National Weather Service Marine Forecast FZUS63 KMQT
FZUS63 KMQT 240900
GLFLS
Open Lake Forecast for Lake Superior
National Weather Service Marquette MI
400 AM EST Wed Dec 24 2025
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 30.4 inch high pressure over the Upper Great Lakes this morning moves over the Lower Great Lakes this evening, followed by a weak 30.1 inch trough. 30.4 inch ridging briefly builds back over Lake Superior on Thursday as a 30.5 inch high transits Ontario. Low pressure of 29.6 inches moves east along the southern end of the Great Lakes Basin on Friday. A deepening low then lifts over the Upper Great Lakes Saturday night and Sunday. By Monday, a strong high pressure of at least 30.6 inches will have set up over the Plains with the now 29.1 inch low moving to Quebec, yielding a tight pressure gradient over the Great Lakes.
LSZ162-242100
Lake Superior west of a line from Saxon Harbor WI to Grand
Portage MN beyond 5NM
400 AM EST Wed Dec 24 2025 /300 AM CST Wed Dec 24 2025/
EARLY THIS MORNING
South winds 5 to 15 knots. A slight chance
of snow showers. Waves calm to 2 feet.
TODAY
South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest 10 to
20 knots by late morning, then becoming west 5 to 15 knots by mid
afternoon. A slight chance of snow showers in the morning. Waves
calm to 2 feet.
TONIGHT
North winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 10 to 20 knots
by midnight, then becoming northeast 15 to 25 knots late. Waves
building to 2 to 4 feet.
THURSDAY
Northeast winds 15 to 25 knots veering east. A chance
of snow showers, possibly mixed with freezing rain in the
afternoon. Waves building to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Southeast winds 15 to 25 knots. Snow showers,
possibly mixed with sleet. Waves building to 3 to 6 feet
occasionally to 8 feet.
FRIDAY
South winds 10 to 20 knots becoming southwest 5 to
15 knots in the afternoon. A chance of snow showers, possibly
mixed with rain in the morning. Waves subsiding to calm to
2 feet.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots backing south after
midnight. Waves calm to 2 feet.
SATURDAY
Southeast winds 10 to 20 knots becoming west 20 to
30 knots. A chance of rain showers. A chance of snow showers.
Waves building to 4 to 7 feet occasionally to 9 feet.
SUNDAY
West gales to 40 knots veering northwest. Heavy
freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves building to 8 to
11 feet occasionally to 14 feet, then subsiding to 4 to 7 feet
occasionally to 9 feet.
Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas.
LSZ263-242100
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 AM EST Wed Dec 24 2025
EARLY THIS MORNING
Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots. Waves calm
to 2 feet.
TODAY
South winds 5 to 15 knots veering west by mid afternoon.
A slight chance of snow showers in the morning. Waves building to
1 to 3 feet.
TONIGHT
North winds 10 to 20 knots veering northeast late.
Waves building to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet.
THURSDAY
Northeast winds 10 to 20 knots veering east by late
morning, then increasing to 15 to 25 knots by mid afternoon. A
slight chance of snow showers in the afternoon. Waves subsiding
to 2 to 4 feet, then building to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to
7 feet.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Southeast winds 20 to 30 knots. Snow showers.
Waves building to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet.
FRIDAY
South winds 20 to 30 knots becoming southwest 5 to
15 knots in the afternoon. A chance of rain showers in the
morning. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 2 to
4 feet.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots backing south after
midnight. Waves subsiding to calm to 2 feet.
SATURDAY
South winds 10 to 20 knots becoming west 20 to
30 knots. A chance of rain showers, possibly mixed with snow.
Waves building to 8 to 11 feet occasionally to 14 feet.
SUNDAY
West gales to 45 knots becoming northwest storm force
winds to 50 knots. Heavy freezing spray. A chance of snow
showers. Waves building to 12 to 17 feet occasionally to 21 feet,
then subsiding to 9 to 12 feet occasionally to 15 feet.
Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas.
LSZ264-242100
Lake Superior from Upper Entrance to Portage Canal to Manitou
Island MI 5NM off shore to the US/Canadian Border
400 AM EST Wed Dec 24 2025
GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON
EARLY THIS MORNING
Southeast winds less than 10 knots. Waves
calm to 2 feet.
TODAY
South winds 5 to 15 knots veering west by mid afternoon.
A slight chance of snow showers. Waves building to 1 to 3 feet.
TONIGHT
Northwest winds 10 to 20 knots becoming north 15 to
25 knots by midnight. Freezing spray after midnight. Waves
building to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet.
THURSDAY
Northeast winds 10 to 20 knots veering east by late
morning, then increasing to 15 to 25 knots by mid afternoon.
Freezing spray in the morning. A slight chance of snow showers in
the afternoon. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Southeast gales to 40 knots. Snow showers.
Waves building to 9 to 12 feet occasionally to 15 feet.
FRIDAY
South gales to 35 knots diminishing to 15 to 25 knots
in the afternoon. Snow showers likely in the morning. Waves
building to 10 to 14 feet occasionally to 18 feet, then subsiding
to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet.
FRIDAY NIGHT
South winds 5 to 15 knots. Waves subsiding to
2 to 4 feet.
SATURDAY
South winds 15 to 25 knots increasing to 20 to
30 knots. A chance of rain showers, possibly mixed with snow.
Waves building to 8 to 11 feet occasionally to 14 feet.
SUNDAY
West gales to 45 knots becoming northwest storm force
winds to 55 knots. Heavy freezing spray. A chance of snow
showers. Waves building to 12 to 17 feet occasionally to 21 feet.
Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas.
LSZ265-242100
Lake Superior West of Line from Manitou Island to Marquette MI
Beyond 5NM from shore
400 AM EST Wed Dec 24 2025
EARLY THIS MORNING
Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Waves 1 to
3 feet.
TODAY
South winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 10 to 20 knots
by late morning, then veering southwest by mid afternoon. A
slight chance of snow showers in the morning. Waves subsiding to
calm to 2 feet, then building to 1 to 3 feet.
TONIGHT
West winds 15 to 25 knots veering north by midnight,
then increasing to 20 to 30 knots late. Waves building to 3 to
6 feet occasionally to 8 feet.
THURSDAY
Northeast winds 15 to 25 knots veering east by late
morning, then increasing to 20 to 30 knots by mid afternoon.
Waves building to 4 to 7 feet occasionally to 9 feet, then
subsiding to 2 to 4 feet.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Southeast gales to 40 knots. Snow showers.
Waves building to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet.
FRIDAY
South gales to 35 knots diminishing to 15 to 25 knots
in the afternoon. Snow showers likely in the morning, then a
chance of snow showers in the afternoon. Waves subsiding to 2 to
4 feet.
FRIDAY NIGHT
South winds 10 to 20 knots. Waves subsiding to
calm to 2 feet.
SATURDAY
South winds 15 to 25 knots increasing to 20 to
30 knots. A chance of rain showers. A chance of snow showers.
Waves building to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet.
SUNDAY
West storm force winds to 50 knots becoming northwest
storm force winds to 55 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers
likely. Waves building to 15 to 20 feet occasionally to 25 feet.
Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas.
LSZ266-242100
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 AM EST Wed Dec 24 2025
GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON
EARLY THIS MORNING
Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots. Waves 3 to
5 feet occasionally to 7 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet.
TODAY
South winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to 25 knots
by late morning, then veering southwest by mid afternoon. A
slight chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 1 to 3 feet,
then building to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet.
TONIGHT
West winds 10 to 20 knots becoming north 15 to
25 knots by midnight, then increasing to 20 to 30 knots late.
Freezing spray after midnight. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet,
then building to 5 to 8 feet occasionally to 10 feet.
THURSDAY
Northeast winds 20 to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to
25 knots by late morning, then veering east by mid afternoon.
Freezing spray in the morning. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Southeast gales to 40 knots. A chance of snow
showers in the evening, then snow showers after midnight. Waves
building to 9 to 12 feet occasionally to 15 feet.
FRIDAY
South gales to 40 knots diminishing to 20 to 30 knots
in the afternoon. Snow showers in the morning, then a chance of
snow showers in the afternoon. Waves building to 10 to 14 feet
occasionally to 18 feet, then subsiding to 4 to 7 feet
occasionally to 9 feet.
FRIDAY NIGHT
South winds 10 to 20 knots. Waves subsiding to
2 to 4 feet.
SATURDAY
South winds 15 to 25 knots increasing to 20 to
30 knots. A chance of rain showers, possibly mixed with snow.
Waves building to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet.
SUNDAY
West storm force winds to 55 knots veering northwest.
Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. Waves building to 17 to
22 feet occasionally to 28 feet.
Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas.
LSZ267-242100
Lake Superior from Grand Marais MI to Whitefish Point MI 5NM off
shore to the US/Canadian border
400 AM EST Wed Dec 24 2025
GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON
EARLY THIS MORNING
Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots. Waves 3 to
5 feet occasionally to 7 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet.
TODAY
Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south 15 to
25 knots by late morning, then veering southwest by mid
afternoon. A slight chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to
calm to 2 feet, then building to 2 to 4 feet.
TONIGHT
West winds 15 to 25 knots veering northwest by
midnight, then becoming north 20 to 30 knots late. Waves building
to 4 to 7 feet occasionally to 9 feet.
THURSDAY
Northeast winds 15 to 25 knots diminishing to 10 to
20 knots by late morning, then veering east by mid afternoon.
Freezing spray in the morning. Waves subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Southeast winds 20 to 30 knots increasing to
gales to 35 knots after midnight. A chance of snow showers in the
evening, then snow showers after midnight. Freezing spray after
midnight. Waves building to 6 to 9 feet occasionally to 11 feet.
FRIDAY
Southeast gales to 35 knots diminishing to 20 to
30 knots in the afternoon. Snow showers. Waves subsiding to 3 to
6 feet occasionally to 8 feet.
FRIDAY NIGHT
South winds 15 to 25 knots. Waves subsiding to
2 to 4 feet.
SATURDAY
Southeast winds 20 to 30 knots veering south. A
chance of rain showers. A chance of snow showers. Rain showers
likely. Waves building to 5 to 8 feet occasionally to 10 feet.
SUNDAY
West gales to 45 knots becoming northwest storm force
winds to 50 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. Waves
building to 17 to 22 feet occasionally to 28 feet.
Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas.
LSZ261-241500
MAFOR 2410/
Superior West 12400 12510 11610 11820 12120. Waves 2 feet or less
today. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet tonight.
Superior North Central 11300 11410 11420 11520 11620 11730 12830. Waves 1 to 3 feet today. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 3 to 6 feet tonight.
Superior South Central 11400 11410 11430 11530 11620 11720 12830. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet, then building to 2 to 4 feet today. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 4 to 7 feet tonight.
Superior East 11200 11410 11420 11530 11520 11620 11730 11840. A chance of snow showers this afternoon. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 3 to 5 feet today. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 5 to 7 feet tonight.
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
NDBC on Facebook
NOAA on LinkedIn
NDBC on Twitter