39 years ago today, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank in eastern Lake Superior with the loss of all 29 souls on board. Even to this day, the 1975 sinking remains the Great Lakes region’s most famous and mysterious maritime disaster.
To remember of the tragedy, the National Weather Service office in Marquette, Michigan has been live tweeting the event based on the original NTSB Report of the incident and a re-examination paper released in 2006 by Thomas R. Hultquist from NOAA/ NWS Marquette. A sample of their live feed, in near real-time as it happened 39 years ago, can be found below. And what better way to kick it off than with the Gordon Lightfoot’s “The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald”, aka Gales of November, written in remembrance of the event:
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Over the next couple of days we will be retracing the final voyage of the Edmund Fitzgerald. #EdmundFitz1975
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 8, 2014
The Edmund Fitzgerald launched on 6/7/1958 from the Great Lakes Engineering Works in River Rouge, MI. #EdmundFitz1975 pic.twitter.com/WrJzKALWG6 — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 8, 2014
At the time of her launch, the 26,000 DWT Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest freighter on the Great Lakes, measuring 729’ long by 75’ wide, and in 1964 became the first carrier to haul more than 1 million tons of iron ore pellets through the SOO locks.
Captain Ernest McSorley, a veteran mariner, assumed command of the Fitzgerald at the start of the 1972 shipping season. #EdmundFitz1975 — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 9, 2014
On October 31, 1975, the Coast Guard noted a problem with the cargo hatch covers during a routine inspection of the vessel. #EdmundFitz1975
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 9, 2014
A low begins to develop in central KS, while the Duluth Harbor experiences temps just above freezing. #EdmundFitz1975 pic.twitter.com/2hp80mAwfZ — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 9, 2014
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald began loading 26,116 tons of taconite pellets in Superior, WI. #EdmundFitz1975 pic.twitter.com/U7LyDhDeUE
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 9, 2014
NWS forecasted northeast winds increasing to 38 knots late that night and continuing into the 10th. #EdmundFitz1975 pic.twitter.com/KbzzvanEvX — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 9, 2014
The Edmund Fitzgerald left Superior, Wisconsin on its final voyage at 2:15pm on November 9, 1975. #EdmundFitz1975
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 9, 2014
The NWS issued a gale warning for winds up to 45 knots on Lake Superior for the night of November 9, 1975. #EdmundFitz1975 — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 9, 2014
At 4:30pm on 11/9/1975, the Arthur M Anderson left Two Harbors, Minnesota en route to Gary, Indiana. #EdmundFitz1975 pic.twitter.com/FKj00DEvnQ — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 9, 2014
The low strengthened to 993mb and was located in eastern Iowa at this time in 1975. #EdmundFitz1975 pic.twitter.com/pwL0MwjGCu
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
The Anderson and #EdmundFitz1975 continue northeast across Lake Superior (blue X), with the Anderson in the lead. pic.twitter.com/GgbZBDZFrL — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
The latest NWS forecast in 1975 continued to show winds to 45 knots through the 10th. #EdmundFitz1975 pic.twitter.com/mg4bh4qywY
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
At 1:00 AM (06z) on Nov 10, the #EdmundFitz1975 and Anderson were southeast of Isle Royale in western Lake Superior. pic.twitter.com/32F9Lf5u5H — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
The Fitzgerald reported northeast winds at 52 knots and 10 foot waves at 1:00 am on 11/10/1975. #EdmundFitz1975
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
In 1975, the NWS issued a storm warning for Lake Superior for northwest winds up to 50 knots. #EdmundFitz1975 pic.twitter.com/yjtpeIIyEW — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
Captains McSorley and Cooper both expressed concern about the deteriorating weather conditions. #EdmundFitz1975
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
At 3 AM on 11/10/1975, the faster Edmund Fitzgerald pulls ahead of the Arthur M. Anderson. #EdmundFitz1975 — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
Weather Map update: At 7AM on 11/10/1975 the strong low of 983mb was located near Marquette, MI. #EdmundFitz1975 pic.twitter.com/EabxjYthHV
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
45 miles north of Copper Harbor, MI, the #EdmundFitz1975 observed northeast winds at 35 knots with 10 foot waves. pic.twitter.com/x8ZUidpVfR — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
The Edmund Fitzgerald would have been near the center of the low at this time on November 10, 1975. #EdmundFitz1975 pic.twitter.com/YoIiaSzIRv
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
Updated forecast from the NWS indicated Northwest winds 32-48kts that afternoon and night with waves 8 to 16 feet. #EdmundFitz1975 — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
The low was quickly moving to the northeast and began to switch the winds to the northwest. #EdmundFitz1975 pic.twitter.com/jOkMXPTOG8
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
Nearing the Canadian shoreline, the ships turn to the southeast and head towards Michipicoten Island. #EdmundFitz1975 pic.twitter.com/952QjodpIt — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
At this time in 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald was around 8 miles ahead and east of the Anderson. #EdmundFitz1975
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
Weather report from the Arthur M. Anderson: Northwest winds at 42 knots and waves of 12 to 16 feet. #EdmundFitz1975 pic.twitter.com/c2rA0deLEp — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
NE of Caribou Island, Captain McSorley radioed the Anderson and indicated the #EdmundFitz1975 had developed a list and lost a couple vents.
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
The Fitzgerald indicated it would slow down to reduce the distance between Anderson and itself. #EdmundFitz1975 — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
An estimated 75 knot, hurricane-force northwest wind gust hit the Arthur M. Anderson at 4PM on 11/10/1975. #EdmundFitz1975
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
Captain McSorley reported to the Anderson that both of its radars were out and it would need them to help them navigate. #EdmundFitz1975 — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
U.S. Coast Guard in Grand Marais advised the #EdmundFitz1975 that the radio beacon at Whitefish Point wasn’t working. pic.twitter.com/E7hQ9BJ1kF
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
East-Northeast of Caribou Island, the Anderson reports northwest winds at 52 knots and waves of 12 to 18 feet. #EdmundFitz1975 — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
#EdmundFitz1975 communicated with the northbound Swedish freighter Avafors and indicated that it was taking heavy seas across the deck.
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
Captain McSorley tells the Avafors that this is “One of the worst seas I’ve ever been in.” #EdmundFitz1975 — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
The Anderson continues to provide navigational assistance to the Fitzgerald as it follows the ship towards Whitefish Bay. #EdmundFitz1975
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
The #EdmundFitz1975 (blue x) is encountering the worst winds of its trip, which can be seen in this model simulation. http://t.co/RN1PH02ipp
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
The same can be said for waves, which recent models indicate reached 7.8 meters (25.5’). #EdmundFitz1975 http://t.co/fawTtld9eE
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
Anderson received an update from the Fitzgerald that it was 10 miles ahead and 1 mile east. #EdmundFitz1975
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 11, 2014
Anderson radios the Fitzgerald to ask how they were doing. McSorley responded “We are holding our own.” #EdmundFitz1975
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 11, 2014
No other communication was heard from the Fitzgerald. #EdmundFitz1975
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 11, 2014
The Fitzgerald, with 29 officers and crewmembers, sank approximately 17 mi from Whitefish Point, MI. #EdmundFitz1975
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 11, 2014
The #EdmundFitz1975 wreckage is located in 530’ of water just north of the International Boundary Line. pic.twitter.com/dF1IPTKi68
— NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 11, 2014
The full live tweeting stream can be found on the NWS Marquette feed using #EdmundFitz1975
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