…… An hour before the Fitzgerald's departure, the National Weather Service(NWS) predicted storms in the Lake Superior area for the next day. By early evening on November 9, the NWS issued gale warnings (winds of 39 to 54 mph) for the entirety of Lake Superior. The winds were predicted to be easterly during the night, southeasterly the 169 following morning, and west to southwest by the afternoon of November 10. The NWS further advised that there would be rain, thunderstorms, and waves of 8 to 15 feet. Early on November 10, the NWS upgraded its forecast to a storm warning (winds of 55 mph or more) and predicted northeast winds eventually becoming northwesterly for the following day.