A powerful fall storm system will bring widespread rain and potentially hazardous winds to Michigan beginning Thursday afternoon, with gale warnings issued for all Great Lakes waters surrounding the state. 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 and MLive

THUNDER BAY, ON – “Northern Ontario” and “exotic” aren’t two things that pop into the minds of residents. But for international travelers, including visitors from the U.S., the Great Lakes evoke something mystical and alluring. The rugged Canadian Shield whiskered with the Boreal Forest can be just as exotic as a Brazilian rainforest or Swiss Alps when you don’t see it every day.

That’s part of the reason why Great Lakes cruises have really taken off in the last several years. Expedition cruises cater to generally older, affluent passengers who value tucked-away adventures without sacrificing luxury.

“It’s a very exotic experience when you get into an area, particularly on the North Shore of Lake Superior, where very few people get to experience the rugged coastline,” Paul Pepe, manager of Tourism Thunder Bay.

“When you’re at Silver Islet (near Thunder Bay) and you’re looking at the cliffs of Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, it definitely ranks up there as a destination on par with other parts of the world.”

In 2026, Pool 6 Terminal in the Port of Thunder Bay welcomed four cruise liners including Viking Octantis and Victory II for a total of 10 visits.

The majority of passengers are from the US, though they attract Canadians and visitors from around the world. The direct economic impact for the city was $1.2 million to $1.4 million, he said.

The number of cruise ship visits is actually down from 2025, but Pepe said that the drop is due to the cyclical nature of port visits, not an interest in the Great Lakes or the area.

“It really comes down to the companies are always adjusting their itineraries to keep their loyal customers coming back,” Pepe said. “Right now, we’re discussing opportunities in 2030 and beyond with a lot of cruise partners.”

The City of Thunder Bay, through Tourism Thunder Bay, has worked hard to bring this unique experience to cruise lines — and make the area easy to visit, Pepe said. In 2024, several organizations including the City of Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC), and Embark Port Services came together to form Cruise Port Thunder Bay.

The partnership helps streamline services for cruise lines looking for destinations. “They want to arrive in a port where everyone is working together for the benefit of their guests and crew so that they have the best experience possible — and rave about it,” Pepe said.

Added touches like a visitors’ centre at the dock and busses that can drive right up to the gangplank make Thunder Bay special.

“I try being there myself; I love meeting the guests and chatting with the crews. We’re there to make sure that every guest and crew member is welcome in the community.”

Multi-national cruise companies don’t have offices in Thunder Bay, so having reliable port partners is crucial. Thunder Bay is also a “turnaround port” which means passengers will start or end their cruise in Thunder Bay — another layer of complexity the cruise lines need to run smoothly.

The Cruise Port Thunder Bay brand helps build that trust with cruises. That includes everything from providing a secure marine terminal, easy access for passengers on and off the ship, and port services to finding new excursion experiences for visitors and even taking care of the crew on shore leave.

“We try to make sure that the crew are good on-board ambassadors for our port as well,” Pepe said. The port arranges crew shuttles around the city, helps them connect with things to do on shore leave, and sets up a basketball court to help them stretch their legs.

Apparently, it’s working. “(One crew member) emailed me to say that he was chatting with another crew about what their favourite port was, and they said Thunder Bay.”

Another reason Great Lakes cruises are taking off is because there are finally ships available to do them.“Bigger is better” seems to be the mantra of cruise lines these days, with companies boasting of their record-breaking cities on water.

However, the locks along the St. Lawrence Seaway up through the Great Lakes are a limiting factor for ships. Smaller isn’t just better; it’s a pre-requisite.

The relatively new Expedition-class cruise ships for 100 to 400 passengers are built to “St. Lawrence Seaway specs” to navigate the locks, Pepe said. The Viking Octantis, launched in 2024, is one example.

More are now being built to meet demand for luxury discovery cruises. That, along with more destination ports along the way, means the Great Lakes cruise industry will continue to grow, Pepe said.

“It was a strong year for cruising the Great Lakes, and the numbers are up across the board,” Pepe said.

“I can see that continuing. There are a couple of new ships that are Seaway-compliant and will be online in the next four or five years. That’s a good sign that the cruise lines are building ships to Seaway specs.”

Northern Ontario Business

Viking Polaris moored at the Pool 6 Terminal in Thunder Bay, a former grain elevator property reconfigured to accommodate cruise ships.

OWEN SOUND, ON – The longtime owner-operators of Owen Sound’s iconic grain elevators will cease operations at the site in December, according to the union representing workers there. The president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union local that represents workers at the 1499 1st St. W. marine terminal confirmed that Parrish & Heimbecker, operating locally as Great Lakes Elevators, will permanently close its operations at the Owen Sound Harbour site in December.

“The Union worked to ensure that our members at Great Lakes Elevators were treated fairly and supported throughout this process,” said UFCW Local 175 president Kelly Tosato in an email. The closure will affect six employees at the Owen Sound location, the union said.

Parrish and Heimbecker did not immediately respond to a request for comment. P&H has owned the Owen Sound grain elevators for over 80 years and bought out other partners in 1956. The Winnipeg-based company, with roots in Hanover, operates the site through its subsidiary, Great Lakes Elevator Co. Ltd. It can store 93,000 metric tonnes of dry product.

The move comes more than a decade after P&H broke off talks with the federal government about potentially divesting Owen Sound Harbour to the company.

In 2013, Transport Canada gave P&H Ltd. permission to negotiate with the federal agency to take over the federally owned Owen Sound Harbour. Those talks broke off a year later. At the time, Transport Canada made it clear it would not dredge the Owen Sound Harbour until it was divested to another interest, though the company did not give a reason for the talks breaking down, citing non-disclosure agreements.

Around the same time, Owen Sound also explored taking over ownership of the harbour, but also demanded the harbour be dredged to a commercial navigation depth before assuming ownership. In 2016, the city notified Transport Canada that it did not want to buy the harbour but was interested in participating in divestiture talks.

According to its website, P&H was founded in 1909 when two grain-trading families, led by W.L. Parrish from Brandon, Manitoba and Norman Heimbecker from Hanover, Ontario, joined together to become Parrish & Heimbecker, Limited. Members of the two founding families still own and manage the company.

Greg Cowan

Cuyahoga unloads grain at the Owen Sound grain elevators in this 2017 file photo.

STURGEON BAY, WI – The 482-foot-long heavy lift vessel BBC Philippines departed Sturgeon Bay Monday for Burns Harbor after finishing unloading four huge Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) tanks. The tanks are for the new build 3794, a bunkering barge being built at Bay Shipbuilding that will be used to fuel ships at sea.

Each thank had to be individually barged from the ship, anchored out in the bay, to the shipyard. Basic Marine’s tug Nickelena powered the barge with assistance from the smaller tug Krystal.

The LNG tanks were manufactured at Alcotmi Inc., a prominent Canadian industrial manufacturer that designs and fabricates large-scale industrial pressure vessels, chemical tanks, and atmospheric equipment. BBC Philippines is 482′ x 75,’ built in 2023, and sailing under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda. This is her first visit to the Great Lakes/Seaway system.

Rosann Hollinger

LNG tank is offloaded. [Colin Rice]

Great Lakes ports are seeing declines in iron ore and steel shipments that are tied in part to the ongoing trade dispute between the U.S. and Canada. In August, President Donald Trump imposed 50 percent tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, including alcohol, dairy products and motor vehicles. Canada responded on Sept. 8 with about $20 billion of its own retaliatory tariffs that include steel, agricultural equipment and pulp and paper products.

The Port of Duluth-Superior, which moves the most tonnage on the Great Lakes, moved 11.4 million tons of cargo through August — a 25 percent drop from the same time last year. The decline is largely driven by a decline in coal shipments, which fell by 2.9 million tons due to the closure of a coal terminal in Superior But the rest is due to declining iron ore shipments, which fell by 946,000 tons. A mix of factors led to the drop, said Jayson Hron, spokesperson for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority.

“Several factors playing a role in that decline, including the transition to scrap iron usage, electric arc furnaces, just the transition in the steelmaking industry, but also some trade and policy decisions as well,” Hron said.

About half of the drop in iron ore stemmed from fewer northbound shipments to Canada. The number of Canadian-flagged vessels calling on the port was down 37 percent through August.

Algoma Steel in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, said late last year that U.S. tariffs forced the steel producer to speed up plans to shift away from making steel with traditional blast furnaces that used iron ore and coke to electric arc furnaces. The port authority has previously said iron ore exports from the port went to the facility, but it’s unclear how much.

A Port Milwaukee spokesperson said steel volumes there are down more than 30 percent this year  The port spokesperson said actual amounts are considered proprietary information, but attributed the decline to U.S. tariffs on steel imported from both Canada and Europe.“As global trade conditions and tariff policies continue to evolve, Port Milwaukee remains focused on providing reliable, multimodal transportation opportunities that help businesses reach international markets while supporting a resilient regional supply chain,” the spokesperson said.

Jason Card is vice president of external affairs for the Chamber of Marine Commerce. The Ottawa-based industry association represents more than 100 ship operators, ports and terminals in the U.S. and Canada.He said the U.S. removed tariffs from road salt and cement, and shipping for those products has been unaffected “Now, in terms of steel, that is, of course, a challenge to a lot of members and to ports that have engaged the movement of steel and the component parts that are used to make steel,” Card said.

He added that it needs to be a priority for both nations to not take action that negatively affect what’s moved on the Great Lakes.

Jim Weakley is president of the Lake Carriers’ Association, which represents the U.S.-flagged fleet on the Great Lakes. He argued the ongoing dispute has not affected binational trade, noting customers are largely under longer-term contracts to move goods. He claimed a bigger issue is that Canadian regulations have “created a monopoly” on Great Lakes trade, including bringing in vessels built in China. The nation makes up roughly half of commercial shipbuilding while the U.S. makes up less than 1 percent. The U.S. has tried to counter China’s dominance in shipbuilding, but Card has said shipyards lack capacity to build vessels closer to home.

Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes this year totaled 27.5 million tons through August, according to the association. That’s up 3 percent from last August, but around 5 percent below the five-year average.

“Our frustration is we’re not seeing a market shift in the service from Canadian-flagged lakers to U.S.-flagged lakers, so we’re seeing no impact from the tariffs,” Weakley said. “If anything, we’re hopeful that there will be an increase in domestic steel production, which is the aim of the tariffs, and that will help us get back to our five-year average.”

Earlier this week, Trump announced plans for a new $15 billion steel plant in Iowa that would create thousands of jobs and use iron ore mined in Minnesota. Trump said Monday the steel industry is “roaring back to life” due to 50 percent tariffs on steel imports imposed last year. “Everyone is building their plants here because they don’t want to pay tariffs,” Trump said.

Industry advocates, including the American Iron and Steel Institute, urged the president to stand firm on steel tariffs, saying they’ve driven $47 billion in investment. But John Taylor, associate professor of global supply chain management for Wayne State University, said tariffs raise costs. Canada is Wisconsin’s largest trading partner and the nation’s second-largest next to Mexico. He said tariffs on steel imports from Canada increases the price of items made from steel, making U.S. manufacturing more expensive. “That hurts auto companies. That hurts construction equipment companies, agricultural equipment companies,” Taylor said.

By the time the Iowa plant is built, Taylor added tariffs on imported steel may no longer exist. “That (plant) would theoretically be increasing manufacturing of steel in the U.S.,” Taylor said. “But I would argue it’s going to be at a much higher cost than the imported steel.”

Great Lakes Now via Wisconsin Public Radio

STRAITS OF MACKINAC, MI – The Hiawatha National Forest has formed a partnership with the Round Island Lighthouse Preservation Society to ensure essential maintenance work on the Round Island Lighthouse, officials announced.

The little red lighthouse is a landmark in the Straits of Mackinac and is a favorite icon of ferry boat passengers heading to and from Mackinac Island each year.

The collaboration brings a new partner organization to the Forest Service and focuses on addressing deferred maintenance at the historic lighthouse structure. Funded through the Great American Outdoors Act, the initiative will tackle critical repairs including roofing, exterior painting and masonry work designed to protect the lighthouse from deterioration caused by harsh Great Lakes weather conditions.

The preservation project presents unique logistical challenges due to the lighthouse’s remote setting on Round Island, which holds both a federal Wilderness designation and the historic structure. Crews will need to navigate water transport requirements and limited access to resources while working in isolated conditions.

To accommodate these complexities, the restoration work has been scheduled across a three-year timeline, allowing sufficient time for planning and execution. Officials noted that successful completion of the project will require careful coordination, thorough preparation and adaptability from work teams.

The partnership aligns the priorities of both organizations while pooling resources to accelerate preservation efforts and achieve tangible results at the site.

Since it has not been used for navigation in the Straits for decades, Round Island Lighthouse long ago was placed under the auspices of the U.S. Forest Service – the Hiawatha National Forest unit, to be exact. The preservation society and Boy Scout members have handled much of the annual maintenance and spearheaded a 2020 funding drive for new loads of protective rock to guard against erosion when it was clear Forest Service didn’t have the budget surplus to cover it

M Live

LUDINGTON, MI – The Lake Michigan caferry Badger’s 2026 sailing season ended on Sunday, Oct. 11 when she docked for the winter at her Ludington, MI, home port. The Badger, operated by Lake Michigan Carferry, a part of Interlake Maritime Services, offers the largest cross-lake passenger service on the Great Lakes and an authentic steamship experience. The four-hour, 60-mile cruise takes passengers, autos, RVs, tour buses, motorcycles, bicycles, and commercial trucks across Lake Michigan between Ludington and Manitowoc, WI.

Badger leaving Manitowoc on September 28. [Roger LeLievre]

HAMLIN TOWNSHIP, MI – This landmark Lake Michigan lighthouse will remain open for tours during a major renovation project scheduled for next summer. A small construction project will soon begin at Big Sable Point Lighthouse, ensuring uninterrupted visitor access during the $450,000 project to restore the exterior of the keeper’s dwelling.

Known for its distinctive black-and-white tower, Big Sable Point Lighthouse is situated on the Lake Michigan shoreline at Ludington State Park. It’s a popular spot, attracting thousands of visitors each year to climb the tower and explore the keeper’s dwelling, despite a 1.8-mile trek each way to reach it.

Work planned for this fall includes repairs to the chimney and the north porch foundation wall of the keeper’s quarters; the north porch will serve as the visitor entrance during 2027. Northern Restoration & Waterproof Systems Inc. is contracted to complete the work, which will take about one week.

“Preserving Big Sable is a significant undertaking, and these projects are part of our long-term commitment to maintaining the lighthouse for future generations,” Greve said. “We are excited to begin this work now and continue that momentum into Big Sable’s 160th anniversary year.”

Big Sable Point Lighthouse is open for 2026 tours and tower climbs through Oct. 25 and will reopen for the 2027 season on May 4. Tower climbs are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for students. Children must be at least 40 inches tall to climb; children may not be carried up the stairs. Footwear with a back around the heel is required to climb.

Next year’s project plans include removing decades-old layers of exterior paint and “organic growth” that has formed between the paint and brick, restoring historic masonry, and repainting with white masonry paint. Removing layers of paint will require a chemical process to avoid further degrading the brick beneath. The work will prevent the building from holding moisture.

The 112-foot tower and original keepers’ dwelling were built in 1867, using Milwaukee “Cream City” brick. In the early 1900s, the tower was encased in metal due to the poor condition of the bricks. The keepers’ dwelling, which was expanded between 1908 and 1914, was first painted in 1942. Today, the paint is cracked and peeling, revealing a layer of green, moss-like growth underneath.

This is Lakeshore Keepers’ largest preservation effort in its 38-year history. Originally named Big Sable Point Lighthouse Keepers Association, the organization formed in 1987 to rescue this light. Operating as Lakeshore Keepers, the group now manages five lighthouses from Whitehall to Manistee.

Other upcoming upgrades at Ludington State Park include a $3.65 million project to rebuild Skyline Trail and a $100,000 amphitheater renovation; these projects are fully funded. In 2024 and 2025, the park’s roads were repaved, pedestrian connectivity was improved, and parking areas were reimagined during a $2.6 million project funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.

Big Sable Point Lighthouse on the Lake Michigan shoreline can be reached by hiking or biking a 1.8-mile sand-and-gravel trail at Ludington State Park. [Justine Lofton]

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – Michelle Briggs, Chief Park Ranger / Interpretive Specialist for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Soo Locks, was presented with the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division award for Interpretive Excellence at a ceremony earlier this week at the Soo Locks Visitor Center by Lt. Col. Donald K. Lew, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District. The award reads, in part, “Ms. Briggs revolutionized public outreach by creating “Ranger Reels,” an innovative short-form series. Her leadership and vision resulted in videos that have been viewed over three million times, bringing the mission of the Soo Locks and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to a national audience.”

Briggs has also won the prestigious Hiram H. Chittenden Award, which has yet to be presented.

Soo Locks Visitor Center Association

Soo Locks Chief Park Ranger Michelle Briggs with Corps Lt. Col. Donald K. Lew. [Roger LeLievre]

A new tugboat has joined Thunder Bay Tug Services Ltd. with the arrival of Harriet M in Thunder Bay on October 8, 2026. The tug was acquired from Moran Towing Corporation of Philadelphia, PA. Built in 1978 at Jakobson Shipyard in Oyster Bay, NY, Harriet M measures approximately 28 metres in length and is powered by 3,005 horsepower. She will assist commercial vessels navigating the harbor and support ship movements throughout the Port of Thunder Bay as part of Thunder Bay Tug Services Ltd.’s operations,

Michael Hull

Harriet M arriving at the Port of Thunder Bay. [Michael Hull]

Harriet M arriving at the Port of Thunder Bay. [Michael Hull]