Lake Michigan hit by tsunami after days of 'hurricane' level wind

Lake Michigan experiences several meteotsunamis every year

Lake Michigan has experienced a tsunami after several days of severe weather brought widespread flooding across the Midwest.

While the idea of a tsunami on Lake Michigan might sound bizarre, the Great Lakes actually experience several every year. The event, which is called a meteotsunami occurs about 100 times a year on average. Meteotsunamis are relatively rare in other parts of the US.

Unlike regular tsunamis, meteotsunamis are caused by atmospheric conditions. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, meteotsunamis are large waves driven by air-pressure disturbances that often come with severe thunderstorms and squalls. When the storm hits, it creates a large wave that moves toward the shore.

The region around Lake Michigan, which is the second largest of the Great Lakes, has been experiencing severe weather conditions the past several days. Damaging wind that reached ‘hurricane’ levels and hail had swept across the area, providing optimal conditions for a meteotsunami.

Luckily, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said that the meteotsunami this week was relatively small, reaching 2 feet at its highest point.

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Regular tsunamis, which are triggered by seismic activity, can get far larger and cause significantly more damage.Tsunami waves are known to exceed 100 feet, but meteotsunamis typically pack waves of roughly 6 feet or less.

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