Great Lakes Forecast
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
568 FZUS63 KMQT 202101 GLFLS Open Lake Forecast for Lake Superior National Weather Service Marquette MI 400 PM EST Tue Jan 20 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... Tonight, a high shifts over the Virginias at 30.6 inches while a 29.7 inch low remains stationary over the Hudson Bay. Meanwhile, a 2 29.9 inch low forms over the OK Panhandle, quickly moving over Lake Michigan by tomorrow morning while the 29.7 inch low drops south through Ontario. By midday Wednesday, the first low will move over the Michigan Lower Peninsula at 29.9 inches as the second low deepens to 29.6 inches over Lake Superior by evening. These features consolidate into a 29.7 inch low over northeastern Ontario Wednesday night before shifting to Quebec Thursday morning. In the wake of the low, 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. LSZ162-210900- Lake Superior west of a line from Saxon Harbor WI to Grand Portage MN beyond 5NM- 400 PM EST Tue Jan 20 2026 /300 PM CST Tue Jan 20 2026/ .LATE THIS AFTERNOON...West winds 15 to 25 knots. Waves 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet. .TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots diminishing to 10 to 20 knots late. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. .WEDNESDAY...West winds 10 to 20 knots. A chance of snow showers in the morning, then snow showers likely in the afternoon. Waves subsiding to calm to 2 feet, then building to 1 to 3 feet. .WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots increasing to 20 to 30 knots by midnight. A slight chance of snow showers. Waves building to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet. .THURSDAY...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots. A slight chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet. .THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest gales to 35 knots diminishing to 20 to 30 knots after midnight. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet. .FRIDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. .FRIDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 10 to 20 knots. Waves subsiding to calm to 2 feet. .SATURDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots. Waves calm to 2 feet. .SUNDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 10 to 20 knots. Waves calm to 2 feet. Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas. $$ LSZ263-210900- Lake Superior from Saxon Harbor WI to Upper Entrance to Portage Canal MI 5NM off shore to the US/Canadian border including Isle Royale National Park- 400 PM EST Tue Jan 20 2026 ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING... .LATE THIS AFTERNOON...West winds 20 to 30 knots. Heavy freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves 6 to 9 feet occasionally to 11 feet. .TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots diminishing to 10 to 20 knots late. Freezing spray in the evening. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet. .WEDNESDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west 10 to 20 knots. A chance of snow showers in the morning, then snow showers likely in the afternoon. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet, then building to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet. .WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots increasing to 20 to 30 knots late. Heavy freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves building to 5 to 8 feet occasionally to 10 feet. .THURSDAY...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots. Heavy freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 4 to 8 feet occasionally to 10 feet. .THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots. Heavy freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 4 to 7 feet occasionally to 9 feet. .FRIDAY...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to 25 knots in the afternoon. Heavy freezing spray in the morning. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet. .FRIDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots diminishing to 10 to 20 knots after midnight. Waves subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. .SATURDAY...West winds 10 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to 15 knots. Waves 1 to 3 feet. .SUNDAY...West winds 10 to 20 knots increasing to 15 to 25 knots. Waves building to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet. Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas. $$ LSZ264-210900- Lake Superior from Upper Entrance to Portage Canal to Manitou Island MI 5NM off shore to the US/Canadian Border- 400 PM EST Tue Jan 20 2026 ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING... .LATE THIS AFTERNOON...West winds 20 to 30 knots. Heavy freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves 6 to 9 feet occasionally to 11 feet. .TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest 10 to 20 knots late. Freezing spray in the evening. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet. .WEDNESDAY...Northwest winds 10 to 20 knots. A chance of snow showers in the morning, then snow showers likely in the afternoon. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. .WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 10 to 20 knots increasing to 15 to 25 knots by midnight. 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 subsiding to 4 to 7 feet occasionally to 9 feet. .THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots increasing to gales to 35 knots after midnight. Heavy freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves building to 6 to 9 feet occasionally to 11 feet. .FRIDAY...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots. Heavy freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet. .FRIDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots. Heavy freezing spray in the evening. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. .SATURDAY...West winds 10 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to 15 knots. Waves subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. .SUNDAY...West winds 10 to 20 knots increasing to 15 to 25 knots. Waves building to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet. Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas. $$ LSZ265-210900- Lake Superior West of Line from Manitou Island to Marquette MI Beyond 5NM from shore- 400 PM EST Tue Jan 20 2026 ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST WEDNESDAY... .LATE THIS AFTERNOON...West winds to 30 knots with a few gale force gusts to 35 knots possible. Heavy freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves 5 to 8 feet occasionally to 10 feet. .TONIGHT...West winds 20 to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to 25 knots late. Heavy freezing spray in the evening. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. .WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots diminishing to 10 to 20 knots by late morning, then becoming west 15 to 25 knots by mid afternoon. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 1 to 3 feet, then building to 2 to 4 feet. .WEDNESDAY NIGHT...West winds 20 to 30 knots veering northwest by midnight, then increasing to 30 knots with a few gale force gusts to 35 knots possible late. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers likely. Waves building to 4 to 7 feet occasionally to 9 feet. .THURSDAY...Northwest gales to 35 knots backing west in the afternoon. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers likely. Waves building to 5 to 8 feet occasionally to 10 feet. .THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest gales to 40 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers likely in the evening. A chance of snow showers after midnight. Waves subsiding to 4 to 8 feet occasionally to 10 feet. .FRIDAY...Northwest gales to 35 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers likely in the morning. A chance of snow showers in the afternoon. Waves building to 6 to 9 feet occasionally to 11 feet, then subsiding to 4 to 7 feet occasionally to 9 feet. .FRIDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots backing west after midnight. Heavy freezing spray in the evening. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. .SATURDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots diminishing to 10 to 20 knots. Waves subsiding to calm to 2 feet. .SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. Waves building to 2 to 4 feet. Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas. $$ LSZ266-210900- 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 Tue Jan 20 2026 ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST WEDNESDAY... .LATE THIS AFTERNOON...West winds 20 to 30 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers likely. Waves 9 to 12 feet occasionally to 15 feet. .TONIGHT...West winds 20 to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to 25 knots late. Heavy freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 4 to 7 feet occasionally to 9 feet. .WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 20 knots veering west by mid afternoon. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. .WEDNESDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest 20 to 30 knots by midnight, then increasing to 30 knots with a few gale force gusts to 35 knots possible late. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers likely. Waves building to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet. .THURSDAY...Northwest gales to 35 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers likely. Waves building to 8 to 11 feet occasionally to 14 feet. .THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest gales to 40 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. Waves subsiding to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet, then building to 8 to 11 feet occasionally to 14 feet. .FRIDAY...Northwest gales to 40 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers likely. Waves subsiding to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet. .FRIDAY NIGHT...Northwest gales to 35 knots diminishing to 20 to 30 knots after midnight. Heavy freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 4 to 7 feet occasionally to 9 feet. .SATURDAY...West winds 10 to 20 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. .SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of snow showers. Freezing spray. Waves building to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet. Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas. $$ LSZ267-210900- Lake Superior from Grand Marais MI to Whitefish Point MI 5NM off shore to the US/Canadian border- 400 PM EST Tue Jan 20 2026 ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING... .LATE THIS AFTERNOON...West winds to 30 knots with a few gale force gusts to 35 knots possible. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers likely. Waves 9 to 12 feet occasionally to 15 feet. .TONIGHT...West winds to 30 knots with a few gale force gusts to 35 knots possible becoming southwest 20 to 30 knots by midnight, then diminishing to 15 to 25 knots late. Heavy freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 4 to 7 feet occasionally to 9 feet. .WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots diminishing to 10 to 20 knots. Freezing spray in the morning. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. .WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west 20 to 30 knots by midnight, then veering northwest late. Freezing spray. Snow showers. Waves building to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet. .THURSDAY...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots becoming west gales to 35 knots in the afternoon. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. Waves building to 8 to 11 feet occasionally to 14 feet. .THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots veering north after midnight. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers in the evening. Snow showers likely after midnight. Waves subsiding to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet. .FRIDAY...North winds 20 to 30 knots backing northwest in the afternoon. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. Waves 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet. .FRIDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to 25 knots after midnight. Heavy freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 4 to 7 feet occasionally to 9 feet. .SATURDAY...West winds 10 to 20 knots. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. .SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. Freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves building to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet. Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas. $$ LSZ261-210300- MAFOR 2022/ Superior West...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT...11642 12630 13620 12627. Waves 4 to 7 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet tonight. Waves 2 to 4 feet Wednesday. Superior North Central...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT... 11642 12630 11620 12710 12727. Waves 5 to 9 feet subsiding to 3 to 6 feet tonight. Waves 2 to 4 feet Wednesday. Superior South Central...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT... 13642 11630 11620 12520 11620. A chance of snow showers this evening and Wednesday afternoon. Waves 5 to 9 feet subsiding to 3 to 6 feet tonight. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet Wednesday. Superior East...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT...11657 12647 11640 13520 11527. Waves 8 to 12 feet subsiding to 6 to 9 feet tonight. Waves 4 to 7 feet subsiding to 3 to 5 feet Wednesday. $$ 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