Lakeshore Flood — Marquette, Michigan

2017-10-24 · Marquette, Michigan

Event narrative

Extensive lake shore flooding was reported along Lake Superior from Marquette to Shot Point from north storm force winds building waves as high as 25 to 30 feet. Two people drowned when they were swept off Black Rocks at Presque Isle Park in Marquette during the storm. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter from Air Station Traverse City flew in for a search and rescue operation but the victims were not found in the turbulent waters. The storm and wave action did an estimated $500,000 in damage at Picnic Rocks Park along Lakeshore Boulevard in Marquette.

Wider weather episode

A rapidly deepening fall storm system tracking from the Ohio Valley to near the Mackinac Straits produced very strong and damaging north winds up to 60 mph, power outages and extensive lake shore flooding over mainly the north half of Upper Michigan on the 24th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 721353. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.