Nor' Easters

After March blizard of 2007
Originally uploaded by cageyj

Big Blows:

November 23, 1905:
The peak wind gust with this storm, measured by the Weather Bureau, was 70 mph. there were no mishaps on Lake Superior as most ships stayed in port.

Mataafa Storm, November 28, 1905:
This storm wrecked or disabled 18 ships, including the Mataafa. The Mataafa ran aground just outside the Duluth pier. Temperatures plummeted to -10 degrees F. Of the 24 men on board, fifteen were rescued after the waves abated. Four men froze to death and the last five were missing and presumed dead. The peak wind measured by the Duluth Weather Bureau was 68 mph. The wind gusted over 60 mph in Duluth for 15 consecutive hours.

The Great lakes Storm of November 7 1913:
This storm is historically referred to as the "Big Blow", the "Freshwater Fury" or the "White Hurricane". This was the deadliest and most destructive natural disaster to ever hit the Great Lakes. The storm killed over 250 people, destroyed 19 ships and stranded 19 others. The closest sinking to Duluth was south of Thunder Bay, where the Leafield went down killing all 18 crew members.

IMG_0392_1a
Originally uploaded by cageyj

The Armistice Day Storm, November 11, 1940:
The day began fairly warm with temperatures in the 40's. As the day wore on rain turned to blinding snow. Ten death were blamed on the storm, with 66 sailors dead on Lake Michigan. Forty-nine peopled died in Minnesota, most of them duck hunters who set out in the morning unprepared.


The Edmund Fitzgerald Storm, November 10 1975:
This is the infamous storm that sank the Edmund Fitzgerald, which at the time was the largest of the lakers on the Great Lakes. The "Fitz" had just loaded taconite in Superior and was headed to Detroit. Most of her 26 crew members were from the Twin Ports of Duluth-Superior. All perished.

The Socrates Storm, November 18, 1985:
Strong winds of 69 mph and high waves beached the Greek ship the Socrates on Duluth's Park Point for six days.

Record Low Pressure, November 10, 1998:
This intense storm produced Duluth's lowest ever recorded barometric pressure of 28.475 inches or 964.3 millibars and produced gale force winds of 55 mph.

March Blizzard, March 1-2 2007:
This storm brought over 20 inches of snow and winds over 50 mph to the Duluth area, the north shore of Lake Superior and extreme northwestern Wisconsin. Fifteen foot snowdrifts covered Park Point

Breath of Lake Superior

Lake Superior
Originally uploaded by cageyj.

I love Lake Superior!

Lake Superior embraced me in my garden last Saturday. Her breath, that 10,000 year-old echo of the great ice sheet, suddenly touched me at my digging.

After a few warm spring days high pressure and the east wind drove cold temperatures deep inland from the lake.

Spring Tulip
Originally uploaded by cageyj.

The temperature dropped to freezing during the night and barely surpassed 40º during the day. Snow fell. Folks layered on more clothing. Plants paused in their growing. City Hall, where I worked, turned on heat today after a cold day yesterday.

Right now it is colder by the lake 46º and warm at home 66º.

A refrigerator kept at 46º prevents stuff from rotting, turning green or wrinkling. Will this cuddling with Lake Superior keep younger?