Watch a Powerful Storm Pound Lake Superior and the Great Lakes

Written by Angie Menjivar
Updated: October 18, 2023
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Lake Superior is the largest of all the North American Great Lakes. If ever you’re flying over the U.S. states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Michigan, you can spot this huge lake that nearly resembles an ocean. If you didn’t know exactly where you were, you might confuse it for the Atlantic. This is also true if you’re traveling over the Canadian province of Ontario because Lake Superior connects these two countries.

Lake Superior has a storm season that spans from October into November. During this season, the lake develops waves the way a beach does. Some of the largest waves ever recorded reached an unbelievable 28.8 feet! This was back in October 2017.

The video below captures the storm season on Lake Superior and the Great Lakes, with captivating footage from several different angles. The waves swarm in, rough and choppy — the sound is soothing, but you wouldn’t want to be caught in the water when they’re roaring through.

See the Footage Below!

Fall Storm on Lake Superior

You can enjoy a beautiful view from the shore with multi-colored rocks — you see red, orange, and grey hues throughout as you watch several waves form and approach the camera, with some reaching so close, that they splash against the lens.

Some shots are zoomed in while others offer more of a broad perspective. The waves are quite large and unrelenting, rushing toward shore on top of each other, creating an incredible display of white foam and splashes that reach toward the sky. The waves intensify as the video continues and you can imagine the awe you’d feel if you were there witnessing it all in real time.

Lighthouse overlooks winter storm on Lake Superior

Lake Superior’s coastline can be pounded by waves up to 28 feet high during the winter storm season.

©Dennis O’Hara/Shutterstock.com

You’d surely need to be dressed for the cool temperatures — this lake is the coldest of all the greats with an average temperature of 37.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

On average, the depth of Lake Superior is about 483 feet, and the deepest part reaches 1,332 feet. This great lake contains a surprising 10% of all the earth’s fresh water and it covers a total area of 31,700 square miles. It’s been around a little over 1 billion years and some people venture out to spot the northern lights from the lake.

The end of the video shows the two adventurers who braved the cold to capture this footage. You watch as they set up their cameras to capture the mesmerizing scenes.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Sorayot Chinkanjanarot/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Angie Menjivar is a writer at A-Z-Animals primarily covering pets, wildlife, and the human spirit. She has 14 years of experience, holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology, and continues her studies into human behavior, working as a copywriter in the mental health space. She resides in North Carolina, where she's fallen in love with thunderstorms and uses them as an excuse to get extra cuddles from her three cats.

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