The Gales of November

M

MOOSE

Member
"...NW STORM FORCE WINDS TO 55 KT DECREASING TO GALES TO
40 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. NUMEROUS SNOW SHOWERS. WAVES BUILDING TO 18 TO 23 FT"

The above is an excerpt from the eastern Lake Superior marine forecast for today. The forecast is particularly poignant given that tomorrow, November 10th, marks the 30th anniversary of the sinking of the lake freighter Edmund Fitzgerald with all 29 men aboard in another November gale. For anyone interested in learning more about the lake and the sinking of the Fitz, there are some great links at www.boatnerd.com .
Al
 
Al,

I vividly remember the sinking of the 'Edmund' - with it's load of taconite...

I was a senior in highschool in central MN and wondered at the time, why I was delighted with the future concept of spending 4 more winters in MN. Specifically at Bemidji State...

I so much enjoy the photos that you have posted. It brings back memories of when I was a youngster and our family would boat out of International Falls with my dad's brother's family. Good times!

Cynthia :tea
 
I believe the most recent BoatU.S. magazine had an article in it on the Fitzgerald. It's always interesting to read about the boat, the possible causes of her sinking (I don't know how many theories I've read about on that) and the continuing lore of her. Listen for the 29 bell rings around 7:10 PM tomorrow night at the Mariners' Church of Detroit. There's also a webcast going on starting around 4 PM on the Boatnerd website for those interested to commemorate the 30th anniversary of her sinking.

Jack
 
Bit of a storm blowing through NW pacific the next few days also.

THU
SW WIND 20 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 5 FT. W SWELL 11 FT AT 12
SECONDS. RAIN.

THU NIGHT
W WIND 20 KT. WIND WAVES 4 FT. W SWELL 19 FT.
SHOWERS LIKELY.

FRI
SW WIND 20 KT. WIND WAVES 4 FT. W SWELL 20 FT. SHOWERS.

FRI NIGHT
W WIND 20 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 5 FT. W SWELL
20 FT. SHOWERS LIKELY.

Always gives me a chill when I hear about the Fitzgerald, something about a ship sinking on my birthday. Visited a memorial for those lost at sea when I was in RI and noticed two sinkings with total loss of crew also on Nov. 10th. Tough time of year to be on the water in any area.

sj
 
Just as a follow-up, winds at Stannard Rock, east of the Keweenaw Peninsula, averaged (i.e. - not peak gust) 71.4 mph at 1400 hours yesterday. That's just 2.6 mph shy of hurricane force. Wow!
 
Big winds! Nasty time of the year, when winter fights to take control from summer.

Halcyon was 25 miles from the tornado that destroyed the mobile homes in Indiana earlier this week. We were camped in KY beside the Ohio River not far upriver from where the tornado crossed into Indiana. We had violent winds and a strong thunderstorm in the dark of very early morning -- nothing like what was suffered by those unfortunates nearby.
 
Bill and Ell,

Glad to hear you were not too close to the tornado! Seems like you have had your share this year - didn't you spent part of one night in a park bathroom because of tornados in the are?

I can remember what that is like since we spent 6 or more years in the Oklahoma / Texas tornado alley when I was in my teens.
Steve
 
Yep, Steve, we did. However, those along the Gulf Coast and S.Atlantic have their stories to tell from the hurricanes and tropical storms this year and we've been hearing tales to make our hair blanche. Best, always, for all of us, to do our best to miss those storms whether ashore or afloat. Fair weather !
 
Enjoyed your thread Al :) (your not mad at me also are ya) :( :xnaughty

I thought I had a "window" to get out and collect my whale findings in the sound last week. Called for good stuff, but turned bad :cry: They say the gulf of AK averages 5 storms per week in winter :xseek is it any wonder the forecast changes from day-to-day :crook :disgust

Gonna keep lookin for that 'window' and go anyway. I figure the sound has a countless amount of snug little anchorages, for heading out 90 miles to gather whale bones. Might be another chapter in the making if I can pull it off in November. Is that the worst month for the Sound, or the sea in North America :?:

There, I did my time here. TTFN :shock:
 
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