Overview
- The National Weather Service issued high wind and lakeshore flood warnings as waves pushed water onto Buffalo’s shoreline and inundated lakeside areas.
- By about midday Monday, Buffalo’s water level had risen more than six feet while Toledo’s fell around 13 feet, with an NWS meteorologist noting nearly an eight-foot difference between gauges across the 225-mile lake.
- Winds over the lake were 35–45 mph with gusts reported up to 75–80+ mph, producing heavy freezing spray and damage including downed trees and power lines.
- On Tuesday, gale warnings remained in effect with forecast winds up to roughly 40–46 mph and waves up to 12–15 feet in the eastern end, after earlier reports of waves reaching about 20 feet.
- Receding waters on the western end revealed old pier remnants and wreckage at spots like Luna Pier, Michigan, including a car and a snowmobile visible on the exposed lakebed.