This story has been updated with new information.
All of the Great Lakes and Michigan’s inland lakes are seeing warmer temperatures as we reach the peak of summer, making it warm enough for a beach day this weekend nearly everyplace.
Lake Erie, as is typical, is the warmest of the Great Lakes with temperature in the 70s to 80s. Lake Superior temperatures range from upper 40s to lower 60s in some bays.
Most of Michigan major inland lakes also are seeing temperatures in the 70s this weekend.
Temperatures for the Great Lakes typically don’t peak until late summer/early fall, according to GLISA, and swimming in waters at 70 degrees is the most comfortable conditions.
Also, for the most part, waves on the Great Lakes are expected to be low this weekend, making swimming safer for most people.
For a potential beach day this weekend, here are temperatures for Michigan’s lakes as of Friday, July 11.
Which inland lakes in Michigan are warmest?
According to Seatemperatures, here are the current temperatures for some of Michigan’s most popular inland lakes:
How warm is Lake Erie?
Lake Erie, the shallowest of the Great Lakes, reached 81.5 degrees near Port Clinton, Ohio.
Lake Erie reaches an average of 76.1 degrees Fahrenheit in August.
Current temperatures for Lake Erie:
What’s the temperature of Lake Huron?
The warmest water temperature out in Lake Huron was 76.6 degrees in Sebewaing, Michigan.
Lake Huron reaches an average of 69.1 degrees Fahrenheit in August.
Current temperatures near Michigan cities on Lake Huron:
“The lake measures 206 miles across and 183 miles north to south, with an average depth of 195 feet (approximately 750 feet, maximum),” according to the Great Lakes Commission.
What’s the temperature of Lake Ontario?
The warmest water temperature in Lake Ontario on was 75.2 degrees near Wilson, Ontario.
Lake Ontario reaches an average of 72.9 degrees Fahrenheit in August.
Current temperatures for Lake Ontario:
“Lake Ontario is similar to Lake Erie in length and breadth (193 miles by 53 miles). Yet with its greater average depth (approximately 283 feet), Lake Ontario holds almost four times the volume and has a retention time of about 6 years,” according to the Great Lakes Commission.
What’s the temperature of Lake Michigan?
Lake Michigan’s average temperature was 77.2 degrees near New Buffalo.
Lake Michigan reaches an average of 68 degrees Fahrenheit in August.
Recorded temperatures near Michigan cities on Lake Michigan:
“Averaging 279 feet in depth, the lake reaches 925 feet at its deepest point,” according to the Great Lakes Commission.
What’s the temperature of Lake Superior?
The coldest lake is Lake Superior, with its warmest water temperature of 66.2 degrees at Ashland, Wisconsin.
Lake Superior reaches an average of 64.6 degrees Fahrenheit in August.
Current temperatures for Michigan towns on Lake Superior:
“With an average depth approaching 500 feet, Superior also is the coldest and deepest (1,332 feet) of the Great Lakes. The lake stretches approximately 350 miles from west to east, and 160 miles north to south, with a shoreline almost 2,800 miles long,” according to the Great Lakes Commission.
When are the Great Lakes warmest?
Temperatures climb in the spring and summer months, reaching peak temperatures in the late summer and early fall, according to GLISA, a collaborative between Michigan State University, University of Michigan and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
How high will the waves be on the Great Lakes this weekend?
According to the National Weather Service and NOAA, waves should be relatively small.
On Lake Michigan, wave heights near Montague will be from zero to 2 feet throughout the weekend. Waves near South Haven will be less than 1 foot, according to the NWS.
Waves near Holland are expected to be 1-2 feet throughout the weekend, building in the afternoons each day.
Waves near Glen Arbor and Sleeping Bear National Lake Shore are predicted to be 1 foot or less this weekend.
On Lake Huron, waves near Alpena are predicted to be 1 foot or less all weekend.
Near Presque Isle Park on Lake Superior in Marquette, waves also are predicted to be no more than 1 foot this weekend.
At Great Sand Bay in the Keweenaw Peninsula, the NWS predicts 1-foot waves on Sunday.
East of Brevort along U.S. 2 on Lake Michigan, 1-foot waves are forecast for Sunday.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
Sarah Moore is a trending reporter for the Lansing State Journal. Contact her @ smoore@lsj.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Peak of summer beach trip? Here’s where you’ll find the warmest water in Michigan
Reporting by Jalen Williams, Sarah Moore and Dan Basso, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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