 The result is commonly referred to as a " November gale " or " November witch . " Such a storm can maintain hurricane @-@ force wind gusts , produce waves over 50 feet ( 15 m ) high , and dump several inches of rain or feet of snow . Fuelled by the warm lake water , these powerful storms may remain over the Great Lakes for days . Intense winds ravage the lakes and surrounding shores , severely eroding and flooding the shorelines . 
