Holiday Travel Impact: Strong Winds & Lake Erie Seiche Cancel Ferry Trips
A significant weather event is expected to hit Lake Erie this week, bringing strong winds, rapidly changing water levels, and a major seiche that may expose parts of the western basin. The system arrives late Tuesday night and peaks Wednesday into Thanksgiving Day.
The Miller Ferry has already announced service changes due to the forecast.
Wednesday, Nov. 26: One trip only — departing Put-in-Bay at 8:00 AM and Catawba at 8:30 AM.
Middle Bass service is canceled. The rest of the trips are canceled.
Thursday, Nov. 27: Thanksgiving Day service is fully canceled.
Miller noted that winds are now expected to arrive earlier than first predicted, making it necessary to secure the vessel before water levels fall.
Meteorologists are warning of a large Lake Erie seiche, with the National Weather Service issuing a Gale Warning from Wednesday morning through Friday morning. Forecasts call for 40–50 mph gusts, waves reaching 10–15 feet (and potentially higher in some locations), and a dramatic drop in western Lake Erie’s water levels — possibly around six feet.
This could expose sections of the lakebed and disrupt normal water access along the shoreline.
The eastern end of Lake Erie may see the opposite effect, with water levels more than 11 feet higher near Buffalo compared to Toledo.
Residents and visitors planning to observe the changing conditions are urged to use caution. Experts advise staying back from the shoreline, avoiding drained lakebed areas, and being mindful that returning water can be unpredictable.
