West wind a blowing

JC290

here's what happens to my marina on Lake Erie when we get a hard and persistent west wind. Water was down over five feet. 

Handymans342

WOW hope they dredge that

JC290

That was dredged last fall believe it or not. Normally about 4 to 6 foot of water there

Dream_Inn

Wow, the water sure dropped down.  Every now and then we get the 'bathtub' effect here.  The water will lower down 3-5 feet and then all come back hours later and up that much higher than normal.  It's then that I'm happy I'm on the lift and not have to worry.  It also looks like your pilings are only 4x4s?  I'm a bit surprised, but I guess if it works.

earl1z19

That's why its best to be out by Mid October. Especially this year. Water was high 3 times and then low water by 5-6'. Here in West Harbor on lake Erie its been a roller coaster ride. I was out by the 2nd week of September. The weather this fall has not been conducive to boating to say the least. The fishing has been really hit or miss as well.

JC290

I will go for another ride this weekend and than pull it. Dream ya 4x4 the docks are fastened to the pilings underneath them the 4x4 are for dock lines it works fine 90% of the time 

MarkB

My goodness. I've never seen that before. Looks like a few boats have bottomed out. One boat looks like they need to slack the lines on.

rasbury

that is amazing...and just the wind! There are places here in FL on the intercoastal that does not have tides per say but the wind will cause the same issue....

LaRea

Happens a lot here too.  Give us a couple days of steady wind out of the northwest, and the Potomac will drop 3-4 feet below normal.  But we rarely get the opposite.

Here's a shot from last February.

Michael T

Brutal!

checkmate

The lake Erie tide......  See it happen all the time.  2-4 feet in a day happens quite a bit through out the year.  Even in winter time with the ice, I see it happen

MarkB

Well, that looks like ice in the picture above.

halifax212

so is the water 5' higher somewhere else on the lake? 

checkmate

The east side of lake probably rose 5 ft higher.   When we get those 30-40 mph West winds for a day it just pushes the water east.  Vise versa when the east winds come it rises on the west end for lake Erie.   Water returns back to normal when winds dies off.

Handymans342

Same thing in a hurricane

JC290

That particular day the east side of Lake Erie was getting 9 to 12 waves by ripely New York. I usually set my lines for four feet of up or down movement. Twice this this year I had water so far over my dock the keel was even with the top of the dock. 

Michael T

I will never again complain about the approximately  2 feet the St. Lawrence drops from April to October over the course of the Summer.

MarkB

I'd imagine those are small areas and the water volume that moves out distributes across the west side of the lake adding a few inches over a much larger area.

rasbury

I never would have thought..and thinking on these inland places had it made as far as "tides".

checkmate

More than a few inches.  Here is a pic of a strong east wind.  Water level raised every bit of 2-3 foot.  Water is over top of my dock.  Which usually sits about 2-3 feet under it.  Now this was back in June.  But when jc posted those pics I was also showing the bottom of lake.  Which is about 8 ft from my dock down.  Wish I would have taken a pic to compare the 8 ft water tide.  It was 4 months apart though.  Next time we get a strong West wind I'll post the two pics side by side to show you.

Michael T

Wow, that would be interesting!

BellevilleMXZ

WOW that's something to see, no idea the wind would effect the water level that much!

JC290

We really have to watch the wind around here if you don't you might find yourself running a ground. 

halifax212

1 hour west of where I boat. My tides are about 6' where the Bay of Fundy as shown range 30 to 50 feet daily!

LaRea

It would be safe to assume that the Bay of Fundy wins bragging rights in this matter!

Michael T

This is where I'd be with Steve and DI - BOAT LIFT!!!!!!!

Handymans342

Where else can you paint your boat in the afternoon and go fishing later!

JC290

LaRea said:

It would be safe to assume that the Bay of Fundy wins bragging rights in this matter!

I would say so now that's crazy

earl1z19

In the picture above, that channel cant be very wide when there is water as you can see grass growing on the right hand side.

JC290

Here's one from last night the DNR dock was over eight out of the water. Had to laugh as we were watching the ducks walk around in the marina. 

MarkB

I heard some bays in Erie are almost empty due to the wild winds today. Some people are able to walk to islands without getting their feet wet.