GRAND HAVEN, Mich. — If you're heading to the beach, you may want to dip your toes in to test the waters before diving in—water temperatures have dropped significantly on Lake Michigan.
While the skies have been sunny over the last several days, north-northeasterly winds have stirred up Lake Michigan, leading to cold water temperatures along the lakeshore. Water temperatures, which were in the 60s and 70s over the weekend, have now dropped into the 40s and 50s.
Here are today's latest readings as of 10:30 a.m.:
Mears State Park (Pentwater) 56 F
Duck Lake State Park 50 F
Muskegon State Park 45 F
P.J. Hoffmaster State Park 56 F
Grand Haven State Park 44 F
Holland State Park 45 F
This is due to a process called upwelling. In the case of Lake Michigan, our north-northeasterly winds have pushed the warm waters at the surface of the lake away and allowed the colder water beneath the surface to come to the top.
Winds will shift to the south tomorrow afternoon and end this process, helping our water temperatures return to normal by the weekend. Until then, be cautious before diving in as temperatures this cold can be dangerous.
While water temperatures are cold, wave heights are low and will remain that way into the weekend.
WEDNESDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots backing northwest 5 to
15 knots. Sunny. Waves around 1 foot.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT...North winds 5 to 15 knots veering east around
5 knots toward daybreak. Clear. Waves around 1 foot.
THURSDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots veering southwest. Sunny.
Waves less than 1 foot.
THURSDAY NIGHT...South winds 5 to 15 knots. Partly cloudy. Waves
around 1 foot.
FRIDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots. Partly sunny. Waves 1 to
2 feet.
SATURDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots. Mostly sunny. Waves 1 to
2 feet.
SUNDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots. Sunny. Waves 1 to 2 feet
