Onshore winds caused temperatures to drop nearly 10 degrees Celsius on Lake Michigan, which may have caused the boat to capsize on May 16.
Authorities rescue a capsized boat on Lake Michigan. Video: Fox 13
The boat capsized near Chicago's 31st Street Beach after a sudden gust of wind dramatically changed the temperature in the area. All on board were rescued in time. The accident was caused by a weather phenomenon unique to the area called the "pneumonia front." The phenomenon occurs when cold winds off the shore of Lake Michigan accelerate toward the mainland, causing temperatures to plummet, according to Newsweek .
The term was coined by the National Weather Service in the 1960s to describe a drop in temperature of nearly 9 degrees Celsius in just one hour. It typically occurs between April and July. Boats can capsize due to all sorts of extreme weather conditions, but the high winds of a pneumonia front are more likely to cause the accident.
Caps can happen when a person standing on a boat encounters a sudden gust of wind, or when the weight of the boat is unevenly distributed. The National Weather Service predicted a pneumonia front just days before it hit the area. Experts say the phenomenon caused temperatures to drop more than 13 degrees Celsius in less than an hour. Southwest Wisconsin was also affected. The sudden change in temperature may seem surreal, but it usually passes quickly.
The phenomenon reportedly ended during the day, but the colder conditions remained for several days. Lake Michigan is so large that it can create its own weather patterns. The lake plays a major role in influencing the climate and temperatures in Chicago and parts of Illinois and Wisconsin. Winds over the lake help cool temperatures in the summer, but can also bring warmth in the winter. Cool air masses over the lake can increase the amount of rain or snowfall.
An Khang (According to Newsweek )
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