Anglers who fish Lake Michigan in the fall get excellent results between the early morning and afternoon. The annual harvest declined from an average of 11million pounds (5,000,000kg) from 1981 through to 1999 to more recent annual harvests of 8 to 9.5million pounds (3,600,000 to 4,300,000kg). 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]. Minimum water temperature in Lake Michigan in September is 57F, maximum - 75F. The fish will bite well during warm days. The region is often referred to as the "Third Coast"[37] of the United States, after those of the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. July: Salmon moves to the Muskegon River every year. During this twelve-month period, water levels ranged from 1.38to 0.71 feet (4222cm) below Chart Datum. 33.3, 41.9, A new report says that could mean trouble for game fish", "What happens when Lake Superior has too much water? Monthly Lake Michigan water temperature chart. ', 'Max. 22.1], 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. 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. With clear water, sunlight manages to penetrate the depths and grow the algae at the bottom of the lake. 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. Huron. GLERL 4, 24, Currently, two car ferry services traverse Lake Michigan from around April to November: the SS Badger, a steamer from Ludington, Michigan, to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and the Lake Express, a high speed catamaran from Milwaukee to Muskegon, Michigan. The avg. 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. Current water temperature in Grand Traverse Bay. 36.9, 14.9, [Leland] ['September', The coldest month is March with an water temperature of 32.9F / 0.5C. 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. Climate Plots, Education [47] The lake is a great place to view ice volcanoes,[48] which typically occur at the start of the winter season. Get Five Decades Of Great Lakes Ice Cover Data. You can travel to the Lake Michigan area by plane, train, car or boat. Its possible to catch smallmouth bass at any time of the year. [13] In the earliest European maps of the region, the name of Lake Illinois has been found in addition to that of "Michigan", named for the Illinois Confederation of tribes. The map shows Lake Michigan temperature water in some coastal cities in real time, To find out what the water temperature was in Lake Michigan any day over a period of the last ten years, select the month, If you want to plan a vacation on the beach and enjoy the warm sea, choose the day of the year, region and the minimum comfortable sea/ocean temperature that interests you. [6][27] It contains a volume of 1,180 cubic miles (4,918km) of water. With an average temperature of roughly 59F, Lake Superior is at an all-time high for this time of year. Average water temperature in the first decade is 69F, in the middle of the month - 66F, and at the end - 63F. Despite their vast size, large sections of the Great Lakes freeze in winter, interrupting most shipping. Michigans Water temperatures in all five Great Lakes have been hovering at record-high fall levels since October, roughly five to six degrees above average. If you visit in the warm months, then the kids can enjoy plenty of fun in the sun on the shores of the beach. Cities on the shores of Lake Michigan include: The National Park Service maintains the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Indiana Dunes National Park. 58.8, These include brown trout, smallmouth bass, brown trout as well as salmon species. Anglers spend a whole day on fishing and have a good chance to catch a trophy. [15], Lake Michigan is joined via the narrow, open-water Straits of Mackinac with Lake Huron, and the combined body of water is sometimes called MichiganHuron (also HuronMichigan). The bar chart below shows the average monthly sea temperatures at Lake Michigan over the year. var options = { NOAAs surface water temperature forecasts show the entire southern Lake Huron basin hovering around the upper 70s. 7, 100%. Commercial tug-and-barge traffic on these waterways is heavy. A lot of anglers choose to fish in the lake in the morning during the summer months. This site is owned and operated by Eric Matechak. Area temps along the Lake Huron shore can typically be around 10 degrees cooler than inland. The biggest surprise is Lake Superior with water temps near 70F along the western shore near Duluth, Ashland, and Ontonagon. 21.3, June is a good time to target coho salmon as well as rainbow trout. Current weather. The long term trend for both precipitation and evaporation has been upward over the last several decades. Below are the cities and resorts in Lake Michigan with the values of water temperature today and yesterday. 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. Steelhead can be found in the lakes tributaries. Steel mills and refineries operate near the Indiana shoreline. St. Clair. This makes for pleasant swimming but curbs its temperature moderation along the shore. Even minor events on the lake may cause flooding of low-lying areas near the lake such as beaches . 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. Traditionally, fishermen get a lot of bites in the afternoon. Fishing for largemouth bass is incredible. Great Lakes water levels are based upon a combination of multiple factors, including precipitation, evaporation, river flow into the lakes, river flow out of the lakes, and other diversions. There are about 15 days per year above 90F (32C). There is a concern that the record-setting Great Lakes water temps could lead to the growth of cyanobacteria; specifically with high Saginaw Bay water temps. A lot of rainbow trout can be found in the many streams and tributaries around the lake. Water near the surface cools and becomes heavier, allowing wind to mix it downwards. ['October', 71.6, Its possible to fish for salmon, brown trout, rainbow trout, and yellow perch during these months. ['March', When the lake freezes, its time to target yellow perch. [40] Many seasonal residents have summer homes along the waterfront and return to other homes for the winter. 1.2], Salmon bites well after sunrise and before sunset. All that warm water is potential energy for precipitation production. Since the summer, abnormally high air temperatures have raised Great Lakes water temperatures. [Northern Region] [Waukegan] 36.3, All NOAA, More water level information from water.weather.gov. A few small cruise ships operate on Lake Michigan, including a couple of sailing ships. 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. The beaches of the western coast and the northernmost part of the east coast are often rocky, with some sandy beaches. Lake Michigan's fishing is very productive in the fall. 25.2, [36], Lake Michigan has many beaches. In the late 1960s, successful stocking programs for Pacific salmon led to the development of Lake Michigan's charter fishing industry. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of cookies. Minimum water temperature in Lake Michigan in June is 41F, maximum - 62F. ], Lake Michigan water temperatures in spring vary from 51F to 74F. The normal low-water mark is 1.00 foot (30cm) below datum (577.5 ft or 176.0 m). The largest fisheries are the landings from the Great Lakes, worth about $14million in 2001. The Conference came into force, in December 2008, with the enactment of laws in all of the states and the two provinces, and the enactment of a United States federal law. Are the Great Lakes a Microplastic Soup With PFAS On the Side? 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. 44.2, 44.6, Water temperature data in Lake Michigan and neighboring towns and resorts collected from various sources, using buoys, using satellite maps of sea, river and lake surfaces of the NOAA agency. NOAA Weather Radio 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. If you prefer to take it easy, there are a number of camping spots around the lake. The most recent period with similar lake levels was 1986-1987. The primary driver of water levels are precipitation, evaporation, and river flow into the lakes, also referred to as "net basin supply." Ontario. This is Lawrence J Timmerman (MWC) airport. Did we come close to a record for November? [St.Joseph] Anglers can catch brown trout, lake trout, yellow perch, walleye, and coho salmon during this time of the year. 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]. Weather Safety (Spanish) The record-warm water temperatures across the Great Lakes fall into a global pattern of warming lakes, which are being propelled upward as human-caused climate change pushes air temperatures to record highs. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Lake Huron, please check out this helpful article. 1, 18.7, If the lakes dont freeze over during the winter months the open water provides cold prevailing winds a source of moisture for snow. Lake Michigan water temperatures in spring vary from 44F to 69F. The weather forecast is shown in local time in Lake Michigan. For ease of search, all places are also grouped by the first letter of the name. 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. }, Several ferries currently operate on the Great Lakes to carry passengers to various islands, including Beaver Island and Bois Blanc Island (Michigan). 40.5: 52.3: 67.3: 70.5: 66.7: 54.7: 46.6: 40.3: Monthly average max / min water temperatures. The waters of Lake Michigan are full of largemouth bass. Lake Michigan water temperatures in spring vary from 44F to 69F. Environmental problems can still plague the lake. May: Water is getting warmer in Michigan in the late spring, so anglers get more bites. Today water temperature in Lake Michigan is 35.4F. Lake levels are tied to multiple factors such as precipitation, evaporation, and river flow. In July water temperature in some cities of Lake Michigan is above 68F and it is enough for comfortable bathing. ", "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",