Great Lakes Forecast
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
400 FZUS63 KMQT 312101 GLFLS Open Lake Forecast for Lake Superior National Weather Service Marquette MI 400 PM EST Wed Dec 31 2025 For waters beyond 5 nautical miles of shore on Lake Superior. Waves are the significant wave height - the average of the highest 1/3 of the wave spectrum. Occasional wave height is the average of the highest 1/10 of the wave spectrum. .SYNOPSIS... As a weakening 28.3 inch low continues retrograding over Hudson Bay the rest of this afternoon through tonight, a weakening 30.5 inch ridge builds from the Canadian Prairies into the Upper Midwest. The ridge dwindles to 30.0 inches by Thursday, but the pattern remains persistent into Friday. Weak ridging of 30.0 inches eventually pushes into Lake Superior by Saturday, before the parent high of 30.3 inches moves into the Upper Great Lakes by Sunday. In its wake, a weakening 29.8 inch low moves through the Upper Great Lakes on Monday. LSZ162-010900- Lake Superior west of a line from Saxon Harbor WI to Grand Portage MN beyond 5NM- 400 PM EST Wed Dec 31 2025 /300 PM CST Wed Dec 31 2025/ .LATE THIS AFTERNOON...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots. Scattered snow showers. Waves 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet. .TONIGHT...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots. Waves building to 4 to 7 feet occasionally to 9 feet, then subsiding to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet. .THURSDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. Scattered snow showers. Waves subsiding to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet. .THURSDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots. A slight chance of snow showers in the evening. Waves subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. .FRIDAY...West winds 10 to 20 knots increasing to 15 to 25 knots in the afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 feet. .FRIDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 10 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to 15 knots after midnight. Waves subsiding to calm to 2 feet. .SATURDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west 10 to 20 knots in the afternoon. A chance of snow showers. Waves calm to 2 feet. .SATURDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 10 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to 15 knots after midnight. Waves calm to 2 feet. .SUNDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest 10 to 20 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves calm to 2 feet. .MONDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots. Waves calm to 2 feet. Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas. $$ LSZ263-010900- Lake Superior from Saxon Harbor WI to Upper Entrance to Portage Canal MI 5NM off shore to the US/Canadian border including Isle Royale National Park- 400 PM EST Wed Dec 31 2025 ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... .LATE THIS AFTERNOON...Northwest winds to 30 knots with a few gale force gusts to 35 knots possible. Heavy freezing spray. Scattered snow showers. Waves 5 to 9 feet occasionally to 11 feet. .TONIGHT...Northwest winds to 30 knots with a few gale force gusts to 35 knots possible diminishing to 20 to 30 knots by midnight. Heavy freezing spray. Scattered snow showers. Waves subsiding to 5 to 8 feet occasionally to 10 feet. .THURSDAY...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots backing west. Heavy freezing spray. Scattered snow showers. Waves building to 5 to 9 feet occasionally to 11 feet. .THURSDAY NIGHT...West winds 20 to 30 knots veering northwest late. Freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 4 to 7 feet occasionally to 9 feet. .FRIDAY...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots becoming west 15 to 25 knots in the afternoon. Freezing spray. Waves subsiding to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet. .FRIDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots diminishing to 10 to 20 knots after midnight. Waves subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. .SATURDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 10 to 20 knots in the afternoon. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to calm to 2 feet, then building to 1 to 3 feet. .SATURDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 10 to 20 knots. Waves 1 to 3 feet. .SUNDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots backing southwest. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to calm to 2 feet. .MONDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots. Waves calm to 2 feet. Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas. $$ LSZ264-010900- Lake Superior from Upper Entrance to Portage Canal to Manitou Island MI 5NM off shore to the US/Canadian Border- 400 PM EST Wed Dec 31 2025 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... .LATE THIS AFTERNOON...Northwest gales to 35 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Scattered snow showers. Waves 8 to 11 feet occasionally to 14 feet. .TONIGHT...Northwest gales to 35 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Scattered snow showers. Waves building to 8 to 12 feet occasionally to 15 feet. .THURSDAY...Northwest gales to 35 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Scattered snow showers. Waves subsiding to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet. .THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest gales to 35 knots diminishing to 20 to 30 knots by midnight. A slight chance of snow showers in the evening. Heavy freezing spray. Waves subsiding to 5 to 8 feet occasionally to 10 feet. .FRIDAY...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Waves building to 6 to 9 feet occasionally to 11 feet, then subsiding to 4 to 7 feet occasionally to 9 feet. .FRIDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots diminishing to 10 to 20 knots after midnight. Freezing spray in the evening. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. .SATURDAY...Northwest winds 10 to 20 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 1 to 3 feet, then building to 2 to 4 feet. .SATURDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots diminishing to 10 to 20 knots after midnight. Waves 2 to 4 feet. .SUNDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots backing southwest. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to calm to 2 feet, then building to 1 to 3 feet. .MONDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots. Waves subsiding to calm to 2 feet. Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas. $$ LSZ265-010900- Lake Superior West of Line from Manitou Island to Marquette MI Beyond 5NM from shore- 400 PM EST Wed Dec 31 2025 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... .LATE THIS AFTERNOON...Northwest gales to 40 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Scattered snow showers. Waves 9 to 12 feet occasionally to 15 feet. .TONIGHT...Northwest gales to 40 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Scattered snow showers. Waves subsiding to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet. .THURSDAY...Northwest gales to 40 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Scattered snow showers. Waves subsiding to 6 to 9 feet occasionally to 11 feet. .THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest gales to 35 knots. Freezing spray. A slight chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 5 to 8 feet occasionally to 10 feet. .FRIDAY...Northwest gales to 35 knots. Freezing spray. A slight chance of snow showers in the afternoon. Waves 5 to 8 feet occasionally to 10 feet. .FRIDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to 25 knots after midnight. Freezing spray. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. .SATURDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 1 to 3 feet, then building to 2 to 4 feet. .SATURDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to 25 knots after midnight. Waves subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. .SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest 10 to 20 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to calm to 2 feet. .MONDAY...West winds 10 to 20 knots. Waves calm to 2 feet. Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas. $$ LSZ266-010900- Lake Superior East of a line from Manitou Island to Marquette MI and West of a line from Grand Marais MI to the US/Canadian Border Beyond 5NM from shore- 400 PM EST Wed Dec 31 2025 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... .LATE THIS AFTERNOON...Northwest gales to 45 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Numerous snow showers. Waves 11 to 15 feet occasionally to 19 feet. .TONIGHT...Northwest gales to 45 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Scattered snow showers. Waves building to 12 to 17 feet occasionally to 21 feet, then subsiding to 11 to 15 feet occasionally to 19 feet. .THURSDAY...Northwest gales to 40 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Scattered snow showers. Waves subsiding to 10 to 14 feet occasionally to 18 feet. .THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest gales to 35 knots diminishing to 20 to 30 knots by midnight. Freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet. .FRIDAY...Northwest gales to 35 knots. Freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves building to 7 to 11 feet occasionally to 14 feet. .FRIDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to 25 knots after midnight. Freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet. .SATURDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots. Freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet. .SATURDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots. Freezing spray in the evening. A chance of snow showers. Waves building to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet. .SUNDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots backing southwest. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. .MONDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots diminishing to 10 to 20 knots. Waves subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas. $$ LSZ267-010900- Lake Superior from Grand Marais MI to Whitefish Point MI 5NM off shore to the US/Canadian border- 400 PM EST Wed Dec 31 2025 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... .LATE THIS AFTERNOON...Northwest gales to 45 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. Waves 10 to 14 feet occasionally to 18 feet building to 11 to 15 feet occasionally to 19 feet. .TONIGHT...Northwest gales to 40 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Numerous snow showers. Waves subsiding to 10 to 14 feet occasionally to 18 feet, then building to 11 to 15 feet occasionally to 19 feet. .THURSDAY...Northwest gales to 40 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Scattered snow showers in the morning. Numerous snow showers in the afternoon. Waves subsiding to 10 to 14 feet occasionally to 18 feet. .THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest gales to 35 knots. Freezing spray. Snow showers likely in the evening. A chance of snow showers after midnight. Waves subsiding to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet. .FRIDAY...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots increasing to gales to 35 knots in the afternoon. Freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves building to 7 to 11 feet occasionally to 14 feet. .FRIDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to 25 knots after midnight. Freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet. .SATURDAY...Northwest winds 10 to 20 knots. A chance of snow showers in the morning, then snow showers likely in the afternoon. Waves subsiding to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet. .SATURDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots. Freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves building to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet. .SUNDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots backing southwest. A chance of snow showers, then snow showers likely. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. .MONDAY...West winds 10 to 20 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas. $$ LSZ261-010300- MAFOR 3122/ Superior West...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT...14742 11742 11740 11640 11640 19647. Waves 4 to 7 feet tonight. Waves 4 to 7 feet subsiding to 3 to 6 feet Thursday. Superior North Central...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT...16752. Waves 8 to 11 feet. Superior South Central...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT...13752 19757 13752 12752 19757. Waves 10 to 14 feet tonight. Waves 8 to 12 feet subsiding to 7 to 10 feet Thursday. Superior East...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT...14757 12752 19757 12750 19757. Waves 11 to 15 feet. $$ WFO MQT Experimental modernized open lake forecast is available online at weather.gov/mqt/glftable Graphical marine forecasts are available online at: weather.gov/greatlakes