Southern Lake Michigan · Geneva Lake (Lake Geneva, WI)

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 Geneva Lake (Lake Geneva, WI).

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

Boating conditions summary

Good

Good — No elevated wind, wave, or advisory factors from available data.

No elevated wind, wave, or advisory factors from available data

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

6:22:55 AM

Sunset

7:21:05 PM

Current conditions

Observed near Geneva Lake (Lake Geneva, WI) for recreational boaters. On-water conditions can differ from land station readings — always cross-check the nearshore marine forecast before you leave the harbor.

Burlington Municipal Airport (KBUU) · Observed 9/5/2026, 9:55:00 PM

Air temp

67°F

Feels like

67°F

Conditions

Clear

Wind

3 mph

Wind direction

Gusts

Not currently available from source

Humidity

92%

Visibility

10 mi

Lake conditions · Geneva Lake (Lake Geneva, WI)

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

Not currently available from source

Buoy

Not currently available from source

No NOAA buoy reports for Geneva Lake (Lake Geneva, WI). NOAA buoy 45174 is a Chicago nearshore Lake Michigan reference and does not describe conditions on this inland lake.

Active NOAA/NWS alerts

No active alerts for Geneva Lake (Lake Geneva, WI) right now.

Next 24 hours

NWS hourly grid forecast for Geneva Lake (Lake Geneva, WI). Watch wind shifts and thunderstorm chances before afternoon lake trips.

10 PM

66°

Partly Cloudy

Wind 5 mph · 0%

11 PM

65°

Partly Cloudy

Wind 5 mph · 0%

12 AM

65°

Partly Cloudy

Wind 5 mph · 0%

1 AM

64°

Partly Cloudy

Wind 0 mph · 0%

2 AM

64°

Mostly Clear

Wind 0 mph · 0%

3 AM

63°

Partly Cloudy

Wind 0 mph · 0%

4 AM

63°

Partly Cloudy

Wind 0 mph · 0%

5 AM

63°

Partly Cloudy

Wind 0 mph · 0%

6 AM

62°

Patchy Fog

Wind 0 mph · 0%

7 AM

63°

Patchy Fog

Wind 0 mph · 0%

8 AM

66°

Mostly Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

9 AM

69°

Mostly Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

10 AM

72°

Mostly Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

11 AM

74°

Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

12 PM

75°

Mostly Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

1 PM

76°

Mostly Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

2 PM

76°

Mostly Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

3 PM

76°

Mostly Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

4 PM

75°

Mostly Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

5 PM

73°

Mostly Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

6 PM

71°

Mostly Clear

Wind 5 mph · 0%

7 PM

68°

Mostly Clear

Wind 5 mph · 0%

8 PM

65°

Mostly Clear

Wind 5 mph · 0%

9 PM

63°

Mostly Clear

Wind 0 mph · 0%

7-day outlook

Tonight

61°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Northeast wind 0 to 5 mph.

Wind NE 0 to 5 mph · Precip 0%

Sunday

77°F

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny

Patchy fog before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. East wind 0 to 10 mph.

Wind E 0 to 10 mph · Precip 0%

Sunday Night

58°F

Mostly Clear

Mostly clear, with a low around 58. East wind 0 to 5 mph.

Wind E 0 to 5 mph · Precip 0%

Labor Day

77°F

Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. East wind 0 to 5 mph.

Wind E 0 to 5 mph · Precip 0%

Monday Night

60°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southeast wind 0 to 5 mph.

Wind SE 0 to 5 mph · Precip 0%

Tuesday

85°F

Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wind S 5 to 10 mph · Precip 4%

Tuesday Night

69°F

Partly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wind SW 10 mph · Precip 35%

Wednesday

85°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wind W 10 mph · Precip 35%

Wednesday Night

60°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.

Wind W 5 to 10 mph · Precip 8%

Thursday

77°F

Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.

Wind NW 0 to 5 mph · Precip 8%

Thursday Night

56°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.

Wind W 0 to 5 mph · Precip 6%

Friday

79°F

Sunny

Sunny, with a high near 79.

Wind SW 0 to 5 mph · Precip 7%

Friday Night

59°F

Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers

A slight chance of rain showers after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wind S 0 to 5 mph · Precip 15%

Saturday

82°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

A slight chance of rain showers before 7am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wind SW 5 to 10 mph · Precip 15%

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Ratings and review counts from GetYourGuide (or Viator where noted). Not BoatingChicago reviews.

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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

Good

Good — No elevated wind, wave, or advisory factors from available data.

No elevated wind, wave, or advisory factors from available data

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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