National Weather Service Northern Indiana Marine Page

Marine Weather

If you will be navigating any of the waters of the Great lakes, the following links may help you with your planning. As always you are advised to check the dates of the product, to make sure it is the most current one. Forecasts are routinely updated every six hours.

Marine Forecasts - Southern Lake Michigan

Nearshore Marine Forecasts - for waters within 5 nautical miles from shore

Michigan City, IN to St. Joseph, MI - Issued by NWS Northern Indiana
St. Joseph, MI to Manistee, MI - Issued by NWS Grand Rapids, MI
Michigan City, IN to Winthrop Harbor, IL - Issued by NWS Chicago, IL
Winthrop Harbor, IL to Sheboygan, WI - Issued by NWS Milwaukee, WI

Open Lake Forecast - for waters beyond 5 nautical miles from shore

Open Lake Forecast for Lake Michigan - Issued by NWS Chicago, IL

Graphical Marine Forecasts for the Great Lakes

Special Marine Warnings and Statements

Special Marine Warnings - from shoreline reference points out to mid lake

Issued by NWS Northern Indiana
Issued by NWS Grand Rapids, MI
Issued by NWS Chicago, IL
Issued by NWS Milwaukee, WI

Marine Weather Statements - from shoreline reference points out to mid lake

Issued by NWS Northern Indiana, IN
Issued by NWS Grand Rapids, MI
Issued by NWS Chicago, IL
Issued by NWS Milwaukee, WI

Marine Observations

Southern Lake Michigan Buoy - Buoy 45007 is at mid lake about 35 miles northwest of Benton Harbor, MI.
St. Joseph, Michigan GLOS Station - Located along the Lake Michigan shoreline
Michigan City, Indiana GLERL Station - Located at the Michigan City lighthouse
Current Great Lakes Marine Observations - NOAA coastwatch site including buoy data, CMAN stations, land observations, and ship reports.
Great Lakes Water Levels - Current water levels for all the Great Lakes compared to seasonal averages.
Great Lakes Water Temperatures and Ice Cover - Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory
Southern Lake Michigan Water Temperatures - Michigan Sea Grant Coastwatch

Rip Current and Beach Information

Hazardous Weather Outlook - Forecast of days with an increased risk of rip currents (Memorial Day through Labor Day)
Beach/Surf Zone Forecast - (May - September)
Lake Shore Hazard Message - Wave and rip current information
Lake Michigan Beach Reports - Wave, water temperature, and flag conditions for Warren Dunes State Park, MI and Silver Beach, MI (Memorial Day through Labor Day)

For more information on rip currents see the following websites:

National Park Service - Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
NOAA Rip Current Safety Page

Forecasts and Warnings for the Rest of the Great Lakes

National Marine Forecasts Page

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office