Southern Lake Michigan · Milwaukee Lakefront

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 Milwaukee Lakefront.

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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

6:20:21 AM

Sunset

7:19:21 PM

Current conditions

Observed near Milwaukee 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.

Milwaukee, General Mitchell International Airport (KMKE) · Observed 9/5/2026, 11:10:00 PM

Air temp

68°F

Feels like

68°F

Conditions

Clear

Wind

9 mph

Wind direction

Gusts

Not currently available from source

Humidity

94%

Visibility

10 mi

Lake conditions · Milwaukee Lakefront

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 Milwaukee Lakefront observation.

Active NOAA/NWS alerts

No active alerts for Milwaukee Lakefront right now.

Next 24 hours

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

11 PM

68°

Mostly Clear

Wind 10 mph · 0%

12 AM

67°

Mostly Clear

Wind 10 mph · 0%

1 AM

66°

Mostly Clear

Wind 10 mph · 0%

2 AM

66°

Mostly Clear

Wind 5 mph · 0%

3 AM

66°

Mostly Clear

Wind 10 mph · 0%

4 AM

66°

Mostly Clear

Wind 10 mph · 0%

5 AM

66°

Mostly Clear

Wind 10 mph · 0%

6 AM

65°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

7 AM

65°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

8 AM

67°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

9 AM

69°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

10 AM

70°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

11 AM

70°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

12 PM

69°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

1 PM

70°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

2 PM

69°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

3 PM

70°

Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

4 PM

69°

Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

5 PM

69°

Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

6 PM

69°

Mostly Clear

Wind 5 mph · 0%

7 PM

68°

Mostly Clear

Wind 5 mph · 0%

8 PM

67°

Mostly Clear

Wind 5 mph · 0%

9 PM

67°

Partly Cloudy

Wind 5 mph · 0%

10 PM

66°

Partly Cloudy

Wind 5 mph · 0%

7-day outlook

Tonight

65°F

Mostly Clear

Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wind NE 5 to 10 mph · Precip 0%

Sunday

71°F

Sunny

Sunny, with a high near 71. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wind E 5 to 10 mph · Precip 0%

Sunday Night

63°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Wind NE 5 mph · Precip 0%

Labor Day

71°F

Sunny

Sunny, with a high near 71. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wind SE 5 to 10 mph · Precip 0%

Monday Night

65°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southeast wind around 10 mph.

Wind SE 10 mph · Precip 0%

Tuesday

78°F

Partly Sunny

Partly sunny, with a high near 78. South wind 10 to 15 mph.

Wind S 10 to 15 mph · Precip 6%

Tuesday Night

70°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7pm and 1am, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wind SW 10 to 15 mph · Precip 73%

Wednesday

79°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Showers and thunderstorms likely before 7am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7am and 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. Southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wind SW 15 to 20 mph · Precip 73%

Wednesday Night

63°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.

Wind W 10 to 15 mph · Precip 1%

Thursday

72°F

Sunny

Sunny, with a high near 72.

Wind NW 10 mph · Precip 3%

Thursday Night

61°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.

Wind W 5 to 10 mph · Precip 3%

Friday

74°F

Sunny

Sunny, with a high near 74.

Wind SW 5 to 10 mph · Precip 5%

Friday Night

62°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.

Wind SW 5 to 10 mph · Precip 11%

Saturday

76°F

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. 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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