890
FZUS63 KMKX 120645
GLFLM

OPEN LAKE FORECAST for Lake Michigan
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
145 AM CDT Mon Oct 12 2026

FOR WATERS BEYOND FIVE NAUTICAL MILES OF SHORE ON Lake Michigan.

Waves are provided as a range of significant wave heights, which
is the average of the highest 1/3 of the wave, along with the
average height of the highest 10% of the waves which will
occasionally be encountered.

.SYNOPSIS...

Broad low pressure around 29.5 inches over the central Plains to
Minnesota will drive south-southwesterly winds into today. This
low is expected to lift into Minnesota and eventually Central
Wisconsin by this evening. Expecting scattered showers and
isolated thunderstorms to develop tonight as the low approaches
and crosses the open waters. Winds shift to northwesterly on
Tuesday as an associated cold front crosses the lake and the low
pressure exits east. The front may stall just south of the lake
Tuesday night, with a light northerly breeze across the lake and
shower / thunderstorm potential towards the southern end of the
lake.

High pressure around 30.2 inches building into the northern Plains
will keep winds northerly into Wednesday, turning northeasterly
Wednesday night and easterly into Thursday as the high pressure
passes north of the lake and low pressure of 29.9 inches develops
near Missouri / Illinois.

Low pressure looks to cross Lake Michigan Thursday night, with
strong high pressure descending from western Canada into the
Dakotas / Nebraska into Friday. The pressure gradient between
these two systems will drive strong northwest winds across the
lake Friday through Friday night, with confidence increasing for a
period of sustained gales. Depending on the central pressures of
the low, high & affiliated pressure gradient, a few gusts
approaching storm force could be possible. Will be monitoring
trends for possible headlines over coming updates.

LMZ261-362-364-366-563-565-567-868-121515-
Lake Michigan from Seul Choix Point to Rock Island Passage 5 NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan South of a line from Seul Choix Point to the
Mackinac Bridge and north of a line from Charlevoix MI to South
Fox Island 5 NM offshore-
Lake Michigan from Charlevoix to Point Betsie MI 5 NM offshore to
Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Point Betsie to Manistee MI 5 NM offshore to
Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Rock Island Passage to Sturgeon Bay WI-
Lake Michigan from Sturgeon Bay to Two Rivers WI 5 NM offshore to
Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Two Rivers to Sheboygan WI 5 NM offshore to
Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Pentwater to Manistee MI 5 NM offshore to Mid
Lake-
145 AM CDT Mon Oct 12 2026

SHEBOYGAN WI TO PENTWATER MI NORTH...

.TODAY...Southwest winds 10 to 20 kt becoming southeast. Waves
3 to 5 ft.
.TONIGHT...Southeast winds 15 to 25 kt becoming south to 30 kt.
Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Waves 3 to 5 ft.
.TUESDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 25 kt diminishing to 10 to
20 kt. Chance of showers in the morning. Waves 4 to 6 ft
occasionally to 8 ft subsiding to 2 to 4 ft.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...North winds 10 to 15 kt. Waves 1 to 3 ft.
.WEDNESDAY...North winds 10 to 20 kt. Waves 2 to 4 ft.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...North winds 10 to 20 kt becoming northeast.
Waves 2 to 4 ft.
.THURSDAY...East winds 10 to 20 kt becoming southeast 10 to
15 kt. Chance of rain showers. Waves 2 to 4 ft.
.FRIDAY...Northwest gales to 45 kt. Chance of showers. Waves 8 to
11 ft occasionally to 14 ft building to 10 to 14 ft occasionally
to 18 ft.

$$

LMZ080-669-671-673-675-777-779-870-872-874-876-878-121515-
Lake Michigan from Michigan City IN to St. Joseph MI 5 NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Sheboygan to Port Washington WI 5 NM offshore
to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Port Washington to North Point Light WI 5 NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from North Point Light to Wind Point WI 5 NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Wind Point WI to Winthrop Harbor IL 5 NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Winthrop Harbor to Wilmette Harbor IL 5 NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Wilmette Harbor IL to Michigan City IN 5 NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Whitehall to Pentwater MI 5 NM offshore to Mid
Lake-
Lake Michigan from Grand Haven to Whitehall MI 5 NM offshore to
Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Holland to Grand Haven MI 5 NM offshore to Mid
Lake-
Lake Michigan from South Haven to Holland MI 5 NM offshore to Mid
Lake-
Lake Michigan from St. Joseph to South Haven MI 5 NM offshore to
Mid Lake-
145 AM CDT Mon Oct 12 2026

SHEBOYGAN WI TO PENTWATER MI SOUTH...

.TODAY...Southwest winds 10 to 20 kt becoming south. Waves 3 to
5 ft.
.TONIGHT...South winds 10 to 20 kt becoming southwest 15 to
25 kt. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Waves 3 to
5 ft building to 4 to 6 ft occasionally to 8 ft.
.TUESDAY...West winds 15 to 25 kt becoming northwest 10 to 20 kt.
Waves 4 to 7 ft occasionally to 9 ft subsiding to 3 to 5 ft.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...North winds 10 to 15 kt. Chance of showers.
Waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 1 to 3 ft.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast winds 10 to 20 kt becoming north. Chance
of showers. Waves 3 to 5 ft.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 10 to 20 kt. Waves 4 to 6 ft
occasionally to 8 ft.
.THURSDAY...East winds 15 to 25 kt diminishing to 10 to 20 kt.
Showers likely. Waves 4 to 6 ft occasionally to 8 ft.
.FRIDAY...Northwest gales to 45 kt. Chance of showers. Waves 10
to 14 ft occasionally to 18 ft building to 14 to 18 ft
occasionally to 23 ft.

$$

LMZ761-121515-
MAFOR 1210/
MICHIGAN NORTH 12520 12420 11320 12330 11446. A chance of
thunderstorms tonight. Waves 2 to 4 feet today. Waves 2 to 4 feet
building to 3 to 5 feet tonight.

MICHIGAN SOUTH 12520 13420 13520. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 3
to 5 feet.

$$


Quigley

Experimental modernized open lake forecast is available online at
weather.gov/mkx/glftable

Graphical marine forecasts are available online at:
weather.gov/greatlakes