High Surf — Ashland, Wisconsin

2022-08-07 · Ashland, Wisconsin

Event narrative

At approximately 2:38PM CDT on the afternoon of the 7th, La Pointe Police, La Pointe Fire and Madeline Island EMS were dispatched to Big Bay State Park at the southeast corner of the island for a man that was cliff jumping at the Eagle's Nest cliffs and did not resurface. The man had completed one jump and on the second, succumbed to the rough surf conditions in place (41, M). He was alone in the water at the time. Winds were from the NNE at around 10 mph with gusts to around 20 mph at the time with waves around 2 to 4 feet. A Small Craft Advisory was in effect at the time. The man's body was not recovered until the early afternoon on the 8th. Multiple agencies assisted with the search and recovery efforts including the Wisconsin DNR, US Park Service, USCG, Bayfield Fire Dive Team, Sawyer County Dive Team, Sawyer County Search and Rescue, Ashland County Sheriffs Office, Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission and Mashkiiziibii Conservation Wardens from the Bad River Tribe. In a separate incident just east of Ashland on Chequamegon Bay, a 60 year old man was last seen fishing during the afternoon hours alone amid the large waves and windy conditions. His empty boat was found washed ashore the next morning (Monday) near Second Landing Water Access and he was reported missing when he failed to report for work that morning. His body was located about a half-mile from where his boat washed ashore Thursday night (60, M). While a Small Craft Advisory was in effect on Lake Superior, one was not in effect for the waters of Chequamegon Bay.

Wider weather episode

Strong north-northeasterly winds across western Lake Superior led to waves of 2 to 4 feet along the eastern facing shores of Madeline Island. A man cliff jumping at the cliffs in Big Bay State Park on the southeast corner of the island was overcome by the surf and drowned. Additionally, a man fishing on Chequamegon Bay was last seen during the afternoon hours with his body not being found until later that week.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1053827. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.