Lakeshore Flood — Racine, Wisconsin

2020-01-11 · Racine, Wisconsin

Event narrative

Lakeshore erosion at Carre Hogel Park (200' shoreline), Pershing Drive (900' shoreline), North of Zoo Beach (260' embankment/bluff and shoreline erosion), and Shoop Park (50' erosion).

Wider weather episode

Strong low pressure passing by to the southeast resulted in an extended period of strong north to northeast winds along the Lake Michigan shoreline of southeast and east central Wisconsin. Wind gusts at Milwaukee Mitchell Field gusted 40 to 50 knots at time from 9 pm CST the evening of January 10 through 3 pm CST the afternoon of January 11. The persistent strong onshore winds combined with near record high Lake Michigan water levels produce severe lakeshore flooding and erosion at the Port of Milwaukee as well as at spots all along Lake Michigan from Kenosha to Sheboygan. Wave heights were estimated to be in the 10 to 18 foot range at the height of the event the morning of January 11th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 867102. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.