A strong Fall storm will sweep across the Great Lakes the next two days producing unusually high winds, lake effect and lake enhanced rain showers, and sharply colder temperatures. The National Weather Service has posted Storm Warnings for Lake Michigan with waves of 14 feet or more expected. That means stay off piers and jetties, and no boating through at least Tuesday morning. High wind warnings are in effect for all the counties that border Lake Michigan, while wind advisories are in effect for all of our inland counties. Warnings mean winds will be sustained at 40 mph or more, and/or gusts or 58 mph or greater will occur. Advisories mean sustained winds of 30-39 mph with gusts of 45-57 mph. So the strongest winds will occur at the lakeshore with gusts of 60 mph or greater possible. Again, these are non-thunderstorm winds! That means synoptic scale winds (or non-convective) due to an area of low pressure. We may very well see trees, branches, and power lines taken out. Make sure to secure anything that may be loose around the house or yard. Beach erosion is possible along the Lake Michigan shoreline with strong, battering waves, and also some minor coastal flooding. Winds will begin to relax as we head through Tuesday and we should begin to clear the skies out Wednesday morning.
