FRIDAY 9 a.m. UPDATE: Please see the attached Boatnerd AIS images for vesels at anchor on the St. Marys River Friday morning.
ORIGINAL REPORT: As a powerful fall storm system brings widespread rain and potentially hazardous winds to Michigan, with gale warnings issued for all Great Lakes waters surrounding the state, some vessels have sought shelter to wait out the storm. On the hook Thursday evening in Goulais Bay , on the Canadian side above the Soo Locks, was the Two Harbors-bound James R. Barker. Above DeTour were the saltie Charlie (with a Burns Harbor destination), Flevoborg
and Indiana Harbor (headed to Gary). On northern Lake Michigan, Great Republic, WIlfred Sykes, Herbert C. Jackson and American Integrity, all bound to southern Lake Michigan ports, were at anchor.
Strong northerly winds will develop Friday as the storm system deepens while moving through the Lower Great Lakes. Lake Superior could see sustained winds near gale force with gusts reaching 45 to 50 mph Friday morning, creating significant wave heights between 15 and 20 feet along southern lakeshores. On Lake Michigan, northwest winds will quickly ramp up between 35 and 40 mph Friday with waves building between five and eight feet. Gale watches are in effect for all Michigan waters of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron from Friday morning through Friday night. Land areas across Michigan can expect wind gusts in the 30 to 40 mph range Friday afternoon.
Temperatures will drop significantly behind the cold front. Highs Friday will only reach the upper 40s to low 50s across most of the state, with some areas experiencing near-steady temperatures through the day. Friday night into Saturday morning will bring the coldest conditions, with lows dropping into the mid to low 20s across interior locations. Some lakeshores may reach freezing for the first time this fall season, with frost and freeze conditions likely Saturday morning.
NWS, Boatnerd AIS and MLive
Lower St. Marys River
Goulais Bay
