Remembering the Infamous November 1975 Midwest Low (credit: NWS Marquette, Michigan)

DISCUSSION: As we turn the clocks back to November 10th, 1975, we arrive at fairly historic day in north-central United States weather history.  On that mid-November day back in 1975, a strengthening low-pressure system was approaching the northern Plains states from the southwest. As a result of this low-pressure system's trajectory, increasingly stronger southerly flow developed out ahead of the deepening low-pressure system.  This stronger southerly flow created strong localized wind flow in the vicinity of the Great Lakes and consequently induced the formation of large waves across a good portion of Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Superior.  Due to particularly high waves on Lake Superior, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald ended up sinking 17 miles northwest of Whitefish Point which is located at the northeastern tip of Michigan's Upper Peninsula on Lake Superior. While the cause of the sinking is unknown to this day, strong winds and high waves likely played a significant role. Sadly, the crew of 29 members was lost from this event.  Thus, it goes without saying that even a simple Fall-time low-pressure system has the ability to create havoc in even the smallest localized regions.

​To learn more about this particular event, click on the following link.

To learn more about other past historic weather events from around the world, be sure to click here!

©2017 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz