Lake Michigan · Chicago

Chicago Boating Weather & Lake Michigan Conditions

Official NOAA/NWS forecasts and alerts for recreational boaters — plus a plain-language conditions summary. Always verify marine products before you cast off.

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Chicago Lakefront Waukegan Harbor Winthrop Harbor / North Point Marina Geneva Lake (Lake Geneva, WI)Chain O' Lakes Kenosha Harbor Racine Harbor Milwaukee Lakefront Michigan City Harbor New Buffalo Harbor

Forecasts come from the nearest National Weather Service grid and station for each area.

Boating conditions summary

Caution

Caution — Wave height about 3.6 ft.

Wave height about 3.6 ft

Boating conditions can change quickly. This rating is informational only and is not a substitute for official NOAA/NWS marine forecasts, local regulations, or the judgment of a qualified captain.

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Use these resources alongside the official forecast above. They are planning links — not recommendations based on today's rating.

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Sunrise

6:20:20 AM

Sunset

7:17:14 PM

Current conditions

Observed near Chicago Lakefront for recreational boaters. On-water conditions can differ from land station readings — always cross-check the nearshore marine forecast before you leave the harbor.

Chicago Midway (KMDW) · Observed 9/5/2026, 10:20:00 PM

Air temp

73°F

Feels like

73°F

Conditions

Cloudy

Wind

10 mph

Wind direction

Gusts

Not currently available from source

Humidity

83%

Visibility

10 mi

Lake Michigan nearshore

Wave and water readings come from NOAA buoy data when the station reports them. Missing values mean the buoy did not report that field — we never invent lake numbers.

Water temperature

Not currently available from source

Wave height

~3.6 ft

Buoy

45174

Active NOAA/NWS alerts

No active alerts for configured Chicago / nearshore Lake Michigan zones right now.

Next 24 hours

NWS hourly grid forecast for Chicago Lakefront. Watch wind shifts and thunderstorm chances before afternoon lake trips.

10 PM

71°

Mostly Cloudy

Wind 15 mph · 0%

11 PM

72°

Mostly Cloudy

Wind 15 mph · 0%

12 AM

72°

Partly Cloudy

Wind 15 mph · 0%

1 AM

72°

Partly Cloudy

Wind 15 mph · 0%

2 AM

72°

Mostly Clear

Wind 15 mph · 0%

3 AM

71°

Mostly Clear

Wind 10 mph · 0%

4 AM

71°

Mostly Clear

Wind 10 mph · 0%

5 AM

71°

Mostly Clear

Wind 10 mph · 0%

6 AM

70°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

7 AM

70°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

8 AM

71°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

9 AM

72°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

10 AM

72°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

11 AM

72°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

12 PM

73°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

1 PM

74°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

2 PM

73°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

3 PM

73°

Mostly Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

4 PM

72°

Mostly Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

5 PM

72°

Mostly Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

6 PM

72°

Partly Cloudy

Wind 10 mph · 0%

7 PM

72°

Mostly Clear

Wind 10 mph · 0%

8 PM

71°

Mostly Clear

Wind 10 mph · 0%

9 PM

72°

Partly Cloudy

Wind 10 mph · 0%

7-day outlook

Tonight

69°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy. Low around 69, with temperatures rising to around 71 overnight. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wind NE 10 to 15 mph · Precip 0%

Sunday

75°F

Sunny

Sunny. High near 75, with temperatures falling to around 72 in the afternoon. East northeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wind ENE 10 mph · Precip 0%

Sunday Night

66°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wind E 5 to 10 mph · Precip 0%

Labor Day

76°F

Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. East southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wind ESE 5 to 10 mph · Precip 0%

Monday Night

67°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. East southeast wind around 10 mph.

Wind ESE 10 mph · Precip 0%

Tuesday

86°F

Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.

Wind S 10 mph · Precip 1%

Tuesday Night

74°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.

Wind SSW 10 mph · Precip 8%

Wednesday

89°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7am and 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.

Wind WSW 10 to 15 mph · Precip 18%

Wednesday Night

69°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.

Wind WNW 5 to 10 mph · Precip 11%

Thursday

77°F

Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.

Wind NNW 5 to 10 mph · Precip 11%

Thursday Night

65°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.

Wind NNW 5 to 10 mph · Precip 5%

Friday

79°F

Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.

Wind S 5 to 10 mph · Precip 6%

Friday Night

66°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.

Wind S 5 to 10 mph · Precip 14%

Saturday

83°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers

A slight chance of rain showers between 7am and 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.

Wind SSW 5 to 10 mph · Precip 15%

What wind means for recreational boating

Downtown air temperature is not the same as Lake Michigan. Wind over open water builds chop faster than the same breeze feels on land, and thunderstorms can arrive with little room to run for a harbor.

As a conservative rule of thumb for small recreational boats: winds climbing through the teens often mean a tougher ride; mid-20s and higher — especially with gusts or a small craft advisory — are a strong reason to stay docked unless you and your vessel are truly prepared.

This site's Good / Caution / Poor summary is informational only. Official NOAA/NWS marine forecasts and a qualified captain's judgment always come first.

Chicago Boating Brief

A quick read of conditions, official alerts, and recent source-cited updates for Lake Michigan boaters.

Boating conditions summary

Caution

Caution — Wave height about 3.6 ft.

Wave height about 3.6 ft

Boating conditions can change quickly. This rating is informational only and is not a substitute for official NOAA/NWS marine forecasts, local regulations, or the judgment of a qualified captain.

Official alert spotlight

No active alerts in configured nearshore zones right now.

Seasonal tip

Afternoon lake breezes can differ sharply from Loop conditions. Check the nearshore marine forecast before you leave the harbor.

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