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Grand Lake is one of the lakes LakeRadar tracks in Michigan. Its recorded surface area is approximately 5,660 acres. Coverage here includes an hourly and 7-day forecast, wind and gust outlook, and activity scores for boating, paddling, and swimming. Nearby alternatives include Black Lake. Forecasts for Grand Lake come from the National Weather Service and refresh several times a day.
Updated
Latest source update is older than expected. Use caution and check the official source.
The last automated check (Oct 9, 7:46 PM EDT) found no active alerts for this lake, but that check is older than LakeRadar's alert freshness window, so the current alert status could not be confirmed.
Confirm before heading out: official alerts for this area or weather.gov/alerts. LakeRadar scores summarize available conditions and are not a substitute for official warnings, local rules, or on-water judgment.
Overall Good (84/100) across 5 activities. Best right now: Boating (97/100).
How the score is calculated →Best excellent fishing window, averaging 92/100 across these hours. Measured water temperature 60°F. Provisional data. Wind 5 mph from the south. Derived from the hourly forecast; official alerts are not forecast and are checked separately.
| Metric | 12a | 1a | 2a | 3a | 4a | 5a | 6a | 7a | 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | 8p | 9p | 10p | 11p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 50° | 48° | 47° | 46° | 46° | 46° | 47° | 48° | 49° | 50° | 52° | 53° | 54° | 57° | 60° | 62° | 64° | 66° | 68° | 69° | 70° | 70° | 69° | 68° |
| Wind (kts) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 9 |
| Direction | E | — | — | — | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
| Gusts (kts) | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Time | Temp | Wind | Gusts | Precip | Cloud | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 8 PM EDT | 50°F | 5 mph E (90°) | 6 mph | 0% | 3% | Clear |
| Fri, 9 PM EDT | 48°F | Calm | 5 mph | 0% | 5% | Clear |
| Fri, 10 PM EDT | 47°F | Calm | 6 mph | 0% | 5% | Clear |
| Fri, 11 PM EDT | 46°F | Calm | 7 mph | 1% | 4% | Clear |
| Sat, 12 AM EDT | 46°F | 5 mph SE (135°) | 9 mph | 1% | 6% | Mostly Clear |
| Sat, 1 AM EDT | 46°F | 5 mph SE (135°) | 10 mph | 1% | 8% | Mostly Clear |
| Sat, 2 AM EDT | 47°F | 5 mph SE (135°) | 13 mph | 1% | 11% | Mostly Clear |
| Sat, 3 AM EDT | 48°F | 5 mph SE (135°) | 14 mph | 1% | 17% | Mostly Clear |
| Sat, 4 AM EDT | 49°F | 5 mph SE (135°) | 16 mph | 1% | 28% | Partly Cloudy |
| Sat, 5 AM EDT | 50°F | 5 mph SE (135°) | 18 mph | 2% | 41% | Partly Cloudy |
| Sat, 6 AM EDT | 52°F | 10 mph SE (135°) | 21 mph | 2% | 57% | Partly Sunny |
| Sat, 7 AM EDT | 53°F | 10 mph SE (135°) | 22 mph | 2% | 63% | Partly Sunny |
| Sat, 8 AM EDT | 54°F | 10 mph SE (135°) | 23 mph | 4% | 48% | Mostly Sunny |
| Sat, 9 AM EDT | 57°F | 15 mph SE (135°) | 24 mph | 4% | 30% | Mostly Sunny |
| Sat, 10 AM EDT | 60°F | 15 mph SE (135°) | 25 mph | 4% | 35% | Mostly Sunny |
| Sat, 11 AM EDT | 62°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 28 mph | 3% | 30% | Mostly Sunny |
| Sat, 12 PM EDT | 64°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 28 mph | 3% | 26% | Mostly Sunny |
| Sat, 1 PM EDT | 66°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 28 mph | 3% | 22% | Sunny |
| Sat, 2 PM EDT | 68°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 27 mph | 0% | 16% | Sunny |
| Sat, 3 PM EDT | 69°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 25 mph | 0% | 13% | Sunny |
| Sat, 4 PM EDT | 70°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 25 mph | 0% | 10% | Sunny |
| Sat, 5 PM EDT | 70°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 25 mph | 0% | 29% | Mostly Sunny |
| Sat, 6 PM EDT | 69°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 27 mph | 0% | 31% | Partly Cloudy |
| Sat, 7 PM EDT | 68°F | 10 mph S (180°) | 27 mph | 0% | 47% | Partly Cloudy |
| Sat, 8 PM EDT | 66°F | 10 mph S (180°) | 25 mph | 0% | 54% | Mostly Cloudy |
Official National Weather Service hourly forecast. Showing 10 of 25 hours. Wind arrows point the way the wind is blowing; the compass point and degrees show where it comes from.
| Period | Tonight October 9, 2026 | Saturday October 10, 2026 | Saturday Night October 10, 2026 | Sunday October 11, 2026 | Sunday Night October 11, 2026 | Columbus Day October 12, 2026 | Monday Night October 12, 2026 | Tuesday October 13, 2026 | Tuesday Night October 13, 2026 | Wednesday October 14, 2026 | Wednesday Night October 14, 2026 | Thursday October 15, 2026 | Thursday Night October 15, 2026 | Friday October 16, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 45° | 70° | 57° | 69° | 51° | 70° | 46° | 56° | 41° | 56° | 42° | 59° | 44° | 56° |
| Wind | E 0 to 5 mph | SE 10 to 15 mph | S 5 to 15 mph | S 5 to 10 mph | S 5 to 10 mph | W 5 to 10 mph | N 5 to 10 mph | N 10 mph | N 5 to 10 mph | N 5 mph | E 5 mph | SE 5 to 15 mph | S 5 to 10 mph | SW 10 to 15 mph |
| Gusts | 18 mph | 30 mph | 30 mph | 18 mph | 15 mph | 15 mph | 20 mph | 21 mph | 16 mph | 13 mph | 16 mph | 23 mph | 24 mph | 24 mph |
| Precip % | 2% | 4% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 22% | 60% | 42% | 15% | 6% | 10% | 39% | 43% | 43% |
| Forecast |
Alpena, MI · Oct 9, 5:54 AM UTC
Excellent for fishing (92/100), from 6 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the northeast. Measured water temperature 60°F. Provisional data. Not available from a verified source for this lake: pressure trend. Confidence is moderate (73%) because some inputs are unavailable or older than ideal.
Excellent for boating (97/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the northeast. Gusts to 8 mph. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility and conditions, verified water access. Confidence is moderate (84%) because some inputs are unavailable or older than ideal.
Good for sailing (85/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Gusts are within 3 mph of sustained wind, so the breeze is steady. No active official alerts for this lake. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility. Confidence is high (88%).
Good for kayaking (81/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the northeast. Gusts to 8 mph. Combined air and water temperature is 113°F (below the 120°F safety guideline). Thermal protection recommended for paddle craft. Confidence is high (90%).
Surface water measured at 60°F. Air and water contrast evaluate recreational immersion comfort.
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Individual boat ramp GPS coordinates are maintained under the jurisdiction of MI Parks & Wildlife Authority. Public boaters should verify seasonal launch water levels, gate hours, and daily vehicle/vessel fees before traveling.
As a prominent feature of MI's hydrographic network, Grand Lake provides rewarding recreation for both motorized craft and paddleboarders. Its channels and bays offer shelter from prevailing winds and fertile habitat for regional sportfish. Review state fishing license requirements and local launch regulations before putting in.
Valid freshwater sport fishing license issued by Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) is required for anglers age 17+. Digital license on mobile is accepted.
Current motorized watercraft registration mandatory. Practice Clean, Drain & Dry protocols: drain all livewells and inspect props before launching. Life jackets required for all passengers.
Public shoreline and boating access managed by State & Local Authorities. Verify seasonal gate hours, launch fees, and parking rules before travel.
High-speed motorboating, pontoon cruising, wakeboarding, and water skiing across main channels. Target gamefish include Smallmouth Bass, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Yellow Perch, Walleye. Morning hours typically provide optimal glassy conditions for kayak and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) touring.
Warm water temperatures, peak swimming, active watersports, and open full-service campgrounds. Highest weekly attendance; plan early arrivals on summer weekends.
Spring pre-spawn and fall feeding transitions create prime trophy angling conditions. Cooler air, lower boat traffic, and vibrant seasonal shoreline foliage.
Northern cold winter conditions with freezing air temperatures and potential surface ice formation. Ramps and water systems may be winterized. Confirm open status before visiting.
NWS API Web Service · License: U.S. Government work · Attribution: Data provided by the National Weather Service (api.weather.gov)
Updated
Scores are heuristics, not safety guarantees. LakeRadar scores summarize available conditions and are not a substitute for official warnings, local rules, or on-water judgment.
All telemetry for Grand Lake is synchronized directly from authorized federal and state monitoring networks (USGS, NWS, NOAA, and state environmental authorities). Observations are strictly instrumented readings — unmonitored sensors are transparently disclosed rather than synthetic estimates.
Last source audit: Oct 9, 8:45 PM EDT