48.6, [24], The sand dunes located on the east shore of Lake Michigan are the largest freshwater dune system in the world. vAxes: { 0: {gridlines: {color: 'black'}, [ Beaver Island] [ Escanaba] [ Leland] [ Frankfort] [ Manistee] [ Ludington] [ Pentwater] Even minor events on the lake may cause flooding of low-lying areas near the lake such as beaches . [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. Also, water cools down in the afternoon during hot months. Photo courtesy ofBill Snyder. In general, this water temperature is unacceptable for swimming. The biggest surprise is Lake Superior with water temps near 70F along the western shore near Duluth, Ashland, and Ontonagon. I grew up fishing for anything that swims but really loved fishing for trout, chain pickerel, bass, and bullheads in my teenage years. Salmon continues to bite until the late summer. 71.8, The coldest month is February with an average water temperature of 36.9F / 2.7C. 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. 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 . Traditionally, fishermen get a lot of bites in the afternoon. The coldest month is March with an water temperature of 32.9F / 0.5C. Max: 4.2C / 39.6F Avg: 2.7C / 36.9F }, The word "Michigan" is believed to come from the Ojibwe word [11] (michi-gami or mishigami) meaning "great water". 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. Midday fishing on Lake Michigan is productive during the cold months of the year. Photo courtesy of Matt Zuro. The bar chart below shows the average monthly sea temperatures at Lake Michigan over the year. 7, Water near the surface cools and becomes heavier, allowing wind to mix it downwards. Open water along three sides of Huron County at the tip of the Thumb could mean a very snowy winter. You may have heard #LakeMichigan is warmer than usual for this . 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. The Muskegon River is full of steelhead fish in the middle of April. 3: { color: '#FF6347', targetAxisIndex:1, lineWidth: 0 }, The economy of many communities in northern Michigan and Door County, Wisconsin, is supported by tourism, with large seasonal populations attracted by Lake Michigan. Water temperature throughout Lake Michigan is not yet warm enough for swimming and does not exceed 68F. Whether the data are measured in 'mm' over the lake surface or cubic meters per second ('cms', for those variables dealing with water volumes) For temperatures, whether the data are for the average 'max'imum, 'min'imum, or 'mean' air temperature over a particular month, and whether the temperatures are 'mod'elled (water temps). [6][27], It is the larger half of Lake MichiganHuron, which is the largest body of fresh water in the world by surface area. 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. After the 2060s, Lake Michigan will not freeze. Sharma, an associate professor at York University, has been studying ice for over a decade. The measurements for the water temperature in Lake Michigan, Michigan are provided by the daily satellite readings provided by the NOAA. The great lakes are notorious for unstable and unpredictable ice conditions so be careful and never fish alone. Wind direction is a significant factor for the Lake Michigan water temperature. Conference of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers, Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Maximum and minimum . Salmon bite well in the early morning and late evening. 11.4], Lake Michigan is a town close to Great Lakes,lake. The Lake Express, established in 2004, carries passengers and vehicles across the lake between Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Muskegon, Michigan. We also take into account data for other resorts in United States. Lake Michigan Surface Water Temperature Map. August is the month with the hottest water temperature at 77.9F / 25.5C. It is read every day of the year. Average Temperature in Lake Michigan Beach The warm season lasts for 3.7 months, from May 29 to September 19, with an average daily high temperature above 71F. By the late 18th century, the eastern end of the straits was controlled by Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island, a British colonial and early American military base and fur trade center, founded in 1781. Images on this page may contain affiliate links in which we may receive a commission. With an average temperature of roughly 59F, Lake Superior is at an all-time high for this time of year. 58.8, September: Its possible to catch a trophy Chinook salmon in September. On the other hand if you are an adrenalin junky, then go ahead and try out the swimming, hiking and horse back riding activities. Lake Michigan now averages 74 degrees on the surface, which is 11 degrees warmer than the historical average water temperature on this date. The lakes were frozen 11 days later and thawed seven days sooner. Lake Michigan located in the northern hemisphere, at latitude 43 degrees. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (November 2007). The lake's average depth is 46 fathoms 3 feet (279ft; 85 m), while its greatest depth is 153 fathoms 5 feet (923ft; 281m). More Lake Michigan water level impacts can be found in our past news stories. Minimum water temperature in Lake Michigan in September is 57F, maximum - 75F. [ Northern Region] [ Central Northern Region] [ Central Region] [ Central Southern Region] [ Southern Region] Lake Michigan Port Images. With clear water, sunlight manages to penetrate the depths and grow the algae at the bottom of the lake. December: December is a great month for steelhead the tributaries of Lake Michigan. Discover the best time of day to catch bass, trout, catfish, panfish, walleye, carp, and many more depending on the season, moon phases, and weather. Huron. NWS The annual salmon spawn run begins in the early fall. The Chicago lakefront is accessible for about 24 miles (39km) between the city's southern and northern limits along the lake. 2023 Copyright Freshwater Fishing Advice, link to Best Water Temperatures for Perch Fishing (Complete Guide), link to Seasonal Guide: Best Times to Catch Big Bass. Disclaimer Lake Michigan water levels remain near the highest observed monthly levels (since at least 1918). the shaded band shows the range of monthly average water levels, and the line in the middle shows the The best time to fish Lake Michigan is April to May for yellow perch and bass, from May to June for lake steelhead and trout, July to August for king salmon, and June through October for coho salmon. This is one of the longest vertical temperature records in existence anywhere in the Great Lakes. So, anglers should go fishing at sunrise or at sunset. Photo courtesy ofDeb Mann. In recent years, at the beginning of the month, the temperature value here is at around 68F, and by the end of the month the water warms up to 70F. 11.2, Did we come close to a record for November? The lakes were 29in (0.74m) below their long-term average and had declined 17 inches since January 2012. 34.2, However, anglers cant spend too much time fishing if they choose to start their adventures in the afternoon. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Lake Huron, please check out this helpful article. Based on average water temperature observations over the past ten years, the warmest water temperature in Lake Michigan in August was 73.4F (in Michigan City), and the coldest 67.1F . Lake levels are tied to multiple factors such as precipitation, evaporation, and river flow. This comes on the heels of very high-temperature rises throughout the summer. CoCoRaHs 44.6, Student Opportunities format: '#C'}, (overcast clouds) Wind. Current water temperature in Grand Traverse Bay. ['March', Water surface temperature values are available in real time. The fish will bite well during warm days. A large dune formation can be found in Whitefish Dunes State Park in Wisconsin in the Door Peninsula. The graph below shows the range of monthly water temperatures over several years. Salmon bites well after sunrise and before sunset. National Weather Service The National Weather Service in Duluth Minnesota noted that due to a warmer Lake Superior the lake is definitely primed for a good lake effect snow set up. Oftentimes, largemouth bass bites well on Indianas shoreline and near rocky areas. 79.5, The water temperature today roughly corresponds to the average value on this day in recent years. [Sheboygan] [44] The iron ore and much of the stone and coal are used in the steel industry. They sought refuge west and north of Lake Michigan. Explore the NEW USGS National Water Dashboard interactive map to access real-time water data from over 13,500 stations nationwide. air temperature is around 72.5F / 22.5C, August is the month with the highest temperature. 1.1], 34.2, [30] As with the high-water records, monthly low-water records were set each month from February 1964 through January 1965. [43], Like all of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan is today used as a major mode of transport for bulk goods. Climate Plots, Education ['October', It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume[5] (1,180cumi (4,900km3)) and the third-largest by surface area (22,404sqmi (58,030km2)), after Lake Superior and Lake Huron. 1, 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]. 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: Monthly Lake Michigan water temperature chart. Rip Currents 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. * Fact - Actual value of water temperature, feels like 23F, Clouds (overcast clouds: 85-100%), feels like 22F, Clouds (overcast clouds: 85-100%), feels like 22F, Clouds (scattered clouds: 25-50%), feels like 23F, Clouds (scattered clouds: 25-50%), feels like 24F, Clouds (scattered clouds: 25-50%), feels like 27F, Clouds (scattered clouds: 25-50%), feels like 33F, Clouds (overcast clouds: 85-100%), feels like 34F, Clouds (overcast clouds: 85-100%), feels like 35F, Clouds (overcast clouds: 85-100%), feels like 26F, Clouds (broken clouds: 51-84%), feels like 24F, Clouds (broken clouds: 51-84%), feels like 27F, Clouds (overcast clouds: 85-100%), feels like 31F, Clouds (broken clouds: 51-84%), feels like 27F, Clouds (broken clouds: 51-84%), feels like 29F, Clouds (overcast clouds: 85-100%), feels like 24F, Clouds (overcast clouds: 85-100%), The warmest water today in United States recorded. Lake Michigan, like the other Great Lakes, supplies drinking water to millions of people in bordering areas. 22, 20 mph. The sand is often soft and off-white, known as "singing sands" because of the squeaking noise (caused by high quartz content) it emits when walked upon. The warmest water temperature in Lake Michigan today is 37.2F (Manistee), and the coldest temperature is 32.2F (Escanaba). 20.2, A lot of steelhead can be found in the Manistee, Muskegon, and Pere Marquette rivers. 39.7, According to the study, lakes lose around 17 days of ice cover every century on average. Lake Michigan does not freeze completely during the winter months. FreshwaterFishingAdvice is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. The Great Lakes are collectively administered by the Conference of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers, intergovernmental organization led by the governing chief executives of the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Qubec, and by the governors of the U.S. states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Some downstream winds cause cold, deep waters to replace surface waters that have been warmed by the sun. [South Haven] Fall steelhead are well-known for their aggressive bites. Lake Michigan water temperatures in spring vary from 44F to 69F. Traditionally, a lot of anglers visit the lake in June, July, and August. 52.2, Anglers who fish Lake Michigan in the fall get excellent results between the early morning and afternoon. Pleasure boats can enter or exit the Great Lakes by way of the Erie Canal and Hudson River in New York. Actual nearshore temperatures may vary by several degrees from the indicated values. According to our forecast, the water temperature in Lake Michigan will slowly rise for at least the next 10 days and reach a value of 37F. [Manistee] The nearest airport is located in a 75 kilometers. 4.2, 33.3, The water heats up in the afternoon during cold months. Also, fishermen can expect the peak of summer heat during the summertime. In October 1986, Lakes Michigan and Huron reached their highest level at 5.92 feet (1.80m) above datum. The temperatures given are the sea surface temperature (SST) which is most relevant to recreational users. Minimum water temperature (34F) in Lake Michigan it happens in March, maximum (73F) in July. 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. Air temperatures in Michigan vary from 18F to 34F during the winter months. Twelve million people live along Lake Michigan's shores, mainly in the Chicago and Milwaukee metropolitan areas. ", "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",