A flawed warning system

Storm warnings for heavy gales were posted on the morning of November 7, after an alert was issued from the weather service. These warnings were actually made up of a series of wicker baskets, flags and lights (so they could be seen at night). They indicated the anticipated strength and direction of the wind. This heavy gale warning, the highest warning that could be posted on the Great Lakes, remained in place along all ports in Ontario until November 11. Ports along the U.S. side of the Great Lakes carried the same warning.

The downside of these warnings, however, was that they did not give an estimate of when the storm would actually hit. During the inquest into the Great Storm held in Goderich, it was revealed that for this reason, many sailors did not like to rely on these warnings. With November being close to the end of shipping season, there was a rush to get the last cargoes delivered. Despite warnings, the uncertainty of the storm’s timing led many captains to take a chance with the weather. They attempted to make their next port hoping to beat the storm.