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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula October 26, 2001 Text © 2001 Michele Anderson

Great Lakes storm causes Keweenaw power outage, high waves

LAC LA BELLE, ANN ARBOR -- Residents of Grant and Eagle Harbor townships experienced a power outage Thursday as a result of the current high-wind conditions along the Keweenaw Peninsula. Meanwhile on Friday afternoon, Oct. 26, the Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN) reports that strong winds have been causing high waves and possible beach erosion on the Great Lakes for more than 24 hours.

As the storm diminishes, Lake Superior waves still crash against the north shore of the Keweenaw Peninsula during the late afternoon on Friday, Oct. 26. Janet Shea of Eagle Harbor Township took this photo along M-26, about five miles west of Copper Harbor.

John Kaleita, the Town Crier for Lac La Belle and the South Shore area reported, "Power went out in the Lac La Belle-Bete Grise area from 6 p.m. Thursday until shortly after midnight."

Kaleita reported whitecaps in Bete Grise Bay, but no sign of erosion.

"It's been very windy since late afternoon Thursday," he said. "No wind damage noted in South Point this morning. An afternoon drive to the mailboxes in Lac La Belle also noted no damage. As of 6 p.m. Friday, no snow on the ground, although snow is seen on Mt. Bohemia and other high areas. Flurries do fall occasionally, but they have melted."

The mailboxes in Lac La Belle were backed by a blaze of autumn colors about two weeks before the storm. (Photo courtesy of Keweenaw Now Web site designer Constance Petersen.)

Kaleita added a large ore ship has been anchored in Bete Grise Bay since Thursday morning.

Grant Township Supervisor Ken Korhorn said the Lac La Belle Fire Department was called out to check on a downed power line, but he was not aware of any trees across roads or other damage from the storm.

According to Dr. Rochelle Sturtevant, Sea Grant Extension Agent at the Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab in Ann Arbor, "Lakes Superior and Michigan have been experiencing very high waves and Lake Erie is experiencing a pretty dramatic seiche."

These high waves can be very dangerous since they may wash over break walls and may cause beach erosion and lakeshore flooding, Sturtevant warned on her Web site Thursday, Oct. 25.

"Northwest winds up to 45 mph over Western Lake Superior will continue today," the report said, "...causing waves to build as high as 10 to 15 feet. The winds and high waves may cause beach erosion as well as minor Lakeshore flooding from Little Girls Point to Manitou Island...including the city of Ontonagon. Over Eastern Lake Superior northwest winds up to 55 mph will produce waves of 15 to 20 feet. This will cause beach erosion and minor Lakeshore flooding from Harvey and Shot Point to Whitefish Point...including the cities of Au Train...Munising and Grand Marais."

Power was out Thursday in Copper Harbor and Eagle Harbor Township as well, according to Jim and Janet Shea, Eagle Harbor Township residents and Copper Harbor business owners. Janet Shea said a "seiche" is a phenomenon familiar to Keweenaw shoreline residents.

Jim Shea described a "seiche" as a "freshwater tide." He said high waves on Lake Superior can raise the level of water in Copper Harbor from 15 inches to several feet, somewhat resembling an ocean tide.

"About every 15 minutes the water level rises from six to 15 inches and then lowers again," Jim said. "Even in the Harbor it can come up several feet."

He noted the water has been known to enter basements of lakeshore homes and cause problems for boat owners like himself.

"If I don't tie the boat away from the dock, it could end up right on top of the dock. Then, when the seiche drops quickly, the boat may tip over and fill with water when the seiche rises again," Jim explained.

Janet Shea said the power outage on Thursday gave her the rare opportunity to read a novel -- by candlelight.

Since the end of the tourist season, Web designer Janet has left her Copper Harbor shops to work on updating her Web sites, keweenawland.com and copperharbor.net. However, with no computer Thursday night, she said she enjoyed reading House of Sand and Fog, by Andre Dubus III, by candlelight.

"It's the first time in a year I had a chance to read a novel," she said.

Editor's note: Check out the Oct. 26 Pasty Cam for a photo of downed power lines north of Calumet. Also, visit Rochelle Sturtevant's Web site for more information on the Great Lakes weather conditions and photos of the storm on Lake Michigan. Keweenaw Now thanks Alex J. Sagady & Associates and Enviro-Mich for the email message with Sturtevant's GLIN announcement.