
Could a Great Lakes Cyclone Strike Illinois or Wisconsin This Year?
As autumn runs into winter, residents along the shores of Lake Michigan in Illinois and Wisconsin, as well as Lake Superior in Northern Wisconsin, are once again keeping a cautious eye on the skies over the Great Lakes. Each year around this time, meteorologists and lakefront dwellers brace for the possibility of a "Great Lakes Hurricane," a powerful and unpredictable storm system with the potential to unleash hurricane-force winds, towering waves, and destructive force across the entirety of the Midwest. Nicknamed “Freshwater Furies,” these storms have haunted the Great Lakes for well over a century, leaving a legacy of shipwrecks, coastal damage, and unforgettable tales of survival and tragedy.
The Great Lakes Tropical Storm of 1996; Hurricane Huron.
What Exactly is a Great Lakes Cyclone?
Though they don’t share the tropical roots of oceanic hurricanes, Great Lakes cyclones—or freshwater hurricanes—can pack a similar punch. These storms have earned their ominous names like "November Gales," "White Hurricanes," "November Witches," and "Freshwater Furies," that's due to their sheer power and the unique way they’re fueled. Every fall, when cold Canadian air clashes with warm, moist air moving up from the Gulf of Mexico, a volatile mix of temperatures sets the stage for a storm of tornadic tendencies. Add to this a powerful jet stream over the northern U.S., and these storms increase in speed and intensity. These systems are actually referred to in the scientific community as extratropical cyclones.
A strong late-winter cyclone brought significant snows and blizzard conditions to the upper Great Lakes/northern Plains on 21 February 2014. In the warm sector of the storm, there were numerous reports of tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds in the eastern US.
When these systems settle over the Great Lakes, they encounter one final ingredient that completes the “perfect storm:" the comparatively warm lake water, which supplies moisture and energy that supercharges the storm system. These freshwater cyclones can bring wind gusts over 100 mph, drop several inches of rain and snow, and produce waves as high as 30 to 35 feet. As a result, each year Illinois, Wisconsin, and other Great Lakes communities enter a season of high alert.
The Most Infamous Great Lake Cyclones in History
The Big Storm of 1913: The deadliest Great Lakes storm on record, it battered all five lakes and led to the sinking of 13 ships, claiming over 240 lives. Lake Huron was hit hardest, with whiteout snow squalls, 90 mph winds, and waves over 35 feet high. This storm remains a benchmark of destruction and serves as a stark reminder of the Great Lakes’ hidden dangers.
Typical convergence of two storm tracks to form what is called a "November gale" or "November Witch". November gales were the cause of the Great Lakes Storm of 1913 and the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald.
The 1975 "Witch of November": This infamous November storm claimed the Edmund Fitzgerald, one of the Great Lakes' largest freighters, which vanished in a violent storm on Lake Superior with 100 mph wind gusts and 30-foot waves. The crew of 29 men was lost, and the mystery surrounding the ship's last moments endures. In Illinois and Wisconsin, the "Witch of November" is remembered as a chilling example of Lake Michigan’s power.

The 2010 “Chi-clone”: In October 2010, an intense cyclone with record-breaking low pressure hit the Great Lakes, causing havoc across Chicago and Wisconsin. With barometric pressures equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane, waves of 25 to 35 feet crashed onto the shores of Lakes Michigan and Superior. Winds near 80 mph caused widespread damage across Illinois, while nearby states reported 57 tornadoes as the storm raged.
The October 2010 North American storm or "Chi-Clone" complex while at peak intensity on October 27, 2010.
Did you know that between both Lake Superior and Lake Michigan there is estimated to be near 2,500 shipwrecks!
Could Illinois and Wisconsin Face Another Freshwater Cyclone in 2024?
I'd love to give you better news, but the answer is apparently an emphatic; yes. According to meteorologists, the chance is always present, but predicting these storms can be challenging. Autumn is prime time for Great Lakes cyclones, especially in November, when the temperature contrast between cold air from the north and warmer lake waters are at peak conditions. The "season" for these cyclones stretches from late October to December, with the greatest storm risk occurring in November.
In fact, it looks like the latest artic blast is on its way to the area now. This doesn't even include the often-severe, lake-effect blizzards and ice-storms that occur regularly along the Great Lake's many shorelines.
The conditions seen in past storms—like the cold fronts that produce swift drops in temperature and the strong, southbound jet stream—are all variables currently in play. With climate patterns leaning toward more extreme weather, meteorologists note that there may be a growing likelihood for powerful storms as air and water temperature variances become more pronounced. While it’s impossible to predict precisely when and where these storms will strike, Illinois and Wisconsin residents should be prepared for the potential of a Great Lakes cyclone each and every autumn.
Great Lake Water Basin and surrounding states/counties.
Thankfully, advancements in weather forecasting, satellite imaging, and buoy technology allow for better preparation and safety measures today than in the early 20th century. Public warning systems, lakefront fortifications, and building codes have all improved to withstand these autumn gales, helping to reduce the risks to people and property.
When it comes to the Great Lakes, the weather can be as mysterious as it is deadly. And every autumn, the Great Lakes remind us why they’re as feared as any ocean—because here, a "Freshwater Fury" is just one "perfect-storm" away.
LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades
Gallery Credit: KATELYN LEBOFF
Biggest snowfalls recorded in Illinois history
Gallery Credit: Stacker
Biggest snowfalls recorded in Wisconsin history
Gallery Credit: Stacker
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