Waves could be up to 20 feet high across Lake Michigan today

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The National Weather Service says a low pressure system and strong winds will trigger some notable waves on Lake Michigan over the next few days, including some that could potentially break 20 feet.

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The National Weather Service has updated its Marine forecast Thursday morning. Winds could reach up to 45 knots and trigger a storm warning for Lake Michigan.

The warning divides the lake into two regions, a hypothetical line between Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and Pentwater, Michigan. In the north, waves on Thursday should measure between 7 and 10 feet, with some reaching up to 13 feet. To the south, waves could build up to 12 and 16 feet high, potentially reaching a maximum height of 21 feet.

According to the NWS, waves are expected to remain strong over the next few days, but will be strongest on Thursday and Friday.

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In the southern region, waves should weaken to 7 to 10 feet Thursday evening and increase again to 10 to 14 feet Friday.

Despite the warning, weather watchers shouldn’t expect a 21-foot boat to crash into West Michigan piers.

Marine forecasting focuses on waters more than five nautical miles offshore. Although the waves will still be high, it is highly unlikely that they will reach this height by the time they reach shore. Wind direction, topography and the shallower water tend to slow the waves as they approach.

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According to the NWS, the largest wave recorded The wave height recorded for Lake Michigan was 23 feet and was captured on September 30, 2011 by a buoy in the middle of the lake about 40 miles east of Kenosha, Wisconsin. Closer to shore, however, these waves were about 17.6 feet.

That doesn’t mean they can’t happen. In particular a A meteorite sunami swept over Grand Haven on July 4, 1929, with a wave estimated at 20 feet and killing 10 people.

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