Get Ready To Watch an Incredible Weather Event: A Lake Erie Seiche!
A fascinating natural phenomenon is happening today on Lake Erie—a seiche! If you’re not familiar, a seiche is a sudden and dramatic change in water levels caused by atmospheric conditions like strong winds or rapid changes in air pressure. These events can cause water to rise and fall significantly along the shores of Lake Erie, and today promises to be a remarkable display. You can enjoy this once-in-a-rare-while spectacle live on our Put-in-Bay webcams!
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The Last Lake Erie Seiche Was A Huge Occasion!
Lake Erie’s unique geography makes it more prone to these events than the other Great Lakes, so today is a great chance to witness something wild. It’s an opportunity to really consider this natural wonder that surrounds our lake. Just how large it is, and just how strong and powerful these winds are to figuratively ’tilt’ an entire lake. This is going to be special!
Island resident and Friend of the Page Barry Koehler took some jaw-dropping photographs of the last seiche, it may prove to be a little too warm for the icicles, but otherwise, we’re expecting some similarly dramatic scenes from the Bay today!
The History of Lake Erie Seiches
Lake Erie, the shallowest of the Great Lakes, is uniquely prone to seiches due to its basin shape and relatively small depth. The term “seiche” originates from the Swiss-French word for ‘swaying back and forth,’ which perfectly describes the water movement during this phenomenon. It’s also known as a ‘standing wave’. Seiches on Lake Erie have been documented as far back as the early 19th century.
A Curiosity For Us, An Event of Consequence In Buffalo
One of the most dramatic instances occurred in 1844 when a seiche caused water levels near Buffalo, New York, to rise an astonishing 22 feet, resulting in significant flooding and a few dozen deaths when it breached a seawall. A few years later, Niagara Falls actually stopped, well, falling if you can believe it. For over a day, due to a seiche.
In a Lake Erie seiche, the Buffalo and Niagara area are receiving the water that is being pushed away from here. Thanks to modern meteorology this is not a life-threatening event anymore, however it can lead to significant property damage in the western New York area, and is something that needs to be accounted for in construction on the shore.
So What Exactly Is Happening Here?
Seiches can occur during any season, but they are particularly common in late summer and early fall when strong storms and rapid shifts in atmospheric pressure are more frequent.
The mechanics of a Lake Erie seiche are fascinating. Strong winds or pressure changes push water from one side of the lake to the other. When the force subsides, the water oscillates back and forth, sometimes creating waves that can last for hours or even days. While most seiches are minor, some can cause flooding, disrupt boating activities, and even temporarily reverse river flows.
Put-in-Bay and the surrounding islands have experienced their fair share of seiches over the years. These natural events highlight the dynamic relationship between weather and the Great Lakes, offering both a reminder of nature’s power and a unique spectacle for those lucky enough to witness it.
Watch the Lake Erie Seiche Live
>>>CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR WEBCAMS<<<
Don’t miss this incredible display of nature on Lake Erie! Whether you’re a weather enthusiast or simply curious about this rare event, you can watch the Lake Erie seiche unfold in real time through our Put-in-Bay webcams. These live streams provide a front-row seat to the action as water levels dramatically fall throughout the day.
We hope you’ll spend some time with us today following this rare phenomenon as it happens. Our webcams offer stunning, real-time views of Put-in-Bay and the surrounding shores, making it easy to experience this natural wonder from anywhere in the world. So grab a drink, settle in, and enjoy the show—it’s nature at its finest!