How big was the biggest wave recorded on Lake Superior?

Answer 1

100ft waves where recorded in 1947 (unverified - gpronger 20110514)

From gpronger:

I ended up here after Googling the question. However, I am unable to verify 100 foot. The problem would be that the size of a wave is controlled by the size of the body of water (fetch) as is the period (distance between waves).

On Lake Michigan we can have a seich; which is similar to a tsunami but not due to a earthquake or underwater landslide but weather.

Waves, as best I can tell can get to around 20 feet with Lake Superior at 30 feet.

Answer 2

26 feet would be the (highest) significant wave height on Superior. This means that waves of 50 feet are possible. Some sailors have reported 40 feet (35 feet according to accounts FROM the S.S. Authur M. Anderson) the night the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald sank.

The significant wave height is the average height of the highest one third of waves observed, and is the figure quoted by meteorologists when they report wave heights. The maximum wave height, according to most experts, can be up to 1.8 times (some say 2x) the significant wave height. A "rogue wave" is defined as a wave that exceeds twice the significant wave height. Recent research has shown that rogue waves, at least in the open ocean, are more common than previously believed. So it's possible that waves over 50 ft. in height might rarely occur on Lake Superior.

Answer 3

a wave approximately 15 feet high came a shore may 31st 1942 about 6;20am. swept inland carrying logs debris and people with it. at least 12 were killed or drowned. the wave made it several hundred yards inland in some locations causing havoc from Toledo to mentor. reports of heavy damage surfaces in Toledo and bay village as well. thought to be caused by a storm of rumbling thunder out over the lake 10 minutes prior to landfall. it was a calm day otherwise on the lake.Weatherman speculated that a sudden shift of winds from northerly to southerly caused the sloshing affect that created this Erie tsunami. it can happen again but is unalike such a freak thing will.

Answer 4

On Friday July 13th 1990 I was on Lake Erie traveling from Grosse Ile, MI to Sandusky, OH. It was a beautiful morning but the wind kicked up from the SE and a storm rolled in that created 15' waves.

Answer 5

Around the year 2000 on the M/V Mesabi Miner we had unloaded a cargo of iron ore in Nanticoke, Ontario and we were able to finish and depart before the SW'ly wind got too bad. The weather was supposed to go from the SW to the NW but after rounding Long Point and heading towards SE Shoal it stayed in the SW direction and reached strong gale to storm force with gusts over 60 knots. We encountered a 20 to 25 foot chop, very short and steep wavelength, probably due to the lake's over all shallowness. On a thousand foot vessel I felt it necessary to check our speed to 6 MPH to prevent undue springing. Having grown up on the shores of Lake Erie I then understood how it was possible for so many of the old wooden steamers in the 19th century to have been lost it storms. They were literally beat apart. I cannot remember the exact date but I know that during this the USCG was searching for a canoe that apparently had been reported overdue or overturned outside of Fairport, Ohio.

Answer 6

Swells have been recorded in the lake reaching 30-40 or so feet

Answer 7

The waves in lake superior can get over 30 ft tall during the winter and fall seasons.

Answer 8

1 foot

Answer 9

23 ft