National Weather Service Marine Forecast FZUS63 KMQT
FZUS63 KMQT 212101
GLFLS
Open Lake Forecast for Lake Superior
National Weather Service Marquette MI
400 PM EST Wed Jan 21 2026
For waters beyond 5 nautical miles of shore on Lake Superior.
Waves are the significant wave height - the average of the highest 1/3 of the wave spectrum. Occasional wave height is the average of the highest 1/10 of the wave spectrum.
SYNOPSIS
A 29.7 inch low over eastern Lake Superior will deepen to 29.6 inches as it moves east through Ontario and into Quebec by Thursday morning. In the wake of the low, a 31.0 inch high pressure will be over Saskatchewan, shifting over the Dakotas Friday and overspreading the Upper Midwest at around 30.7 inches Saturday. Remnant ridging of at least 30.3 inches remains over Lake Superior through Sunday. A 29.8 inch trough will approach the lake on Monday afternoon as the high pressure slides south and east, away from the area.
LSZ162-220900
Lake Superior west of a line from Saxon Harbor WI to Grand
Portage MN beyond 5NM
400 PM EST Wed Jan 21 2026 /300 PM CST Wed Jan 21 2026/
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM EST /MIDNIGHT CST/ THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON
LATE THIS AFTERNOON
Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots. A slight
chance of snow showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet.
TONIGHT
Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots. A slight chance of
snow showers. Heavy freezing spray after midnight. Waves building
to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet.
THURSDAY
Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots increasing to 30 knots
with a few gale force gusts to 35 knots possible. A slight chance
of snow showers. Heavy freezing spray and patchy dense fog in the
afternoon. Waves subsiding to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet,
then building to 5 to 8 feet occasionally to 10 feet.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds to 30 knots with a few gale
force gusts to 35 knots possible diminishing to 20 to 30 knots
late. Patchy fog in the evening. Heavy freezing spray. A chance
of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to
8 feet.
FRIDAY
Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of snow
showers. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds 10 to 20 knots diminishing to
5 to 15 knots after midnight. A chance of snow showers. Waves
subsiding to calm to 2 feet.
SATURDAY
West winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 10 to 20 knots
in the afternoon. Waves calm to 2 feet.
SATURDAY NIGHT
West winds 5 to 15 knots. Waves calm to 2 feet.
SUNDAY
Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 10 to
20 knots. Waves calm to 2 feet.
MONDAY
West winds 15 to 25 knots. Waves building to 2 to
4 feet, then subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas.
LSZ263-220900
Lake Superior from Saxon Harbor WI to Upper Entrance to Portage
Canal MI 5NM off shore to the US/Canadian border including Isle
Royale National Park
400 PM EST Wed Jan 21 2026
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING
LATE THIS AFTERNOON
Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots. Freezing
spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves 3 to 6 feet occasionally
to 8 feet.
TONIGHT
Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots. Heavy freezing spray.
A chance of snow showers. Waves building to 5 to 8 feet
occasionally to 10 feet.
THURSDAY
Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots. Heavy freezing spray.
Patchy dense fog in the afternoon. A chance of snow showers.
Waves building to 5 to 9 feet occasionally to 11 feet.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots. Areas of dense
fog in the evening. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers likely in
the evening. A chance of snow showers after midnight. Waves
building to 6 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet.
FRIDAY
Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to
25 knots in the afternoon. Heavy freezing spray. A chance of snow
showers. Waves subsiding to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots diminishing to
10 to 20 knots after midnight. A chance of snow showers. Waves
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
SATURDAY
West winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of snow showers.
Waves subsiding to calm to 2 feet.
SATURDAY NIGHT
West winds 5 to 15 knots backing southwest
after midnight. A chance of snow showers in the evening. Waves
calm to 2 feet.
SUNDAY
Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 10 to
20 knots. Waves building to 1 to 3 feet.
MONDAY
West winds 20 to 30 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Waves
building to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet.
Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas.
LSZ264-220900
Lake Superior from Upper Entrance to Portage Canal to Manitou
Island MI 5NM off shore to the US/Canadian Border
400 PM EST Wed Jan 21 2026
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT
LATE THIS AFTERNOON
Northwest winds 10 to 20 knots. Snow
showers likely. Waves 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet.
TONIGHT
Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots increasing to 20 to
30 knots late. Heavy freezing spray. A chance of snow showers.
Waves building to 5 to 8 feet occasionally to 10 feet.
THURSDAY
Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots. Heavy freezing spray.
A chance of snow showers. Waves building to 6 to 9 feet
occasionally to 11 feet.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots. Areas of dense
fog in the evening. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers likely.
Waves building to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet.
FRIDAY
Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to
25 knots in the afternoon. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers
likely in the morning. A chance of snow showers in the afternoon.
Waves subsiding to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots diminishing to
10 to 20 knots after midnight. Heavy freezing spray in the
evening. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 2 to
4 feet.
SATURDAY
Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots backing west in the
afternoon. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to calm to
2 feet.
SATURDAY NIGHT
West winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of snow
showers in the evening. Waves calm to 2 feet.
SUNDAY
Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 10 to
20 knots. Waves building to 2 to 4 feet.
MONDAY
West winds 20 to 30 knots. Freezing spray. Waves
building to 4 to 7 feet occasionally to 9 feet, then subsiding to
3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet.
Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas.
LSZ265-220900
Lake Superior West of Line from Manitou Island to Marquette MI
Beyond 5NM from shore
400 PM EST Wed Jan 21 2026
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM EST THURSDAY THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON
LATE THIS AFTERNOON
West winds 20 to 30 knots. A chance of
snow showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 3 to 5 feet
occasionally to 7 feet.
TONIGHT
Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots increasing to gales to
35 knots by midnight. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers likely.
Waves building to 4 to 7 feet occasionally to 9 feet.
THURSDAY
Northwest gales to 40 knots. Heavy freezing spray.
Snow showers likely. Waves building to 5 to 8 feet occasionally
to 10 feet, then subsiding to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Northwest gales to 40 knots. Patchy fog in the
evening. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers likely. Waves
building to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet.
FRIDAY
Northwest gales to 35 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Snow
showers likely. Waves subsiding to 4 to 7 feet occasionally to
9 feet.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots becoming west
15 to 25 knots after midnight. Heavy freezing spray in the
evening. Snow showers likely in the evening, then a chance of
snow showers after midnight. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet.
SATURDAY
West winds 15 to 25 knots diminishing to 10 to
20 knots in the afternoon. A chance of snow showers. Waves
subsiding to calm to 2 feet.
SATURDAY NIGHT
West winds 10 to 20 knots. Waves calm to
2 feet.
SUNDAY
West winds 10 to 20 knots becoming northwest 15 to
25 knots. Waves building to 2 to 4 feet.
MONDAY
West winds 20 to 30 knots. Waves building to 3 to
5 feet occasionally to 7 feet.
Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas.
LSZ266-220900
Lake Superior East of a line from Manitou Island to Marquette MI
and West of a line from Grand Marais MI to the US/Canadian Border
Beyond 5NM from shore
400 PM EST Wed Jan 21 2026
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM EST THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON
LATE THIS AFTERNOON
West winds 15 to 25 knots. Snow showers
likely. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to
7 feet.
TONIGHT
West winds 20 to 30 knots becoming northwest gales to
35 knots by midnight. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers likely.
Waves building to 6 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet.
THURSDAY
Northwest gales to 40 knots. Heavy freezing spray.
Snow showers. Waves building to 7 to 11 feet occasionally to
14 feet.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Northwest gales to 40 knots. Patchy fog in the
evening. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. Waves building to
10 to 14 feet occasionally to 18 feet.
FRIDAY
Northwest gales to 40 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Snow
showers. Waves subsiding to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots. Heavy freezing
spray. Snow showers likely. Waves subsiding to 3 to 6 feet
occasionally to 8 feet.
SATURDAY
Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west 10 to
20 knots in the afternoon. A chance of snow showers. Waves
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
SATURDAY NIGHT
West winds 10 to 20 knots backing southwest
after midnight. A chance of snow showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
SUNDAY
West winds 10 to 20 knots becoming northwest 15 to
25 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves building to 3 to 5 feet
occasionally to 7 feet.
MONDAY
Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots backing west. Freezing
spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves building to 4 to 8 feet
occasionally to 10 feet.
Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas.
LSZ267-220900
Lake Superior from Grand Marais MI to Whitefish Point MI 5NM off
shore to the US/Canadian border
400 PM EST Wed Jan 21 2026
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM EST THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON
LATE THIS AFTERNOON
Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots. Snow
showers likely. Waves 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet.
TONIGHT
West winds 20 to 30 knots becoming northwest gales to
35 knots by midnight. Freezing spray. Snow showers. Waves
building to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet.
THURSDAY
West gales to 35 knots veering northwest by mid
afternoon. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. Waves building to
7 to 11 feet occasionally to 14 feet.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Northwest gales to 35 knots diminishing to
20 to 30 knots by midnight, then veering north late. Heavy
freezing spray. Snow showers. Waves building to 9 to 12 feet
occasionally to 15 feet.
FRIDAY
Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots. Heavy freezing spray.
Snow showers. Waves subsiding to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to
13 feet.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots diminishing to
10 to 20 knots after midnight. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers
likely. Waves subsiding to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet.
SATURDAY
Northwest winds 10 to 20 knots backing west in the
afternoon. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 2 to
4 feet.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Southwest winds 10 to 20 knots. A chance of
snow showers. Waves subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
SUNDAY
South winds 10 to 20 knots veering northwest. A chance
of snow showers. Waves building to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to
7 feet.
MONDAY
Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west 20 to
30 knots. Freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves
building to 5 to 8 feet occasionally to 10 feet.
Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas.
LSZ261-220300
MAFOR 2122/
Superior West...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT...11730
11740 15742. A chance of snow showers early this evening and
Thursday afternoon. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 4 to 7 feet
tonight. Waves 4 to 7 feet building to 5 to 8 feet Thursday.
Superior North Central...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT... 11737 11740 15742. Waves 3 to 5 feet building to 4 to 7 feet tonight. Waves 5 to 8 feet Thursday.
Superior South Central...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT...11640 11747 11742 11747 12757 11747 11757. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 5 to 8 feet tonight. Waves 5 to 9 feet Thursday.
Superior East...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT...11537 11647 14747 12757. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 5 to 9 feet tonight. Waves 6 to 10 feet building to 7 to 11 feet Thursday.
WFO MQT
Experimental modernized open lake forecast is available online at weather.gov/mqt/glftable
Graphical marine forecasts are available online at: weather.gov/greatlakes
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