SurfsUP LAKE MICHIGAN

READINGS FROM THE WATER

Buoys & wind

Conditions across Lake Michigan, from the open water to the shoreline.

MEASURED CONDITIONS

Wind, waves & temperature

Measured wind speed and direction, plus wave heights and water temperatures where available. Check each reading’s timestamp. A dash means missing data, never calm conditions.

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Station locations are linked in the cards below.

Wind scale kt
0–4 kt5–9 kt10–14 kt15–19 kt20–24 kt25–29 kt30–34 kt35+ kt

ACROSS LAKE MICHIGAN

Offshore Buoys

NOAA NDBC · refreshed about every 10 min
Offshore buoy / 45002 Reporting

North Michigan

Wave height 2.3ft
Period 4.0s
Water temp 55°F
Observed wind 12kt
NW 23m ago
Gust 16kt
Recent wind · knots
View timestamped readings
Observed conditions for North Michigan
Observed Wind From Gust Waves (ft) Period (s) Water (°F)
Fri 8:50 AM 11.7 kt NW 15.6 kt 2.3 4.0 55
Fri 8:40 AM 11.7 kt NW 15.6 kt — — 56
Fri 8:30 AM 11.7 kt NW 15.6 kt — — 55
Fri 8:20 AM 11.7 kt NW 15.6 kt 2.3 4.0 55
Fri 8:10 AM 13.6 kt NNW 15.6 kt 2.3 — 55
Fri 8:00 AM 13.6 kt NNW 15.6 kt — — 55
Fri 7:50 AM 13.6 kt NNW 15.6 kt 2.3 4.0 56
Fri 7:40 AM 13.6 kt NNW 15.6 kt — — 56
Fri 7:30 AM 13.6 kt NNW 17.5 kt — — 56
Fri 7:20 AM 13.6 kt NNW 15.6 kt 2.3 3.0 56
Fri 7:10 AM 15.6 kt NNW 17.5 kt 2.3 — 56
Fri 7:00 AM 15.6 kt NW 19.4 kt — — 56
Fri 6:50 AM 13.6 kt NNW 19.4 kt 2.6 4.0 56
Fri 6:40 AM 13.6 kt NNW 17.5 kt — — 56
Fri 6:30 AM 13.6 kt NNW 15.6 kt — — 56
Fri 6:20 AM 13.6 kt NNW 17.5 kt 2.6 4.0 56
Fri 6:10 AM 13.6 kt NNW 17.5 kt 2.6 — 56
Fri 6:00 AM 13.6 kt NW 17.5 kt — — 56
Fri 5:50 AM 13.6 kt NNW 17.5 kt 2.6 4.0 56
Fri 5:40 AM 15.6 kt NNW 17.5 kt — — 56
Fri 5:30 AM 15.6 kt NNW 19.4 kt — — 56
Fri 5:20 AM 13.6 kt NNW 17.5 kt 3.0 4.0 56
Fri 5:10 AM 15.6 kt NNW 19.4 kt 3.0 — 56
Fri 5:00 AM 15.6 kt NW 19.4 kt — — 56

Northern basin · watch northerly wind building down the lake

Offshore buoy / 45214 Reporting

South Michigan Spotter

Wave height 2.6ft
Period 4.0s
Water temp 60°F

Wind not reported in the latest observations.

View timestamped readings
Observed conditions for South Michigan Spotter
Observed Waves (ft) Period (s) Water (°F)
Fri 8:15 AM 2.6 4.0 60
Fri 7:15 AM 3.0 4.0 60
Fri 6:15 AM 3.3 — 60
Fri 5:15 AM 3.6 4.0 60
Fri 4:15 AM 3.9 5.0 60
Fri 3:15 AM 4.6 — 60
Fri 2:15 AM 5.2 6.0 60
Fri 1:15 AM 4.9 — 60
Fri 12:15 AM 4.9 — 60
Thu 11:15 PM 3.0 4.0 61
Thu 10:15 PM 2.6 4.0 61
Thu 9:15 PM 2.6 5.0 61
Thu 8:15 PM 1.3 3.0 61
Thu 7:15 PM 1.0 — 61
Thu 6:15 PM 1.0 — 61
Thu 5:15 PM 1.3 — 61
Thu 4:15 PM 1.3 3.0 61
Thu 3:15 PM 1.6 3.0 61
Thu 2:15 PM 1.6 3.0 61
Thu 1:15 PM 1.6 3.0 61
Thu 12:15 PM 2.0 — 61
Thu 11:15 AM 2.3 4.0 61
Thu 10:15 AM 2.6 4.0 61
Thu 9:15 AM 2.3 — 61

Southern basin · measured waves and water temperature

Offshore buoy / 45210 Reporting

Rawley Point East

Wave height 2.6ft
Period 5.0s
Water temp 56°F

Wind not reported in the latest observations.

View timestamped readings
Observed conditions for Rawley Point East
Observed Waves (ft) Period (s) Water (°F)
Fri 7:56 AM 2.6 5.0 56
Fri 7:26 AM 2.6 5.0 55
Fri 6:56 AM 3.0 5.0 55
Fri 6:26 AM 3.0 5.0 55
Fri 5:56 AM 3.3 6.0 55
Fri 5:26 AM 3.0 5.0 55
Fri 4:56 AM 3.3 5.0 55
Fri 4:26 AM 3.3 6.0 55
Fri 3:56 AM 3.6 6.0 55
Fri 3:26 AM 3.9 6.0 55
Fri 2:56 AM 3.9 6.0 55
Fri 2:26 AM 3.6 5.0 55
Fri 1:56 AM 3.9 5.0 55
Fri 1:26 AM 3.9 5.0 55
Fri 12:56 AM 3.6 5.0 55
Fri 12:26 AM 3.3 4.0 55
Thu 11:56 PM 3.0 3.0 55
Thu 11:26 PM 2.6 4.0 55
Thu 10:56 PM 2.6 4.0 55
Thu 10:26 PM 2.6 4.0 55
Thu 9:56 PM 3.0 4.0 55
Thu 9:26 PM 3.0 4.0 56
Thu 8:56 PM 2.6 3.0 56
Thu 8:26 PM 2.6 3.0 56

Off Rawley Point · measured waves east of the Two Rivers area

CLOSER TO THE BREAK

Shore stations

Coastal wind station / SGNW3 Reporting

Sheboygan

Observed wind 6kt
NNW 23m ago
Gust 8kt
Wave height — Not reported
Period — Not reported
Water — Not reported
Recent wind · knots
View timestamped readings
Observed conditions for Sheboygan
Observed Wind From Gust
Fri 8:50 AM 6.0 kt NNW 8.0 kt
Fri 8:40 AM 7.0 kt NNW 9.9 kt
Fri 8:30 AM 8.0 kt NNW 8.9 kt
Fri 8:20 AM 7.0 kt NW 8.9 kt
Fri 8:10 AM 7.0 kt NW 8.9 kt
Fri 8:00 AM 7.0 kt WNW 8.0 kt
Fri 7:50 AM 7.0 kt WNW 8.9 kt
Fri 7:40 AM 6.0 kt WNW 7.0 kt
Fri 7:30 AM 5.1 kt W 7.0 kt
Fri 7:20 AM 6.0 kt W 8.0 kt
Fri 7:10 AM 6.0 kt W 8.0 kt
Fri 7:00 AM 5.1 kt W 7.0 kt
Fri 6:50 AM 5.1 kt W 6.0 kt
Fri 6:40 AM 5.1 kt WNW 8.0 kt
Fri 6:30 AM 6.0 kt NW 8.0 kt
Fri 6:20 AM 7.0 kt NW 8.9 kt
Fri 6:10 AM 8.0 kt NW 8.9 kt
Fri 6:00 AM 8.0 kt NNW 9.9 kt
Fri 5:50 AM 8.0 kt NW 9.9 kt
Fri 5:40 AM 6.0 kt NW 8.9 kt
Fri 5:30 AM 8.0 kt NW 9.9 kt
Fri 5:20 AM 7.0 kt NW 9.9 kt
Fri 5:10 AM 8.0 kt NW 9.9 kt
Fri 5:00 AM 8.9 kt NW 12.1 kt

Local wind context for Sheboygan; not a breaking-wave measurement

Coastal wind station / PWAW3 Reporting

Port Washington

Observed wind 6kt
WNW 13m ago
Gust — Not reported
Wave height — Not reported
Period — Not reported
Water — Not reported
Recent wind · knots
View timestamped readings
Observed conditions for Port Washington
Observed Wind From Gust
Fri 9:00 AM 6.0 kt WNW — kt
Fri 8:55 AM 8.0 kt NW — kt
Fri 8:50 AM 9.9 kt NNW — kt
Fri 8:45 AM 12.1 kt NW — kt
Fri 8:40 AM 8.0 kt NW — kt
Fri 8:35 AM 4.1 kt NW — kt
Fri 8:30 AM 4.1 kt NNW — kt
Fri 8:25 AM 8.0 kt NW — kt
Fri 8:20 AM 8.0 kt NNW — kt
Fri 8:15 AM 8.0 kt NW — kt
Fri 8:10 AM 8.0 kt NNW — kt
Fri 8:05 AM 8.0 kt NNW — kt
Fri 8:00 AM 6.0 kt WNW — kt
Fri 7:55 AM 6.0 kt NW — kt
Fri 7:50 AM 8.0 kt N — kt
Fri 7:45 AM 12.1 kt NNW — kt
Fri 7:40 AM 6.0 kt WNW — kt
Fri 7:35 AM 4.1 kt NNW — kt
Fri 7:30 AM 6.0 kt NNW — kt
Fri 7:25 AM 6.0 kt NNW — kt
Fri 7:20 AM 8.0 kt NNW — kt
Fri 7:15 AM 8.0 kt NNW — kt
Fri 7:10 AM 6.0 kt NW — kt
Fri 7:05 AM 6.0 kt NW — kt

Local wind context for Port Washington; wind readings are useful on their own

Station readings describe their own location and exposure. Offshore wind can help indicate regional fetch; it does not predict an arrival time or guarantee surf at a beach. Data older than two hours is marked stale.