Southern Lake Michigan · Racine 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 Racine 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

6:20:10 AM

Sunset

7:18:35 PM

Current conditions

Observed near Racine 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.

KRAC · Observed 9/5/2026, 11:10:00 PM

Air temp

66°F

Feels like

66°F

Conditions

Clear

Wind

8 mph

Wind direction

Gusts

Not currently available from source

Humidity

94%

Visibility

10 mi

Lake conditions · Racine 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 Racine Harbor observation.

Active NOAA/NWS alerts

No active alerts for Racine Harbor right now.

Next 24 hours

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

11 PM

67°

Mostly Clear

Wind 5 mph · 0%

12 AM

68°

Mostly Clear

Wind 5 mph · 0%

1 AM

68°

Mostly Clear

Wind 5 mph · 0%

2 AM

68°

Mostly Clear

Wind 5 mph · 0%

3 AM

67°

Mostly Clear

Wind 5 mph · 0%

4 AM

67°

Mostly Clear

Wind 5 mph · 0%

5 AM

66°

Mostly Clear

Wind 5 mph · 0%

6 AM

66°

Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

7 AM

67°

Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

8 AM

68°

Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

9 AM

71°

Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

10 AM

72°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

11 AM

73°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

12 PM

72°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

1 PM

72°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

2 PM

73°

Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

3 PM

71°

Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

4 PM

71°

Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

5 PM

70°

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

67°

Partly Cloudy

Wind 5 mph · 0%

7-day outlook

Tonight

65°F

Mostly Clear

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

Wind NE 5 mph · Precip 0%

Sunday

74°F

Sunny

Sunny, with a high near 74. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wind E 5 to 10 mph · Precip 0%

Sunday Night

64°F

Mostly Clear

Mostly clear, with a low around 64. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Wind NE 5 mph · Precip 0%

Labor Day

73°F

Sunny

Sunny, with a high near 73. 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 5 to 10 mph.

Wind SE 5 to 10 mph · Precip 0%

Tuesday

81°F

Partly Sunny

Partly sunny, with a high near 81. 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 around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wind SW 10 mph · Precip 63%

Wednesday

84°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Showers and thunderstorms likely before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wind W 10 to 15 mph · Precip 63%

Wednesday Night

61°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.

Wind W 5 to 10 mph · Precip 2%

Thursday

76°F

Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.

Wind NW 5 to 10 mph · Precip 2%

Thursday Night

59°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.

Wind W 5 mph · Precip 3%

Friday

77°F

Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.

Wind SW 5 to 10 mph · Precip 4%

Friday Night

61°F

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.

Wind S 5 to 10 mph · Precip 12%

Saturday

79°F

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wind SW 10 mph · Precip 20%

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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