Will there be Lake surge?

[Ixolib]

It appears evident that the eye will go almost directly over the lake. Will the effects of surge have the same impact there as they would on the coastal waters?

[PurdueWx80]

Absolutely - and the effect will be heightened since she is moving so slowly. If an eye is propped over the lake for a long time there will be major flooding along the lake's coast at the opposite end from which the wind is blowing.

[Ixolib]

Absolutely - and the effect will be heightened since she is moving so slowly. If an eye is propped over the lake for a long time there will be major flooding along the lake's coast at the opposite end from which the wind is blowing.

And I would imagine there are homes in that area - or is it directly on the Everglades with sparse population?

[Skywatch_NC]

And to make it more interesting for residents down around that area...displaced fish, snakes and alligators!

Eric

[elvinp]

One of the worst loss of life occurred when hurricane (I believe 1928) swept water out of the Lake killing in excess of 1,000. A couple of weeks later, my dad helped retrieve bodies and remains to be burned to prevent disease. He always had a tear in his eye when he related the story. Now there is a levee to prevent a repeat of that event. 5 feet should not be a problem.

[TLHR]

I would say Yes also.

Be safe!!

[PurdueWx80]

LAKE OKEECHOBEE IS ALREADY BEING AFFECTED BY THE STRONG WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH
FRANCES. AT 8 PM EDT WINDS ACROSS THE LAKE WERE AROUND 40 MPH SUSTAINED
WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 70 MPH. CONSEQUENTLY THE LAKE AT 6 PM WAS ABOUT 15 FEET
ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL ON THE SOUTH END AND WAS AROUND 11.6 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA
LEVEL ON THE NORTH END...A DIFFERENCE OF ABOUT 3 TO 4 FEET. AS FRANCES CONTINUES
TO MOVE ONSHORE...THE NORTHERLY WINDS WILL PUSH THE WATER AS HIGH AS 18 TO 20
FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL TONIGHT ON THE LAKE SIDE OF THE DIKE IN GLADES...
HENDRY...AND WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTIES. THIS WOULD AFFECT AREAS FROM
CLEWISTON ALL THE WAY AROUND TO THE TOWN OF OKEECHOBEE INCLUDING MOORE HAVEN...
CLEWISTON...SOUTH BAY...BELLE GLADE...PAHOKEE AND PORT MAYACA. THE HOOVER DIKE
PROTECTS INHABITED AREAS TO AT LEAST 30 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL. RITTA...
KREAMER AND TORRY ISLANDS WOULD BE FLOODED AT THESE LEVELS INCLUDING SOME
CAMPGROUNDS AND ROADS. THE HIGHEST WATER WILL BE ALONG THE SOUTH END OF THE
LAKE...FROM CLEWISTON TO BELLE GLADE...THIS EVENING BUT WILL MOVE TO THE EASTERN
SHORE AS THE WIND BACKS AROUND TO THE WEST BY SUNDAY MORNING AND THEN FINALLY
AROUND TO THE NORTH END OF THE LAKE BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON AS THE WIND BACKS AROUND
TO THE SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH.

From Miami NWS

[HurricaneQueen]

The Lake is surrounded by trailer parks, fishing camps, migrant camps, etc. It is a highly populated area during "season" but I'm not sure how many people are there now. There are also some beautiful old homes around Clewiston and a few of the "larger" towns. I sure hope the dams hold.

[Ixolib]

LAKE OKEECHOBEE IS ALREADY BEING AFFECTED BY THE STRONG WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH
FRANCES. AT 8 PM EDT WINDS ACROSS THE LAKE WERE AROUND 40 MPH SUSTAINED
WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 70 MPH. CONSEQUENTLY THE LAKE AT 6 PM WAS ABOUT 15 FEET
ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL ON THE SOUTH END AND WAS AROUND 11.6 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA
LEVEL ON THE NORTH END...A DIFFERENCE OF ABOUT 3 TO 4 FEET. AS FRANCES CONTINUES
TO MOVE ONSHORE...THE NORTHERLY WINDS WILL PUSH THE WATER AS HIGH AS 18 TO 20
FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL TONIGHT ON THE LAKE SIDE OF THE DIKE IN GLADES...
HENDRY...AND WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTIES. THIS WOULD AFFECT AREAS FROM
CLEWISTON ALL THE WAY AROUND TO THE TOWN OF OKEECHOBEE INCLUDING MOORE HAVEN...
CLEWISTON...SOUTH BAY...BELLE GLADE...PAHOKEE AND PORT MAYACA. THE HOOVER DIKE
PROTECTS INHABITED AREAS TO AT LEAST 30 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL. RITTA...
KREAMER AND TORRY ISLANDS WOULD BE FLOODED AT THESE LEVELS INCLUDING SOME
CAMPGROUNDS AND ROADS. THE HIGHEST WATER WILL BE ALONG THE SOUTH END OF THE
LAKE...FROM CLEWISTON TO BELLE GLADE...THIS EVENING BUT WILL MOVE TO THE EASTERN
SHORE AS THE WIND BACKS AROUND TO THE WEST BY SUNDAY MORNING AND THEN FINALLY
AROUND TO THE NORTH END OF THE LAKE BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON AS THE WIND BACKS AROUND
TO THE SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH.

From Miami NWS

.