Beware of the “November Witch!”
The freighter, The SS Edmund Fitzgerald, sank from this brutal system of storms that scream across the Great Lakes from Canada every autumn. Listen to the haunting song by Gordon Lightfoot and learn more about "The November Witch."
The November Witch, sometimes phrased as “the Witch of November,” is a popular name for the frequent and brutal system of windy storms that come screaming across the Great Lakes from Canada every autumn.
Though termed “lakes,” North America’s Great Lakes are each large enough to create their own weather systems, making them, more accurately, inland seas. In fact, collectively, the Great Lakes chain makes up the Earth’s largest system of freshwater seas.
Each year, right around mid-November, violent gales occur when the low pressure from the frigid arctic air north of the lakes comes into contact with warmer fronts pulled up from the Gulf of Mexico.
These storms can be so severe that their force is equivalent to a low-level hurricane, with winds above 80 miles per hour and towering 20-foot seas.
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
The term “Witch of November” was famously used in the song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” by Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, a poetic tribute to one of the most well-known Great Lakes shipwrecks in recent memory.
On November 10, 1975, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, a massive ore freighter that had once been the largest in its class, sank to the bottom of Lake Superior during a particularly violent autumn gale, killing all 29 of its crew members.
Though one of the most infamous, Edmund Fitzgerald was far from the only ship to succumb to the Witch of November. The floors of all five Great Lakes are littered with thousands of wrecked vessels.
More than 6,000 ships were lost on the Great Lakes between the years 1878 and 1897 alone. Over the last 300 years, an estimated 25,000 mariners have lost their lives on the Great Lakes, with the vast majority of those casualties occurring within the icy grip of the November Witch.
Watch the following tribute to the Edmund Fitzgerald, with real news footage, set to Gordon Lightfoot’s famous tune:
Jaime McLeod
Jaime McLeod is a longtime journalist who has written for a wide variety of newspapers, magazines, and websites, including MTV.com. She enjoys the outdoors, growing and eating organic food, and is interested in all aspects of natural wellness.
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I stood on the shore of Lake Erie that day and had never seen the Lake so wild. Never gave a thought about the ship even though my good friend was on it. What a shock when I saw the headlines on the Star Beacon the next day saying she had gone down. 46 years now and every year I still feel the pain.
Thanks for sharing your story with us, Sheri. Heartbreaking.
Powerful video–thank you…
While I am a Gordon Lightfoot Fan of numerous decades, this Tribute was very sad, Dirgeful tune/melody but, unfortunately, it fit the situation. Those Greedy Corporate Tycoons HAVE NO FEELING FOR PRECIOUS LIVES LOST BECAUSE OF THEIR GREED ! I AM VERY GLAD THAT THOSE SHIPS ARE NOT ALLOWED SAIL IN WEATHER LIKE THAT ANYMORE !
Also, I am a Fan of Lighthouses, as well and NEW JERSEY HAS MANY OF THEM. Every Third Weekend in October there is “The Lighthouse Challenge”. Those entered try to visit and walkup or down every single Lighthouse in the State. I have gone to visit Lighthouses on a different weekend than this October and have visited several Lighthouses.
Thank you for your time and interest ..
SINCERE SYMPATHIES TO ALL THOSE FAMILIES WHO LOST RELATIVES IN THOSE SHIPWRECKS. MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE FOR AN ETERNAL BLESSXING ! LET UIS SAY AMEN.
Why do they allow shipping to proceed during a time of the year recognized to be particularly dangerous? Aren’t the lives of all those men worth more than a load of ore or any other cargo for that matter?
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last large commercial ship to sink on the Great lakes and that was 45 years ago. This is because of the improved weather forecasting technology. They don’t sail anymore in bad weather.
Beautiful way to remember
I normally don’t do a lot of posting however want to share my story. We lived on the north shore of Lake Superior when this storm hit and my husband, myself, and two friends went to a lookout to check out the storm. To avoid being blown away, the stronger one held onto the door handle of the car and we all looped our arms together. I have never experienced the strength of such a wind until that moment in time and haven’t since.
This song has always made me cry. Even when it first came out, although at the time I didn’t realize it was a true story. When I learned it was true, for a long time I thought the wreck was much older. But after I learned the truth…even now I weep for the lives lost, and for the grief of the families left behind. Davy Jones got himself a good crew. May they and their loved ones know peace.
I am from Illinois and I can remember as a kid always hearing the older folks talk about the Edmond Fitzgerald the closer it got to November. A true loss that will never be forgotten. May the souls and the families of the Fitzgerald find peace.
I have always liked Gordon Lightfoot. This particular song was informative and a beautiful musical tribute to the crew. May God give peace and comfort to their families.
This has been one of the best posts ever on Facebook. If you’ve ever been on the Great Lakes you can imagine what it felt like. I went once on rugged waters as a dare and needless to say I’ll never do big water again!