PIB SEICHE WATCH 2025! Lake Erie Is Putting On A Show
A seiche is underway on Lake Erie, and you can watch it unfold live on our webcams! This is one of the great Lake Erie weather phenomena, and it makes for amazing viewing.
You can find our webcams RIGHT HERE!
What's All This Seiche Business About?
A “seiche” refers to a standing wave in a body of water, where wind and rapid shifts in air pressure cause the water to slosh dramatically from one end to the other, in this case, across Lake Erie. After the push from wind or pressure subsides, the water rebounds and continues to oscillate for hours. This unique behavior can lead to strikingly rapid changes in lake levels along the shoreline. The pictures in this article, and likely any you see anywhere else today, come from a massive seiche we had in early 2024 (taken by friends of the page Barry Koehler!). Because of Lake Erie’s shape and relatively shallow depth, it’s especially prone to these events. That’s why what you’re witnessing today may be truly remarkable.
You can watch it RIGHT HERE!
The Weather Won't Be Like This In Summer 2026, So Plan A Trip While You're Here!
We Had Another Notable, Though Slightly Less Severe Seiche In Late 2024
Friends of the page Joan and Roger Rhoad were out and got some shots of the aftermath, to give you an idea of what the water levels can drop to during even a mild instance of this phenomenon.
The Impact Of An Active Seiche
Seiches aren’t just a neat spectacle. In rare cases, they can reshape the shoreline, impact docks or boats, expose the lake bottom, or flood low-lying areas when water surges back. On the flip side, they can also drastically lower water levels, leaving boat ramps dry or grounding vessels in shallow areas. In short: whether the water is rising or falling, it pays to stay alert and keep a safe distance from shore while watching.
Seiches Aren't All Fun and Games
Lake Erie has produced some dramatic seiches in the past. One of the most notable occurred in 1844, when water surged about 22 feet, overtopped a seawall near Buffalo, New York, tragically killing dozens and even pausing the flow of Niagara Falls for over a day. More recently, seiches have continued to remind us of the lake’s power. Though modern forecasting, warnings, and safety measures reduce the risk, the phenomenon still commands respect. And while on our side of the lake it just means falling water levels, over on the Buffalo side, there is some threat to property along the lakefront.
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It's Going To Make For Great Viewing!
Curious to see it in real time? We’ve got you covered. Head to our live webcam stream and catch the motion as the seiche plays out across Put-in-Bay. It’s an awesome chance to see a massive freshwater lake behave in ways most people never get to witness. Grab a warm drink, sit back somewhere safe, and enjoy the show. Nature rarely puts on a performance like this.
Tune in to our webcams RIGHT HERE!