The temperatures given are the sea surface temperature (SST) which is most relevant to recreational users. 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). The price for lake whitefish dropped from $1.04/lb. Elevated lake levels increase impacts along the shore during storm events. Some downstream winds cause cold, deep waters to replace surface waters that have been warmed by the sun. The lake is flanked by multiple long bays, including Green Bay in the northwest, and Grand Traverse and Little Traverse bays in the northeast. Your modes of transport to Lake Michigan are not limited and its left to your discretion. To find out the sea temperature today and in the coming days, go to Current sea temperature in Lake Michigan. Aviation This is likely to lead to decreasing native habitat and to adversely affect native species survival, including game fish. [Beaver Island] 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 . February is the coolest with 25.3F / -3.7C average temperature. Ports along its shores include Chicago in Illinois, Gary in Indiana, Milwaukee and Green Bay in Wisconsin, and Muskegon in Michigan. 11.7, 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. ['July', Contact Us. The coldest month is February with an average water temperature of 36.9F / 2.7C. This is one of the longest vertical temperature records in existence anywhere in the Great Lakes. 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. Anglers spend a whole day on fishing and have a good chance to catch a trophy. We use cookies to best represent our site. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration A lot of steelhead can be found in the rivers around the lake. Since then, I've lived across the country and have continued learning about fishing. 0.4], Alternate names for Lake MichiganLac Dauphin, Lac Des Ilinois, Lac Ilinois, Lac Michigan, Lac des Eaux de Mer, Lacus Ilinois, Lago Michigan, Lake Ilinois, Lake Illinese, Lake Michigan, Le Lac de Saint Joseph, Machihiganing, Match-I-Hi-Gan-Ing, Match-i-hi-gan-ing, Michigami, Michigan Lake, Michigansee, Misch-I-Gon-Ong, Misch-i-gon-ong, Mishigan Lake, Missihiganin, Mitchiganons. The Chicago Tribune reported that BP is a major polluter, dumping thousands of pounds of raw sludge into the lake every day from its Whiting, Indiana, oil refinery. . 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. ['April', 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. The Washington Post published an article this week that signaled an ominous warning. 58.8, We have no information as to whether it is valid and what flights it receives or sends. Stormdata 78.6, Yellow perch is the main target on Lake Michigan during the winter months. Home }. Average monthly sea temperatures in Lake Michigan . Water near the surface cools and becomes heavier, allowing wind to mix it downwards. NWS Huron. Information Quality ', 'AVG', 'Min. 34, Long term average surface water temperature compared to current year (csv data files in degree Celsius or degree Fahrenheit) Superior. A lot of anglers choose to fish Lake Michigan early in the morning. Some icebreakers ply the lakes. 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: 4.2, Lake Michigan sunset from the R/V Laurentian, July 2011. Water surface temperature values are available in real time. The approximate coordinates of the sampling location are 42.68013, -87.06567. 48.6, I've been watching Lake Michigan water temperatures drop a lot. ['August', From Whiting Lakefront Park on November 11, 2019, courtesy of Jerry Robert Smith. If you prefer to take it easy, there are a number of camping spots around the lake. Michigan Offers Strong Voice on Climate Change, Michigan Climate Change Measurable In Huron County. A lot of salmon can be found in the lakes harbors and in the Muskegon River. Since then, I've lived across the country and have really taken that passion for fishing to a new level. In October 1986, Lakes Michigan and Huron reached their highest level at 5.92 feet (1.80m) above datum. The water heats up in the afternoon during cold months. Turns out it's not the only one! They've been using a vertical chain of instruments that measure temperature from just below the surface to bottom. 40.5: 52.3: 67.3: 70.5: 66.7: 54.7: 46.6: 40.3: Monthly average max / min water temperatures. 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]. Salmon fishing is excellent in July. 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. 4, Anglers can fish for brown trout and lake trout as well as Coho salmon and Chinook salmon in May. 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. In each decade since 1980, steady increases in obscure surface temperature have occurred. Recent increases in water temperature have mostly been driven by warming during the spring and summer months (see Figure 2). Salmon bite well in the early morning and late evening. Tourism and recreation are major industries on all of the Great Lakes. Rainbow trout and brown trout bite well in February. If you visit in the warm months, then the kids can enjoy plenty of fun in the sun on the shores of the beach. But hardened people can afford to be in such water for 5-10 minutes. It makes sense to fish in Muskegon Lake port. Seasonal Guide: Best Times to Catch Big Bass. [St.Joseph] You can find out detailed data on how the water temperature in Lake Michigan changes in each specific month: The warmest water today in United States recorded in Cutler, its value is 79F. August: Late summer provides anglers with a good chance to catch trophy fish on Lake Michigan. 1: { color: '#FFCC66', targetAxisIndex:0, lineWidth: 8 }, [10] It is shared, from west to east, by the U.S. states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. to as low as $0.40/lb during periods of high production. Consequently, discharge data may not . Great Lakes Marine Portal These Lake Michigan-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. var chart = new google.visualization.LineChart(chart_waterF); The largest fisheries are the landings from the Great Lakes, worth about $14million in 2001. }; Since the summer, abnormally high air temperatures have raised Great Lakes water temperatures. Salmon can be found in large schools this month. Photo courtesy ofBill Snyder. 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. [Manistee] Subsurface data is collected on an hourly basis (before 1995 it was every three hours) and is shown here as monthly averages. National Briefing Near South Shore Drive in Chicago, IL on Jan 11. Lake Michigan does not freeze completely during the winter months. Below are the cities and resorts in Lake Michigan with the values of water temperature today and yesterday. When algae die it floats to the surface and acts like a sponge, capturing E.coli and fecal runoff from farm fields sprayed with animal waste and overflow septic systems. The warmest water temperature is in August with an average around 70.5F / 21.4C. The central element of the Port District, Calumet Harbor, is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.[45]. 22, At such a temperature, only a short-term immersion is possible, otherwise rapid hypothermia will occur. With an average temperature of roughly 59F, Lake Superior is at an all-time high for this time of year. This is partly because of the prevailing winds from the west (which also cause thick layers of ice to build on the eastern shore in winter). [42] The prime commercial species is the lake whitefish. A large dune formation can be found in Whitefish Dunes State Park in Wisconsin in the Door Peninsula. Lake Michigan water levels over the last decade have included both near record lows and near record highs. 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. Its possible to fish for salmon, brown trout, rainbow trout, and yellow perch during these months. In July water temperature in some cities of Lake Michigan is above 68F and it is enough for comfortable bathing. Many other water sports are practiced on the lakes, such as yachting, sea kayaking, diving, kitesurfing and lake surfing. Humidity. See our affiliate disclosure for details. 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 Even minor events on the lake may cause flooding of low-lying areas near the lake such as beaches . On top of that, there is no need to wake up early if you choose to fish the lake during the afternoon hours. The bar chart below shows the average monthly sea temperatures at Lake Michigan over the year. Vertical Water Temperature in Southern Lake Michigan One offshore point's top-to-bottom temperature, nearly every month for the last 26 years Since 1990, GLERL scientists have been keeping track of the temperature in the middle of southern Lake Michigan. Fire Chicago, IL333 West University DriveRomeoville, IL 60446815-834-1435 8am-8pmComments? Lake Michigan water temperature right now Below are the cities and resorts in Lake Michigan with the values of water temperature today and yesterday. The coldest month is March with an water temperature of 32.9F / 0.5C. Explore the NEW USGS National Water Dashboard interactive map to access real-time water data from over 13,500 stations nationwide. The water will feel freezing / baltic. Water temperature in Grand Traverse Bay today is 35.1F. } Two passenger and vehicle ferries operate ferry services across Lake Michigan, both connecting Wisconsin on the western shore with Michigan on the east. This formation lies 40 feet (12m) below the surface of the lake. Long term average surface water temperature compared to current year (Graphs) Superior. This means that areas may be depicted as flooding that are not connected to Lake Michigan. Hazards In the mid 20th century, construction of the Saint Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes Waterway opened the Great Lakes to ocean-going vessels. [20] In 2007, a row of stones paralleling an ancient shoreline was discovered by Mark Holley, professor of underwater archeology at Northwestern Michigan College. To find out the sea temperature today . US Dept of Commerce A few small cruise ships operate on Lake Michigan, including a couple of sailing ships. Average water temperature in the first decade is 68F, in the middle of the month - 70F, and at the end - 71F. Its possible to catch salmon species in the waters of Lake Michigan. However, because prevailing westerly winds tend to move the surface water toward the east, there is a flow of warmer water to the Michigan shore in the summer. Lake Michigan is home to a small variety of fish species and other organisms. [25], Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake that is wholly within the borders of the United States; the others are shared with Canada.