View Full Version : Lake Erie water levals after a big wind
scooter
03-13-2002, 03:12 PM
I have a bet going with boss,Ive tried to tell him that when the wind blows from a certain direction on lake Erie that some harbors lose much of there water.If there are any links out there that show this with a photo I would be gratefull.!!!
The bet is a day paid vacation or I will have to work a Sat. help me out.
Thanks
Scooter
It's called a seiche effect. I found a quick link regarding water fluctuations. I'm sure there are others out there
http://www.dur.ac.uk/~des0www4/cal/dams/load/l2.htm
Last year on Erie there was a big blow and some western harbors lost so much water that boats were suspended by the mooring lines. When the wind died the water returned.
Enjoy your day off.
Best Regards,
FJH
Here's another link that talks directly about Erie and the seiche effect (up to 15' of difference in water height from east to west is possible).
http://www.pserie.psu.edu/seagrant/communication/fact/fs5.html
Can you get me a day off?
Best Regards,
FJH
Dan(MI)
03-13-2002, 03:38 PM
Yes its true, a 30mph off shore wind pushes alot of water out of the several Michigan area marinas and creeks. I went out last December to Erie Metro park at mouth of Detroit River, launched the boat, but couldn't even get out of channel with the dry summer and stong n/w winds it pushed alot of water out.
I've gone by some other marinas and seen the same as the write above boats sitting in the mud.
During the wind storms last weekend the water level at Toledo dropped 100" while the level at Buffalo went up 80". Winds were up to 70mph out of the west. I always loosen the dock lines later in the year, there is always a few days when it will drop a couple of feet. Where you going fishing on your day off ? Check out http://glakesonline.nos.noaa.gov/monitor.html
Joe
scooter
03-13-2002, 04:10 PM
Thanks woooooohooooooooo a another paid day to fish
scooter
Tracy
03-13-2002, 07:57 PM
I have never seen it drop 100", but I have seen it drop 4-5' in one day. Last October there were Southwest gales for almost 2 days straight that left East Harbor and most others dry. It has also happened a few time this spring, but it is more common in the Fall. Was weird seeing my dock with zero water!
Tracy
I guess Toledo usually gets the worst of it, Marblehead only lost a couple 3 feet. I remember that one in October, the water under my boat went from 9' to 5'. Luckily I'm in the deep part of the marina. The wind was more out of the south then. Kinda tough to fish around the near shore reef when it's like that. That was the biggest change for me when I moved my boat from Lorain to Marblehead. There I had at least 22' of water from the dock all the way to the fishing grounds. Losing some water was no big deal.
Joe