National Weather Service Marine Forecast FZUS63 KMKX

FZUS63 KMKX 161351
GLFLM

OPEN LAKE FORECAST for Lake Michigan
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
851 AM CDT Fri Oct 16 2026

FOR WATERS BEYOND FIVE NAUTICAL MILES OF SHORE ON Lake Michigan.

Waves are provided as a range of significant wave heights, which is the average of the highest 1/3 of the wave, along with the average height of the highest 10% of the waves which will occasionally be encountered.

SYNOPSIS

Low pressure will deepen to around 29.4 inches as it shifts into the eastern Great Lakes today. Expect northwest to north winds to strengthen to high-end gales by late this morning, as a strong high pressure system around 30.7 inches builds into the Plains. A Gale Warning remains in effect for all of the open waters of Lake Michigan later this morning into tonight.

Lake effect showers and a few thunderstorms are possible today along the back side of departing low pressure. A few waterspouts are possible in the showers and thunderstorms, particularly over the south half of Lake Michigan.

As the high sinks toward the Ohio River Valley on Saturday, strong low pressure around 29.0 inches will develop in northern Manitoba into Sunday. This may bring southwest gales to far northern portions of Lake Michigan Saturday night into Sunday night.

LMZ261-362-364-366-563-565-567-868-162115
Lake Michigan from Seul Choix Point to Rock Island Passage 5 NM offshore to Mid Lake
Lake Michigan South of a line from Seul Choix Point to the Mackinac Bridge and north of a line from Charlevoix MI to South Fox Island 5 NM offshore
Lake Michigan from Charlevoix to Point Betsie MI 5 NM offshore to Mid Lake
Lake Michigan from Point Betsie to Manistee MI 5 NM offshore to Mid Lake
Lake Michigan from Rock Island Passage to Sturgeon Bay WI
Lake Michigan from Sturgeon Bay to Two Rivers WI 5 NM offshore to Mid Lake
Lake Michigan from Two Rivers to Sheboygan WI 5 NM offshore to Mid Lake
Lake Michigan from Pentwater to Manistee MI 5 NM offshore to Mid Lake
851 AM CDT Fri Oct 16 2026

SHEBOYGAN WI TO PENTWATER MI NORTH...

GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT

REST OF TODAY
North winds to 30 kt increasing to gales to 45 kt. Rain showers through mid morning, then chance of rain showers this afternoon. Slight chance of waterspouts this afternoon. Waves 5 to 8 ft occasionally to 10 ft building to 14 to 18 ft occasionally to 23 ft.

TONIGHT
North gales to 40 kt becoming northwest 10 to 20 kt. Waves 14 to 18 ft occasionally to 23 ft subsiding to 6 to 9 ft occasionally to 12 ft.

SATURDAY
Northwest winds 10 to 20 kt becoming west 15 to 25 kt late in the morning, then becoming southwest to 30 kt in the afternoon. Waves 4 to 6 ft occasionally to 8 ft building to 5 to 8 ft occasionally to 10 ft.

SATURDAY NIGHT
Southwest gales to 35 kt. Waves 6 to 9 ft occasionally to 12 ft building to 8 to 11 ft occasionally to 14 ft.

SUNDAY
Southwest gales to 40 kt. Waves 10 to 14 ft occasionally to 18 ft.

SUNDAY NIGHT
Southwest gales to 40 kt. Waves 8 to 12 ft occasionally to 16 ft subsiding to 7 to 10 ft occasionally to 13 ft.

MONDAY
Southwest winds 15 to 25 kt diminishing to 10 to 20 kt. Waves 4 to 7 ft occasionally to 9 ft subsiding to 3 to 5 ft.

TUESDAY
East winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 to 2 ft.

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LMZ080-669-671-673-675-777-779-870-872-874-876-878-162115
Lake Michigan from Michigan City IN to St. Joseph MI 5 NM offshore to Mid Lake
Lake Michigan from Sheboygan to Port Washington WI 5 NM offshore to Mid Lake
Lake Michigan from Port Washington to North Point Light WI 5 NM offshore to Mid Lake
Lake Michigan from North Point Light to Wind Point WI 5 NM offshore to Mid Lake
Lake Michigan from Wind Point WI to Winthrop Harbor IL 5 NM offshore to Mid Lake
Lake Michigan from Winthrop Harbor to Wilmette Harbor IL 5 NM offshore to Mid Lake
Lake Michigan from Wilmette Harbor IL to Michigan City IN 5 NM offshore to Mid Lake
Lake Michigan from Whitehall to Pentwater MI 5 NM offshore to Mid Lake
Lake Michigan from Grand Haven to Whitehall MI 5 NM offshore to Mid Lake
Lake Michigan from Holland to Grand Haven MI 5 NM offshore to Mid Lake
Lake Michigan from South Haven to Holland MI 5 NM offshore to Mid Lake
Lake Michigan from St. Joseph to South Haven MI 5 NM offshore to Mid Lake
851 AM CDT Fri Oct 16 2026

SHEBOYGAN WI TO PENTWATER MI SOUTH...

GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT

REST OF TODAY
Northwest winds to 30 kt becoming north gales to 45 kt. Slight chance of waterspouts. Scattered showers with isolated thunderstorms through mid morning, then chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. Waves 8 to 11 ft occasionally to 14 ft building to 15 to 20 ft occasionally to 26 ft.

TONIGHT
North gales to 45 kt diminishing to 15 to 25 kt. Slight chance of waterspouts in the evening. Chance of rain showers. Waves 15 to 20 ft occasionally to 26 ft subsiding to 10 to 14 ft occasionally to 18 ft.

SATURDAY
North winds 10 to 20 kt backing to southwest 15 to 25 kt. Waves 7 to 10 ft occasionally to 13 ft subsiding to 3 to 5 ft.

SATURDAY NIGHT
Southwest winds to 30 kt. Waves 6 to 9 ft occasionally to 12 ft.

SUNDAY
Southwest winds to 30 kt. Waves 8 to 12 ft occasionally to 16 ft.

SUNDAY NIGHT
South winds to 30 kt becoming southwest 15 to 25 kt. Waves 8 to 11 ft occasionally to 14 ft subsiding to 5 to 8 ft occasionally to 10 ft.

MONDAY
Southwest winds 10 to 20 kt. Waves 3 to 5 ft subsiding to 2 to 4 ft.

TUESDAY
East winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves 1 ft or less.

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LMZ761-162115
MAFOR 1616/ MICHIGAN NORTH...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT...11850 12860 11850 11840 11830 11710 11620. A chance of showers this afternoon. Waves 6 to 9 feet building to 12 to 16 feet this afternoon. Waves 12 to 16 feet subsiding to 5 to 8 feet tonight. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet Saturday morning.

MICHIGAN SOUTH...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT...11756 12860 12850 11840 11820 11810. Waves 7 to 10 feet building to 15 to 19 feet this afternoon. Waves 15 to 20 feet subsiding to 10 to 13 feet tonight. Waves 6 to 9 feet subsiding to 4 to 7 feet Saturday morning.

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Wood

Experimental modernized open lake forecast is available online at weather.gov/mkx/glftable

Graphical marine forecasts are available online at: weather.gov/greatlakes