great lakes temperature

Surface temps on the Great Lakes have warmed to above average following a week-long stretch of hot, hot weather around Michigan. Surface temps on Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario range between 75 and 85 degrees, according to measurements by Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.

What is the water temperature of Lake Michigan right now?

Lake Michigan now averages 74 degrees on the surface, which is 11 degrees warmer than the historical average water temperature on this date.

Are the Great Lakes warm enough to swim in?

The Great Lakes are beckoning swimmers with higher-than-average temperatures. But not all species are warming to the trend. Those of us who cottage on there typically consider ourselves cold-water warriors for our ability to swim in the frigid water.

Which Great Lake is the coldest?

Lake Superior

Not only is Lake Superior the largest of the Great Lakes, it also has the largest surface area of any freshwater lake in the world. ...
With an average depth approaching 500 feet, Superior also is the coldest and deepest (1,332 feet) of the Great Lakes.

How cold is the water in the Great Lakes?

Lake Michigan has an interesting water scheme at the bottom of the lake. The shallow water of Green Bay and the Chicago area have warmed up into the 70s. The deepest part of Lake Michigan is over 990 feet. The water at the bottom of that deep pocket is still 39 degrees to 40 degrees.

Why is Lake Michigan so cold?

Strong and persistent winds from the north began blowing over Lake Michigan. You may think this pulled down cooler water from the north, but this unusually cold water actually came from deep within the lake's depths. The winds from the north are the cause, but the how is slightly more complex.

Is Lake Michigan too cold to swim?

Shoreline water temperatures on Lake Michigan are warmer than at the start of the week, but still too cold for most swimmers.

What is the most dangerous thing in Lake Michigan?

Swift Currents Are The Real Danger

Not only is this lake massive - spanning 307 miles in either direction - but its shores also run parallel, causing unique wave shapes. Ths shapes of these waves are what contribute to rip tides, which are one of the most dangerous things swimmers can encounter in the water.

What is the most dangerous Great Lake?

Lake Michigan is being called the “deadliest” of all the Great Lakes.

What is the warmest Great Lake?

That is 9.72 degrees above the average temperature for July 10 from 1995 to 2020 and constitutes the warmest surface water temperature ever recorded on Lake Ontario, according to NOAA CoastWatch data.

What is the dirtiest of the Great Lakes?

Of all of the Great Lakes, Lake Erie had become predominantly polluted by the 1960s, largely due to the heavy industrial presence along its shores. With 11.6 million people living in its basin, and with big cities and sprawling farmland dominating its watershed, Lake Erie is severely impacted by human activities.

Why is Lake Erie so dirty?

Lake Erie's algae blooms are caused by runoff pollution. This type of pollution occurs when rainfall washes fertilizer and manure spread on large farm fields into streams that flow into Lake Erie. This fuels a bumper crop of algae each year that can make water toxic to fish, wildlife, and people.

Why does Lake Superior never give up her dead?

Lightfoot sings that "The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead". This is because of the unusually cold water, under 36 °F (2 °C) on average around 1970. Normally, bacteria decaying a sunken body will bloat it with gas, causing it to float to the surface after a few days.

Can you swim in Lake Superior?

Lake Superior is very cold. ... Not many people swim in Lake Superior. Not because it is dangerous, because most people don't understand how wicked the lake can be, they don't swim because the lake is so cold.

Why are lakes warmer at night?

The bigger change in temperature is because of how much heat is absorbed by the land (compared to water). ... At night, while the land cools off quickly, the water at the surface is kept warmer because the water is mixed around with the warmer water underneath.

Which Great Lake is the warmest and shallowest?

Lake Erie is the shallowest, warmest, and most productive of the Great Lakes. Three distinct basins provide a variety of offshore habitats. The Detroit River, Maumee River, and smaller tributaries drain into the western basin, which averages 24 feet deep and contains extremely nutrient-rich water.

Is it OK to swim in Lake Michigan?

On any warm day, people can be found swimming, wading, playing in the surf or walking the beaches along the southern shore of Lake Michigan. Generally the water is clean and safe for swimming. However, to ensure public safety, the national lakeshore regularly tests the water for contamination by bacteria.

Are there any sharks in Lake Michigan?

Recycling the salt its body already contains allows bull sharks to adapt to a freshwater environment. ... No shark reports have been officially, “scientifically” documented in Lake Michigan. There have been “fin” sightings as was the case in Frankfort.

What is the clearest Great Lake?

Stretching all the way down to 1,645 feet deep, Lake Tahoe has beautiful crystal-clear waters at an elevation of 6,225 feet above sea level. Known for its phenomenal clarity, this ancient lake has the purest waters in North America, making this The Clearest Lake in the United States.

How cold is too cold to swim in?

85F(29.4C) Water feels pleasantly cool rather than warm. 77-82F(25-28C) Swimming pool temperature range for Olympic competition. 70F(21C) Water feels quite cold to most people. Treat any water temperature below 70F (21C) with caution.

Is 75 degree water too cold for swimming?

Lap swimming for exercise

Most lap swimmers like the water temperature to be somewhere between 75-80 degrees. Being active by swimming laps will cause the body to heat up fairly quickly.

What is a comfortable lake water temperature?

A little cooler than your body temperature (98.6° Fahrenheit) should not be too cold so that you don't get chilled. 70° to 78° Fahrenheit is the range where most folks feel "comfortable" swimming.