TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – A seiche in Lake Erie happens when strong winds from a powerful low either push all the water away from the shoreline or up onto it.
Seiches can happen in any of the Great Lakes, but they’re much more dramatic in Lake Erie because of its unique shape and shallow depth.
“The lake is much like a bathtub where it just rocks back and forth and there’s fluctuations going on all the time,” explained Dr. Todd Crail. He’s a Distinguished University Lecturer at the University of Toledo in the Department of Environmental Sciences. “Lake Erie is extremely interesting because the shallowness of the lake can drain a significant amount of the western basin.”…