Is Lake Michigan ever warm enough to swim?
Is Lake Michigan ever warm enough to swim? It is always more risky to swim in one of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan has the best beaches, can get “warm” [low to mid 70s] in July and August and even stay that way for a couple of weeks in September, so it is Great Lake that is often swum in. However, it also accounts for the most drownings.
Where is Lake Michigan the warmest?
If you're ready to play in Lake Michigan, know that water temperatures can vary quite a bit along a stretch of coastline. In West Michigan, the beach near Duck Lake State Park in Muskegon County is warmest spot. The water temperature there is a balmy 70 degrees.
Do you need a wetsuit to swim in Lake Michigan?
The answer is no. Being immersed in, rather than atop, cold water feels different. As fall turns into winter and the thermometer drops, the increasingly cold water starts to feel good, even warm. Wetsuits would only get in the way of this descent into conditions that have become delightful.
Can you get sick swimming in Lake Michigan?
About Harmful Bacteria coli in the water along Lake Michigan's shoreline is a strong indication that the water was recently contaminated by sewage or animal fecal waste. These wastes may contain many types of harmful disease-causing organisms.
Can you swim in Lake Michigan in winter?
Those who brave the frigid feat and swim in the winter are nicknamed “ice monsters.” Lake Michigan continuously cools throughout winter, and with March averaging an annual low of 32.9 degrees, it's the chilliest month for open-water swimming. Yet a growing number of people are taking the plunge.
Is Lake Michigan OK to swim in?
Lake Michigan is generally clean and safe for swimming but it can become contaminated with harmful bacteria.
Does Lake Michigan get warm enough to swim in?
Though not as warm as the oceans, temperatures of Lake Michigan do rise to the high 60s in July and August to make swimming enjoyable, and definitely refreshing! Rarely do temperatures make it to the 70s, unless air temperatures stay up in the 90's for many continuous days.
Why is Lake Michigan water so cold?
A north-northeast wind has pushed the warmer surface water along the Michigan shore back toward the middle of Lake Michigan and brought up colder water from well beneath the surface. This process is called upwelling.
What months can you swim in Lake Michigan?
Lake Michigan water temperatures Lake Michigan sees its warmest water temperatures typically from late-June through mid-September. It's not uncommon to have surface water temperatures in the 70s and sometimes even low 80s along the West Michigan lakeshore in that same time frame.
Which Michigan lake is the warmest?
as the warmest Great Lake, the average water temperature on Lake Erie is almost 76 degrees.
What is the cleanest Great Lake to swim in?
Lake Superior is the Cleanest and Clearest Great Lake Because of its somewhat isolated location and long cold winters, not much farming is done along Superior's shores. This means lower amounts of nutrients, sediments, and organic material are floating around the lake.
What temperature is good for swimming Lake Michigan?
The National Centers for Environmental Information and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says that 70 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit is the range where most folks feel 'comfortable' swimming.
Is Lake Michigan clean enough to swim in?
Pollution. Lake Erie and Lake Ontario are generally considered the most polluted of the Great Lakes, but Lake Michigan's waters also contain an unacceptable level of pollutants. Most of the pollution is plastic waste, though, which poses little risk to swimmers.
Why is Lake Michigan so dark?
When the lake is deep, and the angle of incoming light is smaller, Lake Michigan's color appears deep blue. This is because the light travels down with little obstructions and dissipates far below the surface. The light then appears darker in the visible spectrum.
Does Lake Michigan ever get warm?
Though not as warm as the oceans, temperatures of Lake Michigan do rise to the high 60s in July and August to make swimming enjoyable, and definitely refreshing! Rarely do temperatures make it to the 70s, unless air temperatures stay up in the 90's for many continuous days.
Which Great Lakes is the warmest to swim in?
Erie is the most southerly, shallow, and biologically diverse of all of the Great Lakes. Its shallow depth makes it the warmest Great Lake and a favourite destination for summer recreationists and migrating birds.
Does Lake Michigan make it warmer in the winter?
Of course, Lake Michigan tends to keep locations downwind quite a bit cooler in the spring and early summer, as air flows off the colder lake. But it also keeps those same locations significantly warmer well into the fall and early winter as lake temperatures are typically warmer than air temperatures.
Why is Lake Michigan cold in summer?
Lower Michigan is surrounded by water on the north, east and west. Any wind from those directions will blow air over the water and then over Lower Michigan. The cold water will cool the air and keep us in a chill. It's a nice cooling effect on a hot summer day, but it's a frigid effect in April and May.
Which side of Lake Michigan is warmer?
According to Leinbach, Michigan's shores simply have science on their side. The winds generally go from west to east in this country, and that means that the warm water in the summer gets pushed to the Michigan side of the lake, he explained. So the water is warmer for swimming and playing and things like that.