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Lake Michigan - Wisconsin Shoreline is a Great Lakes shoreline region located in Wisconsin managed by U.S. Geological Survey monitoring location defines this shoreline area. Fish documented in the area include Largemouth Bass, Green Sunfish, Rock Bass, and Common Carp. At around 14,338,560 acres (about 22,404 square miles), it is a very large waterbody. Sitting at around 577 feet of elevation, it drops to a maximum depth near 923 feet. A nearby water gauge supplies level and temperature readings where available. Below you will find an hourly and 7-day forecast, wind and gust outlook, water readings, fishing conditions, and activity scores for boating, paddling, and swimming. Nearby alternatives include Pewaukee Lake, Lake Nagawicka, and Delavan Lake. Check the hourly forecast and activity outlook below before heading out to Lake Michigan - Wisconsin Shoreline.
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
Alerts are published by official agencies and shown verbatim. View the official alert source.
Small Craft Advisory issued October 9 at 3:01PM CDT until October 11 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Overall Good (81/100) across 5 activities. Best right now: Fishing (89/100).
How the score is calculated →Best excellent fishing window, averaging 91/100 across these hours. Measured water temperature 62°F. Provisional data. Wind 10 mph from the south. Derived from the hourly forecast; official alerts are not forecast and are checked separately.
| Metric | 9p | 10p | 11p | 12a | 1a | 2a | 3a | 4a | 5a | 6a | 7a | 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | 8p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 64° | 64° | 64° | 62° | 62° | 62° | 62° | 62° | 62° | 62° | 61° | 61° | 61° | 60° | 60° | 60° | 62° | 64° | 66° | 68° | 69° | 70° | 70° | 70° |
| Wind (kts) | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
| Direction | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
| Gusts (kts) | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Precip % | 41% | 48% | 3% | 7% | 6% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Time | Temp | Wind | Gusts | Precip | Cloud | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 4 PM CDT | 64°F | 15 mph SE (135°) | 16 mph | 41% | 52% | Chance Rain Showers |
| Fri, 5 PM CDT | 64°F | 15 mph SE (135°) | 16 mph | 48% | 64% | Chance Rain Showers |
| Fri, 6 PM CDT | 64°F | 15 mph SE (135°) | 16 mph | 3% | 67% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 7 PM CDT | 62°F | 15 mph SE (135°) | 16 mph | 7% | 76% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 8 PM CDT | 62°F | 15 mph SE (135°) | 16 mph | 6% | 70% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 9 PM CDT | 62°F | 15 mph SE (135°) | 17 mph | 3% | 64% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 10 PM CDT | 62°F | 15 mph SE (135°) | 17 mph | 3% | 58% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 11 PM CDT | 62°F | 15 mph SE (135°) | 17 mph | 3% | 53% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sat, 12 AM CDT | 62°F | 15 mph SE (135°) | 17 mph | 2% | 47% | Partly Cloudy |
| Sat, 1 AM CDT | 62°F | 15 mph SE (135°) | 16 mph | 2% | 41% | Partly Cloudy |
| Sat, 2 AM CDT | 61°F | 15 mph SE (135°) | 17 mph | 1% | 31% | Partly Cloudy |
| Sat, 3 AM CDT | 61°F | 15 mph SE (135°) | 17 mph | 1% | 21% | Mostly Clear |
| Sat, 4 AM CDT | 61°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 18 mph | 1% | 12% | Mostly Clear |
| Sat, 5 AM CDT | 60°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 17 mph | 1% | 10% | Mostly Clear |
| Sat, 6 AM CDT | 60°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 17 mph | 1% | 8% | Sunny |
| Sat, 7 AM CDT | 60°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 17 mph | 1% | 6% | Sunny |
| Sat, 8 AM CDT | 62°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 18 mph | 1% | 5% | Sunny |
| Sat, 9 AM CDT | 64°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 21 mph | 1% | 9% | Sunny |
| Sat, 10 AM CDT | 66°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 22 mph | 1% | 28% | Mostly Sunny |
| Sat, 11 AM CDT | 68°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 23 mph | 1% | 31% | Mostly Sunny |
| Sat, 12 PM CDT | 69°F | 20 mph S (180°) | 23 mph | 0% | 52% | Partly Sunny |
| Sat, 1 PM CDT | 70°F | 20 mph S (180°) | 23 mph | 0% | 47% | Mostly Sunny |
| Sat, 2 PM CDT | 70°F | 20 mph S (180°) | 23 mph | 0% | 46% | Mostly Sunny |
| Sat, 3 PM CDT | 70°F | 20 mph S (180°) | 23 mph | 0% | 61% | Partly Sunny |
| Sat, 4 PM CDT | 70°F | 20 mph S (180°) | 24 mph | 0% | 71% | 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 | This Afternoon October 9, 2026 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 65° | 60° | 71° | 61° | 67° | 59° | 74° | 58° | 63° | 53° | 60° | 53° | 62° | 51° |
| Wind | SE 15 mph | SE 15 mph | S 15 to 20 mph | S 10 to 20 mph | SE 10 mph | S 10 mph | SW 10 to 15 mph | W 10 to 15 mph | N 15 to 20 mph | NE 15 mph | NE 15 mph | E 15 to 20 mph | S 20 mph | SW 15 to 20 mph |
| Gusts | 16 mph | 18 mph | 24 mph | 23 mph | 14 mph | 12 mph | 20 mph | 20 mph | 22 mph | 20 mph | 17 mph | 21 mph | 29 mph | 27 mph |
| Precip % | 48% | 7% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 9% | 44% | 21% | 13% | 20% | 44% | 49% | 42% |
| Forecast |
NOAA GLERL GLSEA surface temperature at 43.080, -87.851 · Oct 8, 12:00 PM UTC
Nearby river temperature: 58.6°F at MILWAUKEE RIVER AT MILWAUKEE, WI (4.5 mi away) · Oct 9, 3:00 PM UTC
Good for fishing (89/100), from 6 available inputs. Supporting this: Measured water temperature 62°F. Provisional data. Wind 5 mph from the east. Not available from a verified source for this lake: pressure trend. Confidence is moderate (82%) because some inputs are unavailable or older than ideal.
Good for boating (86/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the east. Gusts to 10 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.
Fair for sailing (74/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Gusts exceed sustained wind by 5 mph, making the breeze puffy. 2% chance of precipitation. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility. Confidence is high (88%).
Good for kayaking (87/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the east. Gusts to 10 mph. Confidence is high (90%).
Surface water measured at 62°F. Air and water contrast evaluate recreational immersion comfort.
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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.
Providing dependable water recreation for WI residents and travelers, Lake Michigan - Wisconsin Shoreline accommodates fishing boats, runabouts, and non-motorized craft. The waterbody plays an essential role in local watershed conservation and outdoor leisure. Responsible boating and clean-drain-dry practices keep the waters pristine for all.
Valid freshwater sport fishing license issued by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) 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 Largemouth Bass, Green Sunfish, Rock Bass, Common Carp. 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.
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 - Wisconsin 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, 4:08 PM CDT