Lake Superior - Minnesota North Shore Conditions & Weather | LakeRadar
Live ConditionsLast updated: Oct 9, 2026 • 12:48 AM
Lake Superior - Minnesota North Shore Conditions
Minnesota
Lake Superior - Minnesota North Shore sits in Minnesota and is classified as a Great Lakes shoreline region. It covers roughly 20,300,000 surface acres (about 31,719 square miles). Sitting at around 602 feet of elevation, it drops to a maximum depth near 1,333 feet. Fish documented in the area include Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and Brook Trout. LakeRadar pulls readings from a mapped water gauge, so current water data is shown when the station reports. Nearby alternatives include Lake Nebagamon. 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. This page combines the live forecast, wind, and conditions for Lake Superior - Minnesota North Shore so you can plan a visit.
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.
Surface Area31,719 sq miles
Max Depth1,333 ft
Elevation602 ft
CountiesSt. Louis, Lake, Cook
46°FMainly ClearFeels like 46°
Wind2 mph E
Humidity64%
UV0 • Peak 4
Photo: Randyd • CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Official alerts
Older than expected
Updated
Small Craft Advisory
Official NWS alert: Small Craft Advisory. Expires Oct 9, 10:00 AM CDT.
Severity: MinorUrgency: ExpectedCertainty: Likely
Expires 9 hr from now.
Effective from Oct 8, 9:52 PM CDT.
Affected area: Chequamegon Bay-Bayfield to Oak Point WI; Silver Bay Harbor to Two Harbors MN; Two Harbors to Duluth MN; Duluth MN to Port Wing WI; Port Wing to Sand Island WI; Sand Island to Bayfield WI; Oak Point to Saxon Harbor WI; Outer Apostle Islands Beyond 5 NM from Mainland
Small Craft Advisory issued October 8 at 9:52PM CDT until October 9 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Best excellent fishing window, averaging 90/100 across these hours. Measured water temperature 60°F. Provisional data. Wind 10 mph from the east. Derived from the hourly forecast; official alerts are not forecast and are checked separately.
2 kts (2 mph) Wind
60°F Surface Water
46°F · Mainly Clear
24-Hour Hourly Weather & Wind Timeline
← Scroll Timeline →
Hour-by-hour forecast for Lake Superior - Minnesota North Shore, next 24 hours
Hour-by-hour forecast for Lake Superior - Minnesota North Shore, next 24 hours
Time
Temp
Wind
Gusts
Precip
Cloud
Condition
Fri, 1 AM CDT
50°F
5 mph W (270°)
6 mph
0%
41%
Partly Cloudy
Fri, 2 AM CDT
49°F
Calm
5 mph
0%
37%
Partly Cloudy
Fri, 3 AM CDT
48°F
Calm
5 mph
0%
32%
Partly Cloudy
Fri, 4 AM CDT
48°F
Calm
4 mph
0%
28%
Partly Cloudy
Fri, 5 AM CDT
47°F
Calm
4 mph
0%
32%
Partly Cloudy
Fri, 6 AM CDT
46°F
Calm
2 mph
0%
35%
Mostly Sunny
Fri, 7 AM CDT
46°F
Calm
2 mph
0%
39%
Mostly Sunny
Fri, 8 AM CDT
46°F
Calm
4 mph
0%
39%
Mostly Sunny
Fri, 9 AM CDT
48°F
Calm
5 mph
0%
40%
Mostly Sunny
Fri, 10 AM CDT
52°F
5 mph E (90°)
7 mph
0%
41%
Mostly Sunny
Fri, 11 AM CDT
54°F
5 mph E (90°)
9 mph
0%
30%
Mostly Sunny
Fri, 12 PM CDT
55°F
10 mph E (90°)
13 mph
0%
20%
Sunny
Fri, 1 PM CDT
56°F
10 mph E (90°)
16 mph
0%
9%
Sunny
Fri, 2 PM CDT
57°F
15 mph E (90°)
18 mph
4%
12%
Sunny
Fri, 3 PM CDT
57°F
15 mph E (90°)
22 mph
4%
15%
Sunny
Fri, 4 PM CDT
57°F
15 mph E (90°)
23 mph
4%
19%
Sunny
Fri, 5 PM CDT
56°F
15 mph E (90°)
24 mph
3%
20%
Sunny
Fri, 6 PM CDT
55°F
20 mph NE (45°)
25 mph
5%
22%
Mostly Clear
Fri, 7 PM CDT
54°F
20 mph NE (45°)
24 mph
0%
24%
Mostly Clear
Fri, 8 PM CDT
54°F
15 mph NE (45°)
22 mph
0%
32%
Partly Cloudy
Fri, 9 PM CDT
54°F
15 mph E (90°)
18 mph
0%
41%
Partly Cloudy
Fri, 10 PM CDT
55°F
10 mph E (90°)
15 mph
0%
50%
Partly Cloudy
Fri, 11 PM CDT
55°F
10 mph E (90°)
14 mph
0%
57%
Mostly Cloudy
Sat, 12 AM CDT
55°F
10 mph E (90°)
13 mph
0%
63%
Mostly Cloudy
Sat, 1 AM CDT
55°F
10 mph E (90°)
13 mph
0%
70%
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.
7-Day Weather & Wind Forecast
← Scroll Forecast →
Seven-day forecast periods for Lake Superior - Minnesota North Shore from the official forecast source
Solunar windows, water thermocline & species tactics
Score 86 · Good
Good for fishing (86/100), from 6 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the west. Measured water temperature 57°F from a representative gauge 1.1 mi away. Not available from a verified source for this lake: pressure trend. Confidence is moderate (76%) because some inputs are unavailable or older than ideal.
Good for boating (87/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the west. Gusts to 7 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 (77/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Gusts are within 2 mph of sustained wind, so the breeze is steady. 0% chance of precipitation. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility. Confidence is high (88%).
Rig advisory:
Kayaking, Paddling & Swimming
Paddle drag, thermal comfort & cold water immersion safety
Paddling 72Swimming 32
Paddlecraft Readiness
Glassy Surface
Fair for kayaking (72/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the west. Gusts to 7 mph. Combined air and water temperature is 109°F (below the 120°F safety guideline). Thermal protection recommended for paddle craft. Confidence is high (90%).
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.
Vessel Launch Inquiries
Confirm motorized trailer access, low-water ramp extensions, and courtesy dock availability.
Clean, Drain & Dry
Comply with mandatory state aquatic invasive species decontamination and drain plug rules.
Authority: U.S. Geological Survey monitoring location defines this shoreline area
Drain water-related equipment including bilges, livewells, and bait tanks before leaving any water access. Keep drain plugs out while in transport on Minnesota public roads.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR)Official Rule ↗
Minnesota Boating Safety & Slow-No-Wake Rules
Slow-no-wake speed limit applies within 150 feet of non-motorized watercraft, swimmers, docks, and rafts. Children under 10 must wear a life jacket while underway.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR)Official Rule ↗
Minnesota Angling License Requirement
All residents age 16 through 89 and all non-residents age 16 and older must have a valid Minnesota fishing license to angle in public waters.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR)Official Rule ↗
As a prominent feature of MN's hydrographic network, Lake Superior - Minnesota North Shore 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.
Surface Area
20,300,000 acres (31719 sq mi)
Max Depth
1,333 ft
Surface Elevation
602 ft MSL
Managing Authority
U.S. Geological Survey monitoring location defines this shoreline area
Classification
Great lakes region
State Jurisdiction
MN
Visitor Essentials · Know Before You Go
Fishing Licensing (MNDNR)
Valid freshwater sport fishing license issued by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) is required for anglers age 16+. Digital license on mobile is accepted.
Boating Biosecurity & Registration
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 Recreation & Access Pass
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.
Primary Water Recreation Profile
High-speed motorboating, pontoon cruising, wakeboarding, and water skiing across main channels. Target gamefish include Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Brook Trout. Morning hours typically provide optimal glassy conditions for kayak and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) touring.
Seasonal Recreation & Climate Windows
Summer Peak (Jun–Aug)Peak Season
Warm water temperatures, peak swimming, active watersports, and open full-service campgrounds. Highest weekly attendance; plan early arrivals on summer weekends.
Spring & Fall ShoulderPrime Angling
Spring pre-spawn and fall feeding transitions create prime trophy angling conditions. Cooler air, lower boat traffic, and vibrant seasonal shoreline foliage.
Winter Season (Nov–Mar)Off-Season
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.
Scores use lakeradar-score/1.0.0, computed
Updated
. This page was assembled 2026-10-09T06:02:40.681Z.
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 Superior - Minnesota North Shore 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
Atmospheric WeatherNWS (NOAA)
● Active · Gridpoint
Official AlertsNWS Alerts
● 1 active warning
Water Level (Elevation)USGS 9099064
● Provisional · Duluth, MN
Surface Water TempUSGS 9099064
● Provisional · 60°F · Duluth, MN
Wave HeightsNOAA NDBC Buoy
● Active · Coastal Marine Grid
Fishery & SpeciesMN Wildlife / DNR
● Verified · 6 Cataloged Species
Ramps & MarinasMN Parks & Waterways
● Managing agency jurisdiction
Water Quality AdvisoriesEPA WQP / State Authority
● Unmonitored by real-time agency feed
Measured: Direct USGS & NWS sensor observationsForecast: NOAA HRRR & National Blend atmospheric modelsCalculated: Deterministic safety algorithmsCurated: State wildlife & parks hydrographic registries
