What is a meteotsunami? What happened when it hit shores of Lake Michigan?

With meteotsunamis hitting the shores of Lake Michigan, the question that has popped up is..what is a meteotsunami? According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 'meteotsunamis' are large waves, driven by air-pressure disturbances often associated with fast-moving weather events, such as severe thunderstorms, squalls, and other storm fronts. They are not the result of seismic activities. It happens when the storm generates a wave that moves toward the shore. It is amplified by a shallow continental shelf and inlet, bay, or other coastal features.

Where do meteotsunamis occur?

The NOAA has said on its official website that meteotsunamis may reach heights of 6 feet or more. These meteotsunamies have been observed in places like the Great Lakes, the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Coast, and the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas. The Weather Channel has reported that about 100 meteotsunamis occur in the region every year.

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How a meteotsunami is different from a tsunami?

Contrary to meteotsunamis, regular tsunamis are triggered by seismic activities and can get far larger and wreck havoc creating damage and devastation in a big way. Tsunami waves can exceed 100 feet, but meteotsunamis typically pack waves of roughly 6 feet or less.

NOAA has also said that it is difficult to identify a meteotsunami because its characteristics are almost indistinguishable from a seismic tsunami.

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Meteotsunamis on Lake Michigan shores

Talking to CBS News, Bob Dukesherer, a senior forecaster at the National Weather Service office in Grand Rapids, Michigan, said that Tuesday's meteotsunami measuring 1 to 2 feet on the south end of Lake Michigan "was on the small side."

Earlier in 2018, a meteotsunami in Lake Michigan caused a water level change of 8 feet, it produced damage in the Michigan cities of Ludington and Manistee.

According to the National Weather Service's Grand Rapids station, passing storms had brought "damaging winds and hail to the region" as well as strong wind gusts.

FAQs:

What is a meteotsunami?
Meteotsunamis are large waves, driven by air-pressure disturbances often associated with fast-moving weather events, such as severe thunderstorms, squalls, and other storm fronts.

How is meteotsunami different from a regular tsunami?
Contrary to meteotsunamis, regular tsunamis are triggered by seismic activities and can get far larger and wreak havoc creating damage and devastation in a big way. Tsunami waves can exceed 100 feet, but meteotsunamis typically pack waves of roughly 6 feet or less.