwest winds 38 to 52 knots with gusts to 60 knots early tonight and northwesterly winds 25 to 35 knots diminishing Tuesday, waves 8 to 16 feet tonight, decreasing Tuesday."
At 1900, on November 10, as the storm center passed over the southern tip of James Bay, Canada, the ANDERSON reported winds from 3000 T at 50 knots, waves of 16 feet, and Stannard Rock reported wind west—northwest (292.50 T) at 40 knots, gusting to 65 knots. The highest winds recorded by Stannard Rock were west—northwest at 56 knots gusting to 66 knots at 1700 on November 10.
The log of the ANDERSON shows the following on November 10:
1. At 1350, just north of Michipicoten Island, the winds were northwest by west at 5 knots.
2. At 1445, west of Michipicoten Island, the winds were northwest at 42 knots.
3. At 1520, just south of Michipicoten Island, the winds were northwest at 43 knots.
4. At 1652, north east of Caribou Island, the winds were northwest at 52 knots.
The master of the ANDERSON testified that 10 or 12 miles north of Caribou Island, the seas were running 12 to 18 feet, and south of Caribou Island, the seas were running 18 to 25 feet. He further testified that he observed winds gusts of 70 or 75 knots.
A NWS meteorologist testified that before the FITZGERALD sank, the average sustained wind speed was 45 knots from the northwest for a period of 6 to 7 hours and that these conditions would produce waves with a significant height of 15 feet. He also testified that there are usually 4 or 5 intense storms on the Great Lakes during the fall to spring shipping seasons. A storm of the intensity of the one recorded on November 10 would not occur every year; however, more intense storms have been recorded on the Great Lakes.
Posted: Sat - December 11, 2004 at 09:48 PM
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Published On: Dec 11, 2004 09:48 PM
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Published On: Dec 11, 2004 09:48 PM