Marine Strong Wind — Pt Washington To North Pt Lt Wi, Lake Michigan

2016-03-16 · near Port Washington, Pt Washington To North Pt Lt Wi, Lake Michigan

Event narrative

Frequent gusts of 30 to 40 knots during the late morning and afternoon resulted in high waves, estimated as high as 8 feet just off shore. These high winds and waves resulted in a kayak capsizing. The body of the kayaker was never found.

Wider weather episode

Rapidly deepening low pressure over Wisconsin resulted in very windy conditions affecting the lake shore and near shore waters of Lake Michigan from late morning through the afternoon. Frequent west to southwest wind gusts of 30 to 40 knots affected the near shore waters causing high waves. The peak wind gust recorded at the Port Washington lake shore station was 43 knots at 3:10 pm CDT. Wave heights were estimated at 8 feet just off shore. The high winds and waves caused a pair of kayaks located just off the Port Washington shore to capsize. One of the kayakers made it back to shore, but the other kayaker remains missing and presumed drowned.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (43.3900, -87.8600)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 615062. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.