The Witch of November came calling that fateful day.
In Charlevoix, Michigan (harbor town on northern Lake Michigan), the local McDonalds had a picture (I saw it 35 years ago) of the Charlevoix south pier lighthouse taken on that day. The structure is 44 ft tall, and on that day the waves were easily past the midpoint.
Several years ago I took an early October backpack trip to Picture Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore (Park) on the south shore of Lake Superior. We got hit with an early season winter storm on our first day, with 30-40 mph winds and graupel squalls and snow throughout the day. Around 4pm, we pitched a tent behind a dune on the lakeshore. The sun had peaked out a bit.
I looked to the northwest and saw a line of black clouds bearing down. We stowed our gear and hunkered down. The squalls sounded like a freight train bearing down on us. First the roaring wind, then a shaking tent, and then a fusillade of hail that made the tent sound like a snare drum (with us inside). It would last a few minutes, tail off, and then repeat.
We ate in the tent and dozed off. Around midnight I awoke, and saw full moon shining. The wind was still blasting. I was sure I heard children's voices in the woods. My mind was obviously going. We decamped at 8am the next day after 16 hours in that tent.