CATAWBA ISLAND – Potentially hazardous Lake Erie seiche conditions have led the National Weather Service to issue a marine warning with a small craft advisory.
Watchers from Miller Ferry have localized the warning.
Winds from the southwest have created a low cycle for a seiche, creating low water levels on the western end of Lake Erie.
Jacob Market of Miller Boat Line at Catawba Island said the lake is frozen and the ferry is closed, so few small craft are close to Port Clinton.
Advertisement
Advertisement
“The bay is frozen and water is definitely down a little bit. Everything is frozen in,” Market said. “The ice will settle down with the water. There might be some (air) pockets, but the ice flows with the water and it goes down with the (water).”
That indicates danger for docks and people who might be walking on the ice.
“The ice potentially destroys docks when it comes back up. That’s why you see people put bubblers or agitator on their docks,” Market said. “It keeps ice from forming on the dock pilings.”
The agitators keep the ice from freezing around submerged motors.
“I’m sure there is open water out past Huron, but everything I can see in every direction is ice,” Market said.
Advertisement
Advertisement
The National Weather Service issued the following warning:
“This morning, a cold front will continue to move east across Lake Erie with winds persisting from the southwest at 15-25 knots into Tuesday. Winds will gain more of a northwesterly component on Tuesday, remaining 15-25 knots but shifting to an onshore flow. This will result in waves across the central and eastern basin to build to 5-8 feet. As a result, a Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for Vermilion to Avon Point until 7AM Wednesday and for Avon Point to Ripley, New York until 7 p.m. Wednesday.
“In addition to the hazardous small craft conditions, the sustained strong winds out of the southwest has resulted in water levels falling at Toledo. As of 2:55 a.m., the water level at Toledo was 7.1 inches above low water datum, or 4.1 inches above the critical mark for safe navigation. Although forecast guidance is not yet catching up to the ongoing conditions, there is medium confidence that the water levels will drop below the 3″ critical mark today into Tuesday. As a result, a Low Water Advisory has been issued for the western basin until 1 p.m. Tuesday.”
419-332-2674
This article originally appeared on Port Clinton News Herald: Low water levels creating hazardous conditions on Lake Erie
EMEA Tribune is not involved in this news article, it is taken from our partners and or from the News Agencies. Copyright and Credit go to the News Agencies, email news@emeatribune.com Follow our WhatsApp verified Channel
