Loading page content…
Loading page content…
Loading lake conditions…
The Chicago Shoreline of Lake Michigan offers world-class urban sailing, harbor access from Diversey and Belmont harbors, and trophy sportfishing for salmon, trout, and smallmouth bass against the Chicago skyline.
This page covers a named shoreline area, not the whole lake. Conditions vary widely across open water, so treat this forecast as local to the coordinates shown and check the official source before heading out.
Updated
Latest source update is older than expected. Use caution and check the official source.
The last automated check (Oct 9, 12:11 AM CDT) 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 Excellent (90/100) across 5 activities. Best right now: Boating (98/100).
How the score is calculated →Best excellent fishing window, averaging 93/100 across these hours. Measured water temperature 64°F. Provisional data. Wind 5 mph from the south. Derived from the hourly forecast; official alerts are not forecast and are checked separately.
| Metric | 6a | 7a | 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | 8p | 9p | 10p | 11p | 12a | 1a | 2a | 3a | 4a | 5a |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 60° | 59° | 58° | 57° | 57° | 57° | 58° | 59° | 60° | 63° | 65° | 66° | 67° | 67° | 68° | 68° | 68° | 68° | 67° | 66° | 66° | 67° | 67° | 67° |
| Wind (kts) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 9 |
| Direction | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | SE | SE | SE | SE | S | S | S |
| Gusts (kts) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| Precip % | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 5% | 8% | 11% | 17% | 23% | 23% | 15% | 22% | 29% | 33% | 46% | 37% | 22% | 7% | 5% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Time | Temp | Wind | Gusts | Precip | Cloud | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 1 AM CDT | 60°F | 5 mph S (180°) | 6 mph | 2% | 34% | Partly Cloudy |
| Fri, 2 AM CDT | 59°F | 5 mph S (180°) | 6 mph | 2% | 32% | Partly Cloudy |
| Fri, 3 AM CDT | 58°F | 5 mph S (180°) | 6 mph | 2% | 42% | Partly Cloudy |
| Fri, 4 AM CDT | 57°F | 5 mph S (180°) | 6 mph | 2% | 43% | Partly Cloudy |
| Fri, 5 AM CDT | 57°F | 5 mph S (180°) | 6 mph | 2% | 39% | Partly Cloudy |
| Fri, 6 AM CDT | 57°F | 5 mph S (180°) | 6 mph | 5% | 50% | Mostly Sunny |
| Fri, 7 AM CDT | 58°F | 5 mph S (180°) | 6 mph | 8% | 61% | Partly Sunny |
| Fri, 8 AM CDT | 59°F | 5 mph S (180°) | 7 mph | 11% | 66% | Partly Sunny |
| Fri, 9 AM CDT | 60°F | 5 mph S (180°) | 8 mph | 17% | 76% | Isolated Rain Showers |
| Fri, 10 AM CDT | 63°F | 5 mph S (180°) | 9 mph | 23% | 82% | Isolated Rain Showers |
| Fri, 11 AM CDT | 65°F | 5 mph S (180°) | 10 mph | 23% | 78% | Isolated Rain Showers |
| Fri, 12 PM CDT | 66°F | 5 mph SSE (158°) | 12 mph | 15% | 79% | Isolated Rain Showers |
| Fri, 1 PM CDT | 67°F | 10 mph SSE (158°) | 12 mph | 22% | 77% | Isolated Rain Showers |
| Fri, 2 PM CDT | 67°F | 10 mph SSE (158°) | 13 mph | 29% | 81% | Scattered Rain Showers |
| Fri, 3 PM CDT | 68°F | 10 mph SSE (158°) | 13 mph | 33% | 77% | Scattered Rain Showers |
| Fri, 4 PM CDT | 68°F | 10 mph SSE (158°) | 13 mph | 46% | 84% | Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms |
| Fri, 5 PM CDT | 68°F | 10 mph SSE (158°) | 14 mph | 37% | 76% | Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms |
| Fri, 6 PM CDT | 68°F | 10 mph SE (135°) | 14 mph | 22% | 64% | Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms |
| Fri, 7 PM CDT | 67°F | 15 mph SE (135°) | 15 mph | 7% | 46% | Partly Cloudy |
| Fri, 8 PM CDT | 66°F | 15 mph SE (135°) | 16 mph | 5% | 27% | Partly Cloudy |
| Fri, 9 PM CDT | 66°F | 15 mph SE (135°) | 16 mph | 0% | 9% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 10 PM CDT | 67°F | 15 mph SSE (158°) | 16 mph | 0% | 4% | Clear |
| Fri, 11 PM CDT | 67°F | 10 mph SSE (158°) | 16 mph | 0% | 4% | Clear |
| Sat, 12 AM CDT | 67°F | 10 mph S (180°) | 16 mph | 0% | 7% | Mostly Clear |
| Sat, 1 AM CDT | 67°F | 10 mph S (180°) | 16 mph | 0% | 6% | Mostly Clear |
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 | Today October 8, 2026 | Today October 8, 2026 | This Afternoon October 8, 2026 | This Afternoon October 8, 2026 | Tonight October 8, 2026 | Tonight October 8, 2026 | Tonight October 8, 2026 | Friday October 9, 2026 | Friday Night 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 69° | 68° | 68° | 68° | 56° | 56° | 57° | 67° | 63° | 79° | 63° | 68° | 61° | 74° |
| Wind | NNW 5 to 10 mph | NNW 5 to 10 mph | N 5 mph | N 5 mph | SSE 0 to 5 mph | S 5 mph | S 5 mph | SSE 5 to 10 mph | SSE 10 to 15 mph | S 10 to 15 mph | SSE 10 to 15 mph | ESE 5 to 10 mph | SSE 5 mph | SSW 5 to 10 mph |
| Gusts | 13 mph | 13 mph | 15 mph | 15 mph | 7 mph | 7 mph | 6 mph | 14 mph | 16 mph | 20 mph | 17 mph | 12 mph | 7 mph | 14 mph |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 46% | 22% | 0% | 15% | 16% | 2% | 3% |
| Forecast |
NOAA GLERL GLSEA surface temperature at 41.902, -87.599 · Oct 7, 12:00 PM UTC
Excellent for fishing (90/100), from 6 available inputs. Supporting this: Measured water temperature 64°F. Wind 5 mph from the south. Not available from a verified source for this lake: pressure trend. Confidence is moderate (76%) because some inputs are unavailable or older than ideal.
Excellent for boating (98/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the south. Gusts to 5 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 (86/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Gusts are within 0 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%).
Excellent for kayaking (97/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the south. Gusts to 5 mph. Confidence is high (90%).
Surface water measured at 64°F. Air and water contrast evaluate recreational immersion comfort.
Loading interactive map…
Individual boat ramp GPS coordinates are maintained under the jurisdiction of U.S. Geological Survey monitoring location defines this shoreline area. Public boaters should verify seasonal launch water levels, gate hours, and daily vehicle/vessel fees before traveling.
Celebrated for its accessible waters and scenic surroundings, Lake Michigan - Illinois Shoreline is a standout Great Lakes shoreline region in IL for weekend recreation. Boaters, anglers, and paddlers share its waters while enjoying well-maintained public amenities around the perimeter. Always check local launch ramp conditions and weather windows before arrival.
Valid freshwater sport fishing license issued by Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is required for anglers age 16+. 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 U.S. Geological Survey monitoring location defines this shoreline area. 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 Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Common Carp, Green Sunfish. 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.
Mild year-round outdoor climate. Uncrowded waters, active winter bass and crappie fishing, and open year-round boat launch access.
No external source rows are cited by the data currently shown on this page.
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 Lake Michigan - Illinois Shoreline 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, 1:02 AM CDT