Tsunami on The Great Lakes?

West Michigan recently had near hurricane-force winds come through the region so is a tsunami on the horizon for the Great Lakes?

What is a Tsunami?

Before we dive into the possibility of a tsunami in the Great Lakes, let's discuss what a tsunami is. I think from the picture above, a tsunami has to do with giant waves and you are correct. These waves are caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions that occur under the sea. Tsunami waves can travel as fast as a jet plane.

What is a Meteotsunami?

Now that you know what a tsunami is, you need to know what a meteotsunami is. Unlike its counterpart, a meteotsunami is not triggered by seismic activity but is driven by air-pressure disturbances associated with fast-moving weather systems. Now that you know the difference between a tsunami and meteotsunami let's talk about the possibility of a tsunami in the Great Lakes.

Tsunami in the Great Lakes?

Michigan is a lucky state to be surrounded by the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes are the largest bodies of freshwater on the planet. If you are standing on the beach of Lake Michigan, it looks like you are standing on one of the United States coasts looking at an ocean. My favorite part of the Great Lakes is no sharks or jellyfish. So could a tsunami happen in the Great Lakes?

The short answer to the question is yes and it already has but in the form of a meteosunami. According to The Weather Channel, a meteotsunami hit the shores of Holland, Michigan, on June 25, 2024, the same day near hurricane-force winds struck the region.

A meteotsunami was captured on film pushing water from Lake Michigan way further up on shore than normal. Meteotsunamis produce small waves but sometimes can be as high as 6 feet. Around 100 meteotsunamis happen each year on the Great Lakes. To see a video of the one that hit Holland, click here.