As autumn slowly evolves into winter, the North American continent becomes besieged with storms and foul weather. In the northwest, the Aleutian Low anchors into its winter position over the Gulf of Alaska and sends continuous wind and rain against the Pacific Coast. On the other side of the continent, powerful nor'easters form off the northern Atlantic Coast and attack with intensities that equal hurricanes.

Over the world's largest freshwater region, two storm tracks tend to converge in the month of November. One brings storms southward from Alberta, the other pushes storms from the lee of the central Rockies northward towards the Great Lakes. When these cyclonic systems reach this region, with the jet stream above and the warm Great Lakes waters below, the spin of these storms are accelerated into a frenzy which are often referred to as the "gales of November."

From the viewpoint of the early Europeans who first came to North America, the wrecking and death upon the freshwater sea began with the loss of LaSalle's Griffon, the first Euro ship to transit the upper lakes. To the Native Americans however, the terrifying wrath of this vengeful beast upon its seemingly calm and bounded waters was a spiritual or supernatural visitation that had been known for hundreds of years. No estimate can be made of the first sailors upon the lakes, who were met with sudden disaster crossing the Straits of Mackinac or making the "grand traverse" between Charlevoix and Northport in their birchbark canoes.

The French voyageurs were the first non-natives to develop a healthy respect for the violent temper of the Inland Seas. Ten men paddling 36 feet of birchbark loaded with a ton of furs became the first of the "lakers," a term commonly used to describe the ore boats and bulk freighters that ply the Great Lakes today.

They initially learned the hard way, and thereafter tended to remain relatively close to shore in their journey from Montreal to the western shore of Lake Superior. Like the ocean sailors who would follow in their footsteps, they felt they were safe from storms and the dangers of the sea being distant from an ocean that took weeks to cross. Yet many floundered in a sudden intense gale within sight of shore.

Life expectancy for a sailor upon the Great Lakes in the 19th century was estimated to be less than seven years after beginning such a career and more dangerous than shipping out aboard a whaler from Nantucket. In fact, the term "mayday" is believed to have its origin from the voyageurs upon the lakes, derived from the word M'aidez, which is French for "Help me!" (Click here for other nautical word origins.)

A significant change in attitude regarding the potential flurry of the Great Lakes occurred with the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Prior to her loss, technology gave a false sense of security as a result of weather forecasting, charting and accurate aids to navigation. The belief prevailed that the legendary gales of November were no longer strong enough to bother the lakers of today.