The White Hurricane

The Great Lakes Storm of 1913 (also known as the "Big Blow," the "Freshwater Fury," and the "White Hurricane") was a hurricane-force wind blizzard that devastated the Great Lakes Basin in the midwestern United States and Southwestern Ontario, Canada from November 7 to 10, 1913. On November 9, the storm was at its strongest, battering and overturning ships on four of the five Great Lakes, particularly Lake Huron.

The storm was the deadliest and most destructive natural disaster in recorded history to hit the lakes. Over 250 people were killed. Shipping was particularly hard hit, with 19 ships destroyed and 19 others stranded. A cargo worth approximately $1 million and weighing approximately 68,300 tons, including coal, iron ore, and grain, was lost. The storm impacted many cities, including Duluth, Minnesota; Chicago, Illinois; and Cleveland, Ohio, which received 22 inches (56 cm) of snow and winds of up to 79 miles per hour (127 kilometers per hour) and were paralyzed for days.

The extratropical cyclone formed when two major storm fronts collided, fueled by the relatively warm waters of the lakes—a seasonal process known as a "November gale." It produced wind gusts of up to 90 mph (140 km/h), waves of up to 35 feet (11 m), and whiteout snowsqualls. For extended periods, winds exceeding hurricane force were experienced over four of the Great Lakes, resulting in very large waves.

The Great Lakes' massive size allows for wind fetches (the length of water over which a given wind has blown without obstruction) of hundreds of miles, allowing for massive waves to form. Rogue waves are known to occur on the Great Lakes, including waves reinforced by reflections from some of the Great Lakes' vertical shores. Waves on the Great Lakes can be steeper and closer together than on the ocean, allowing for less recovery time between waves. The Great Lakes also have less maneuvering "sea room" and are closer to shore, making it more difficult for ships to weather storms.

The United States Weather Bureau failed to predict the storm's intensity, and the process of preparing and communicating forecasts was slow. These factors all contributed to the storm's devastation. The forecasters did not have enough data, communications, analysis capability, or understanding of atmospheric dynamics to predict the storm at the time. They were unable to predict wind directions, which is critical to ships' ability to avoid or cope with the effects of storms.

Type: Extratropical cyclone Winter storm Blizzard
Formed: November 6, 1913
Dissipated: November 11, 1913
Highest gust: 90 mph (145 km/h)
Lowest pressure: 968.5 mb (28.60 inHg)
Areas affected: The Great Lakes Basin in the Midwestern United States and the Canadian province of Ontario