Southern Lake Michigan · Kenosha Harbor

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. Currently showing the nearest official forecast for Kenosha Harbor.

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

Boating conditions summary

Caution

Caution — Wave height about 3.9 ft.

Wave height about 3.9 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

6:20:26 AM

Sunset

7:18:36 PM

Current conditions

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

Kenosha, Kenosha Regional Airport (KENW) · Observed 9/5/2026, 11:15:00 PM

Air temp

66°F

Feels like

66°F

Conditions

Clear

Wind

5 mph

Wind direction

Gusts

Not currently available from source

Humidity

94%

Visibility

10 mi

Lake conditions · Kenosha Harbor

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

~3.9 ft

Buoy

45174

NOAA buoy 45174 sits off Chicago — treat these readings as a southern Lake Michigan reference, not a local Kenosha Harbor observation.

Active NOAA/NWS alerts

No active alerts for Kenosha Harbor right now.

Next 24 hours

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

11 PM

69°

Mostly Clear

Wind 10 mph · 0%

12 AM

68°

Mostly Clear

Wind 10 mph · 0%

1 AM

68°

Mostly Clear

Wind 10 mph · 0%

2 AM

68°

Mostly Clear

Wind 10 mph · 0%

3 AM

68°

Mostly Clear

Wind 10 mph · 0%

4 AM

68°

Mostly Clear

Wind 15 mph · 0%

5 AM

68°

Mostly Clear

Wind 15 mph · 0%

6 AM

68°

Sunny

Wind 15 mph · 0%

7 AM

68°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

8 AM

69°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

9 AM

70°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

10 AM

70°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

11 AM

71°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

12 PM

71°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

1 PM

70°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

2 PM

71°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

3 PM

71°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

4 PM

71°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

5 PM

70°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

6 PM

70°

Mostly Clear

Wind 10 mph · 0%

7 PM

69°

Mostly Clear

Wind 10 mph · 0%

8 PM

69°

Mostly Clear

Wind 10 mph · 0%

9 PM

68°

Mostly Clear

Wind 10 mph · 0%

10 PM

69°

Partly Cloudy

Wind 10 mph · 0%

7-day outlook

Tonight

67°F

Mostly Clear

Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph.

Wind NE 10 to 15 mph · Precip 0%

Sunday

72°F

Sunny

Sunny, with a high near 72. East wind 10 to 15 mph.

Wind E 10 to 15 mph · Precip 0%

Sunday Night

66°F

Mostly Clear

Mostly clear, with a low around 66. East wind around 10 mph.

Wind E 10 mph · Precip 0%

Labor Day

73°F

Sunny

Sunny, with a high near 73. Southeast wind around 10 mph.

Wind SE 10 mph · Precip 0%

Monday Night

66°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph.

Wind SE 10 to 15 mph · Precip 0%

Tuesday

79°F

Partly Sunny

Partly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind 10 to 15 mph.

Wind S 10 to 15 mph · Precip 4%

Tuesday Night

70°F

Mostly Cloudy then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Showers and thunderstorms likely after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wind SW 10 to 15 mph · Precip 56%

Wednesday

81°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Showers and thunderstorms likely before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. West wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wind W 15 mph · Precip 56%

Wednesday Night

63°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.

Wind W 10 to 15 mph · Precip 3%

Thursday

74°F

Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.

Wind NW 10 mph · Precip 2%

Thursday Night

61°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.

Wind W 5 to 10 mph · Precip 3%

Friday

75°F

Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.

Wind SW 5 to 10 mph · Precip 4%

Friday Night

63°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.

Wind S 5 to 10 mph · Precip 12%

Saturday

77°F

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wind SW 10 to 15 mph · Precip 19%

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 3.9 ft.

Wave height about 3.9 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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