Time of day and wind direction may have a temporary local effect as can water flows from neraby rivers. Parts of the shoreline are within the Hiawatha National Forest and the Manistee National Forest. The weather is getting warmer in summer, so fish become more active during this time of the year. 44.2, 1.1], [47] The lake is a great place to view ice volcanoes,[48] which typically occur at the start of the winter season. Huron. ', 'Max. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. 1.2], 33.3, In addition of the water temperature, also shown air temperature, weather conditions and the wave heights on the coast. Fish can be found in the deep cold waters of Lake Michigan in summer. Home Monthly Lake Michigan water temperature chart. This program was so successful that the introduced population of trout and salmon exploded, resulting in the creation of a large sport fishery for these introduced species. Salmon bites well after sunrise and before sunset. The measurements for the water temperature in Lake Michigan, Michigan are provided by the daily satellite readings provided by the NOAA. Please select one of the following: Lake Michigan water levels remain near the highest observed monthly levels (since at least 1918). I am an avid angler and outdoorsman. Anglers receive meals and drinks during full-day fishing trips as well. For more detailed information about water temperature, surf forecast, weather and time of sunrise and sunset in any specific area of your interest, just click on a city name. December: December is a great month for steelhead the tributaries of Lake Michigan. Knowing the best and worst conditions can have an outsized impact on how many bass you will catch. Photo courtesy of Matt Zuro. legend: 'none', In each decade since 1980, steady increases in obscure surface temperature have occurred. [Pentwater] NOAA is reporting that water temperature is running 6 to 10 degrees above normal, resulting in setting new records on lakes Michigan-Huron, Erie, and Ontario. So, anglers should go fishing at sunrise or at sunset. [Kewaunee/Manitowoc] Max: 4.2C / 39.6F Avg: 2.7C / 36.9F Presented weather data are now available for each of the resorts. It would be better to plan Lake Michigan fishing adventures for March April. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration }. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Lake Huron, please check out this helpful article. From May to October, the historic steamship, SSBadger, operates daily between Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and Ludington, Michigan,[46] connecting U.S. Highway 10 between the two cities. [Ludington] 17.7], Several lakes appear to be warming faster than. GLSEA
Lake Michigan water temperature in July Average monthly sea temperatures in Lake Michigan Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec C: 3.4: 2.7: 2.7: 3.4: 4.7: 11.3: 19.6: 21.4: 19.3: 2.4, 100%. Water surface temperature values are available in real time. A lot of steelhead can be found in the Manistee, Muskegon, and Pere Marquette rivers. 39.7, The lake's average depth is 46 fathoms 3 feet (279ft; 85 m), while its greatest depth is 153 fathoms 5 feet (923ft; 281m). WaterTemperature.net All Rights Reserved. You would have to be insane or getting paid to want to get in water this cold! More Lake Michigan water level impacts can be found in our past news stories. Fishing is productive in the late spring and during the summer months. Stormdata The normal high-water mark is 2.00 feet (0.61m) above datum (577.5ft (176.0m)). Lake Michigan is one of the largest lakes in North America and is home to some of the best trout and salmon fishing in the country. We use data from various sources, including National Centers for Environmental Information (NOAA), meteorological services of different countries, data received from more than a thousand buoys around the world, satellite systems for scanning the surface of the oceans and seas. 34,
Once you arrive here, you will find that there is no shortage of activities or entertainment. November: November is a great time to fish for steelhead in Lake Michigan. Erie. [Southern Region], Lake Michigan Port Images Near South Shore Drive in Chicago, IL on Jan 11. (overcast clouds) Wind. [14] During the 1640s and 1650s, the Beaver Wars over the fur trade with the European colonies, initiated by the Iroquois, forced a massive demographic shift as their western neighbors fled the violence. Global Land One-kilometer Base Elevation (GLOBE) v.1. Information Quality Commercial tug-and-barge traffic on these waterways is heavy. In July water temperature in some cities of Lake Michigan is above 68F and it is enough for comfortable bathing. Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, website, https://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/glcfs/. 10.1], Lake Michigan Beach Forecast Conference of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers, Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge. We use data from various local authorities in each specific location of the world to more accurately reflect temperature values. Your modes of transport to Lake Michigan are not limited and its left to your discretion. Water temperature range in Lake Michigan in March is from 28 to 42 degrees.
Data: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory - Ann Arbor Smallmouth bass fishing in Lake Michigan starts in May and continues until the middle of November. ", "Chart: 14901 Edition: 15 Edition Date: August 2006 Clear Dates: NM 12/17/2011 LNM 12/6/2011";"Soundings in feet and fathoms", "Low Great Lakes water levels plague shipping, recreation", "Two Great Lakes hit lowest water levels since record keeping began nearly a century ago",
Current water temperature in Lake Michigan All NOAA, More water level information from water.weather.gov. Anglers should aim to focus on steelhead and salmon when fishing the waters of Lake Michigan during the fall months. Lake Michigan beach at Holland State Park in Park Township, Michigan, Chicago's North Avenue Beach, Lincoln Park, Monthly bulletin of Lake Levels for The Great Lakes; September 2009; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, Wolgamott, K. (May 17, 2018). Winter is a great time to experience ice fishing on Lake Michigan. These maps are mostly helpful for determining locations below the lake level at a given elevation. ['August', . 1: { color: '#FFCC66', targetAxisIndex:0, lineWidth: 8 }, 17.9], chart.draw(data, options); Salmon fishing is excellent in July. They've been using a vertical chain of instruments that measure temperature from just below the surface to bottom. The Washington Post published an article this week that signaled an ominous warning. Rainbow trout and brown trout bite well in February. The southern tip of the lake near Gary, Indiana, is heavily industrialized. During this twelve-month period, water levels ranged from 1.38to 0.71 feet (4222cm) below Chart Datum. Air temperatures in Michigan vary from 33F to 72F during the fall months. ['November', The waters of Lake Michigan are full of largemouth bass. The water temperature in. In the early 17th century, when western European explorers made their first forays into the region, they encountered descendants of the Late Woodland Native Americans: the historic Chippewa; Menominee; Sauk; Fox; Winnebago; Miami; Ottawa; and Potawatomi peoples. 53.1, If the warm temperatures continue to rise the surface temps of the Great Lakes its possible that more lake effect snow may occur, particularly in Michigans Upper Thumb. Turns out it's not the only one! Elevated lake levels increase impacts along the shore during storm events. 0.3], 2: { color: '#FF8C00', targetAxisIndex:0 }, Warmer water temperatures are causing ice to form later in the year and terminating the ice season early. Lake Michigan Water Temperature: Forecasts & current water temp Lake Michigan beaches in Northern Michigan are the only place in the world, aside from a few inland lakes in that region, where Petoskey stones, the Michigan state stone, can be found.[39]. 22.1], To find out the sea temperature today and in the coming days, go to Current sea temperature in Lake Michigan Lake Michigan surface temperature in July Sharma co-authored a startling article entitled Forecasting the Permanent Loss of Lake Ice in the Northern Hemisphere Within the 21st Century. The long term trend for both precipitation and evaporation has been upward over the last several decades. var chart_waterF = document.getElementById('chart_waterF'); Summer is the best season for trophy-class salmon. Average annual water temperature on the coast in Lake Michigan is 48F, by the seasons: in winter 38F, in spring 38F, in summer 62F, in autumn 54F. June is a good time to target coho salmon as well as rainbow trout. [30] As with the high-water records, monthly low-water records were set each month from February 1964 through January 1965. The temperatures given are the sea surface temperature (SST) which is most relevant to recreational users. 7], Air temperatures in Michigan vary from 18F to 34F during the winter months. The hottest month of the year in Lake Michigan Beach is July, with an average high of 80F and low of 63F. Current Conditions 4.2, Average annual water temperature on the coast in Lake Michigan is 48F, by the seasons: in winter 38F, in spring 38F, in summer 62F, in autumn 54F. The most recent period with similar lake levels was 1986-1987. Since then, I've lived across the country and have continued learning about fishing. Green Bay in the northwest is its largest bay. Ask Tom: Is Lake Michigan's temperature drop a record for November? Lake Michigan at Near-Record High Water Levels - National Weather Service Holiday Climate Data 39.2, Lake Michigan water temperatures in spring vary from 44F to 69F. One of the stones is said to have a carving resembling a mastodon. In the winter of 1964, Lakes Michigan and Huron reached their lowest level at 1.38 feet (42cm) below datum. To learn how good the fishing on Lake Erie is, check out this article. Counted together, it is the largest body of fresh water in the world by surface area. 6.8, The Great Lakes Circle Tour, a designated scenic road system, connects all of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. title: 'Water Temperature Graph: Lake Michigan', [12], Some of the most studied early human inhabitants of the Lake Michigan region were the Hopewell Native Americans. Water temperature in Lake Michigan (United States) in August Lake Michigan's deepest region, which lies in its northern half, is called Chippewa Basin (named after prehistoric Lake Chippewa) and is separated from South Chippewa Basin by a relatively shallower area called the Mid Lake Plateau.[28][29]. Located on the southern side of the straits is the town of Mackinaw City, Michigan, the site of Fort Michilimackinac, a reconstructed French fort founded in 1715, and on the northern side is St. Ignace, Michigan, site of a French Catholic mission to the Indians, founded in 1671. Based on our historical data over a period of ten years, the warmest water in this day in Grand Traverse Bay was recorded in 2020 and was 35.8F, and the coldest was recorded in 2014 at 30.9F. The normal low-water mark is 1.00 foot (30cm) below datum (577.5 ft or 176.0 m). The temperatures given are the sea surface temperature (SST) which is most relevant to recreational users. These average ocean temperatures for Lake Michigan are calculated from several years of archived data. In recent years, at the beginning of the month, the temperature value here is at around 71F, and by the end of the month the water warms up to 61F. I've been watching Lake Michigan water temperatures drop a lot. Contact Us. Earths lakes are warming at a feverish pace, with the Great Lakes leading the way Its looking more and more like the Great Lakes water temps are experiencing setting new records due to the effects of higher temperatures in the region. St. Clair. [24], The sand dunes located on the east shore of Lake Michigan are the largest freshwater dune system in the world. Every fall, the lake experiences a turnover a mixing of the layers that results in similar temperatures throughout. On the other hand if you are an adrenalin junky, then go ahead and try out the swimming, hiking and horse back riding activities. Water near the surface cools and becomes heavier, allowing wind to mix it downwards. [24], Hydrologically Michigan and Huron are the same body of water (sometimes called Lake Michigan-Huron) but are normally considered distinct. Skywarn Knowing the best times and seasons to fish this massive body of water can help you put bigger fish in the boat. google.visualization.events.addListener(chart, 'ready', function () {chart_waterF.innerHTML= '';}); 25.9, June is the month with the lowest precipitation of 0in / 0mm and January with the highest precipitation in a year with 1.8in / 45.6mm. 0.4], [Escanaba] For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Lake Erie, please check out this helpful article. But the wider ocean-going container ships that were developed later do not fit through the locks on these routes, which limits shipping on the lakes. Some icebreakers ply the lakes. The warmest water temperature is in August with an average around 70.5F / 21.4C. Play Time for Kids, Weather Safety Lake Superior has stayed warmer than average throughout this year, including now. The warmest water temperature in Michigan today is 41.5F (Sault Sainte Marie), and the coldest temperature is 32F (Lexington). Also indicated are the maximum and minimum water temperatures that were recorded this month for the last ten years. It makes sense to fish in Muskegon Lake port. Lake Superior's long-term average surface water temperature is around 46 degrees now, but the lake is. Water warms up during springtime and fishing is getting better. Hot-summer humid continental climate would be the climate here. [Michigan City] According to the study, lakes lose around 17 days of ice cover every century on average. August is the month with the highest water temperature at 77.9F / 25.5C. The bar chart below shows the average monthly sea temperatures at Lake Michigan over the year. Michigan Offers Strong Voice on Climate Change, Michigan Climate Change Measurable In Huron County. Lake Michigan water levels over the last decade have included both near record lows and near record highs. [6][27], It is the larger half of Lake MichiganHuron, which is the largest body of fresh water in the world by surface area. 65.7, Fishing on the lake is very productive as well. In 1673, Jacques Marquette, Louis Jolliet and their crew of five Mtis voyageurs followed Lake Michigan to Green Bay and up the Fox River, nearly to its headwaters, in their search for the Mississippi River. Lake Michigan, like the other Great Lakes, supplies drinking water to millions of people in bordering areas. 36.3, , This experimental product is still in development, Lake Michigan Regions On top of that, there is no need to wake up early if you choose to fish the lake during the afternoon hours. 11.4], ['May', In recent years, at the beginning of the month, the temperature value here is at around 46F, and by the end of the month the water . Copyright 2023 Thumbwind Publications LLC, Earths lakes are warming at a feverish pace, with the Great Lakes leading the way, Forecasting the Permanent Loss of Lake Ice in the Northern Hemisphere Within the 21st Century, first reports of the smelly black muck were reported near Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area, 10 Small Towns With Big City Michigan Crime Rates, Oak Wilt Disease a Threat to Michigan Thumbs Red Oaks, Port Hope Festival Lights the Fuse For July 4th. This formation lies 40 feet (12m) below the surface of the lake. Lake Michigan's average water temperature reached 75.1 degrees on July 8, nearly 11 degrees above normal, and the warmest mark on record so early in the year. Lake Michigan fishing in the late spring is productive in the early morning, midday, and late evening. ['September', Frankfort, Platte Bay, and Grand Haven are good fishing spots to target Lake Michigan in the fall. You may have heard #LakeMichigan is warmer than usual for this . Anglers can catch brown trout, lake trout, yellow perch, walleye, and coho salmon during this time of the year. Lake Michigan Regions. Salmon go to deeper waters of Lake Michigan during the spring months. [31], In January 2013, Lake Michigan's monthly mean water levels dipped to an all-time low of 576.2ft (175.6m),[32] reaching their lowest ebb since record keeping began in 1918. The Lake Michigan Water Temperatures also happen to be at their warmest in July and August, reaching highs of up to 70 degrees, making water activities perfect. 20 mph. 11.7, [21][22] The warming of Lake Michigan was the subject of a 2018 report by Purdue University. ['October', Fire Their culture declined after 800 AD and for the next few hundred years, the region was the home of peoples known as the Late Woodland Native Americans. There is a mean difference in summer water temperatures of 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit (2 to 5 degrees Celsius) between the Wisconsin and Michigan shores. It started in 2009 as a fun-loving site covering Michigan's Upper Thumb. 33.8, Click and drag to zoom in on the chart, and hover to see point values. Our report for Great Lakes is compiled using satellite data together with in-situ observations to get the most reliable daily data of sea surface temperatures, surf forecasts, current temperatures and weather forecasts. Winter steelhead bites well in the lake from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. February: Its possible to fish for rainbow trout and brown trout in the late winter. Significant events (such as January 11, 2020) now have the potential to flood roadways and structures near the shore that are typically not at risk. Photos will be available to all users after verification by the moderator. With an average temperature of roughly 59F, Lake Superior is at an all-time high for this time of year. ['July', Air temperatures in Michigan vary from 58F to 82F during the summer months. [9], Lake Michigan is the only one of the five Great Lakes located fully in the United States; the other four are shared between the United States and Canada. [Manistee] GLERL 4.3],]); Great Lakes Basin (U.S.) Precipitation Trends, Photos of Whiting, IN from Jerry Robert Smith on Nov 11, 2019, Two right photos of Chicago, IL from Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications on Nov 30, 2019. Lightning