Great Lakes Forecast
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
287 FZUS63 KMQT 032101 GLFLS Open Lake Forecast for Lake Superior National Weather Service Marquette MI 400 PM EST Wed Dec 3 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... 30.5 inch high pressure over the Dakotas this evening will shift east to the Lower Great Lakes through Thursday evening, sending a 30.2 inch ridge over Lake Superior tonight and Thursday. Meanwhile, a 29.7 inch low will move over Lake Winnipeg on Thursday before passing north of Lake Superior overnight into Friday. Another 29.6 inch trough will pass over the lake Friday night, extending from a 29.4 inch low over Hudson Bay. As the trough shifts east, another 30.5 inch high builds over the Northern Plains and shifts east across the Great Lakes through the weekend ahead of the next Clipper low on Monday. LSZ162-040900- Lake Superior west of a line from Saxon Harbor WI to Grand Portage MN beyond 5NM- 400 PM EST Wed Dec 3 2025 /300 PM CST Wed Dec 3 2025/ ...GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT... .LATE THIS AFTERNOON...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots. Freezing spray. A slight chance of snow showers. Waves 4 to 8 feet occasionally to 10 feet. .TONIGHT...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to 25 knots late. Heavy freezing spray in the evening. A slight chance of snow showers in the evening. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. .THURSDAY...West winds 10 to 20 knots becoming southwest 20 to 30 knots by late morning, then increasing to gales to 35 knots by mid afternoon. Freezing spray in the afternoon. A slight chance of snow showers in the afternoon. Waves subsiding to 1 to 3 feet, then building to 5 to 8 feet occasionally to 10 feet. .THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest gales to 40 knots becoming west 20 to 30 knots late. Freezing spray in the evening. Snow showers in the evening, then a chance of snow showers after midnight. Waves building to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet, then subsiding to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet. .FRIDAY...West winds 10 to 20 knots. A slight chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to calm to 2 feet. .FRIDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots veering northwest after midnight. Waves building to 1 to 3 feet. .SATURDAY...Northwest winds 10 to 20 knots increasing to 15 to 25 knots in the afternoon. Waves subsiding to calm to 2 feet. .SATURDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 10 to 20 knots. Waves calm to 2 feet. .SUNDAY...Northwest winds 10 to 20 knots backing west. Waves calm to 2 feet. .MONDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 20 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves building to 1 to 3 feet, then subsiding to calm to 2 feet. Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas. $$ LSZ263-040900- 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 3 2025 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST THURSDAY... ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... ...GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT... .LATE THIS AFTERNOON...Northwest gales to 35 knots. Freezing spray. A slight chance of snow showers. Waves 5 to 9 feet occasionally to 11 feet. .TONIGHT...Northwest gales to 35 knots diminishing to 20 to 30 knots late. Freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves building to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet, then subsiding to 4 to 7 feet occasionally to 9 feet. .THURSDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest 20 to 30 knots by late morning, then increasing to gales to 35 knots by mid afternoon. A slight chance of snow showers. Freezing spray in the afternoon. Waves subsiding to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet, then building to 6 to 9 feet occasionally to 11 feet. .THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest gales to 40 knots becoming west gales to 35 knots late. Freezing spray in the evening. Snow showers. Waves building to 9 to 12 feet occasionally to 15 feet, then subsiding to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet. .FRIDAY...West winds 20 to 30 knots diminishing to 10 to 20 knots in the afternoon. A slight chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. .FRIDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 to 20 knots becoming northwest 15 to 25 knots after midnight. A chance of snow showers. Waves building to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet. .SATURDAY...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to 25 knots in the afternoon. Waves subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. .SATURDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots diminishing to 10 to 20 knots after midnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet. .SUNDAY...Northwest winds 10 to 20 knots backing west. Waves subsiding to calm to 2 feet. .MONDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 20 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves building to 2 to 4 feet, then subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas. $$ LSZ264-040900- 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 3 2025 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... ...GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING... .LATE THIS AFTERNOON...Northwest gales to 35 knots. Freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves 6 to 9 feet occasionally to 11 feet. .TONIGHT...Northwest gales to 35 knots. Heavy freezing spray. A chance of snow showers. Waves building to 9 to 12 feet occasionally to 15 feet, then subsiding to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet. .THURSDAY...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots becoming west 15 to 25 knots by late morning, then becoming southwest 20 to 30 knots by mid afternoon. Freezing spray in the morning. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet, then building to 5 to 8 feet occasionally to 10 feet. .THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest gales to 35 knots veering west late. Freezing spray in the evening. Snow showers. Waves building to 8 to 12 feet occasionally to 15 feet. .FRIDAY...West winds 20 to 30 knots diminishing to 10 to 20 knots in the afternoon. A slight chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. .FRIDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 to 20 knots becoming northwest 20 to 30 knots after midnight. A chance of snow showers. Freezing spray after midnight. Waves building to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet. .SATURDAY...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots. Freezing spray. Waves building to 4 to 7 feet occasionally to 9 feet, then subsiding to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet. .SATURDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots diminishing to 10 to 20 knots after midnight. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. .SUNDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west 10 to 20 knots. Waves subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. .MONDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 20 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves building to 2 to 4 feet. Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas. $$ LSZ265-040900- Lake Superior West of Line from Manitou Island to Marquette MI Beyond 5NM from shore- 400 PM EST Wed Dec 3 2025 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... ...GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING... .LATE THIS AFTERNOON...Northwest gales to 35 knots. Freezing spray. Snow showers likely. Waves 6 to 9 feet occasionally to 11 feet. .TONIGHT...Northwest gales to 40 knots. Freezing spray. Snow showers likely in the evening. A chance of snow showers after midnight. Waves building to 6 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet. .THURSDAY...Northwest gales to 35 knots becoming west 20 to 30 knots by late morning, then backing southwest by mid afternoon. Freezing spray in the morning. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. .THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest gales to 40 knots. Freezing spray in the evening. Snow showers likely. Waves building to 5 to 8 feet occasionally to 10 feet, then subsiding to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet. .FRIDAY...West winds 20 to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to 25 knots in the afternoon. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. .FRIDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest 20 to 30 knots after midnight. A chance of snow showers. Waves building to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet. .SATURDAY...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves building to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet, then subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. .SATURDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to calm to 2 feet. .SUNDAY...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots becoming west 15 to 25 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves building to 1 to 3 feet, then subsiding to calm to 2 feet. .MONDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of snow showers, then snow showers likely. Waves calm to 2 feet. Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas. $$ LSZ266-040900- 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 3 2025 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... ...GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING... .LATE THIS AFTERNOON...Northwest gales to 35 knots. Freezing spray. Snow showers. Waves 8 to 11 feet occasionally to 14 feet. .TONIGHT...Northwest gales to 40 knots. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. Waves building to 11 to 15 feet occasionally to 19 feet, then subsiding to 10 to 14 feet occasionally to 18 feet. .THURSDAY...Northwest gales to 35 knots becoming west 20 to 30 knots by late morning, then backing southwest by mid afternoon. Freezing spray in the morning. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet. .THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest gales to 40 knots. Freezing spray. Snow showers. Waves building to 8 to 12 feet occasionally to 15 feet. .FRIDAY...West winds 20 to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to 25 knots in the afternoon. A chance of snow showers. Waves subsiding to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet. .FRIDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots increasing to 20 to 30 knots after midnight. A chance of snow showers in the evening, then snow showers likely after midnight. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet, then building to 4 to 7 feet occasionally to 9 feet. .SATURDAY...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots. Snow showers likely in the morning, then a chance of snow showers in the afternoon. Freezing spray in the afternoon. Waves building to 5 to 9 feet occasionally to 11 feet. .SATURDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to 25 knots after midnight. Freezing spray in the evening. Snow showers likely. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. .SUNDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots backing west. A chance of snow showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet. .MONDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of snow showers, then snow showers likely. Waves building to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet, then subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas. $$ LSZ267-040900- Lake Superior from Grand Marais MI to Whitefish Point MI 5NM off shore to the US/Canadian border- 400 PM EST Wed Dec 3 2025 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... ...GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING... .LATE THIS AFTERNOON...Northwest gales to 35 knots. Freezing spray. Snow showers. Waves 8 to 11 feet occasionally to 14 feet. .TONIGHT...Northwest gales to 40 knots. Freezing spray. Snow showers. Waves building to 11 to 15 feet occasionally to 19 feet, then subsiding to 10 to 14 feet occasionally to 18 feet. .THURSDAY...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots backing southwest by mid afternoon. Freezing spray in the morning. Snow showers. Waves subsiding to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet. .THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest gales to 40 knots. Freezing spray. Snow showers. Waves building to 7 to 11 feet occasionally to 14 feet. .FRIDAY...Southwest winds 20 to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to 25 knots in the afternoon. Snow showers likely in the morning, then a chance of snow showers in the afternoon. Waves subsiding to 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet. .FRIDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots veering west after midnight. Snow showers. Waves subsiding to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet, then building to 4 to 7 feet occasionally to 9 feet. .SATURDAY...Northwest winds 20 to 30 knots. Snow showers likely. Waves building to 5 to 9 feet occasionally to 11 feet. .SATURDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots. Freezing spray in the evening. Snow showers likely. Waves subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. .SUNDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots. Snow showers likely, then a chance of snow showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet. .MONDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of snow showers, then snow showers. Waves building to 3 to 5 feet occasionally to 7 feet, then subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Note, wave height forecasts are for ice free areas. $$ LSZ261-040300- MAFOR 0322/ Superior West...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT...11750 11752 11742 11740 11730 11630 12540. Waves 5 to 9 feet subsiding to 4 to 7 feet tonight. Waves 3 to 5 feet building to 4 to 7 feet Thursday. Superior North Central...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT...11750 14752 11740 11630 11540. A chance of snow showers. Waves 6 to 10 feet building to 8 to 11 feet tonight. Waves 6 to 9 feet subsiding to 3 to 6 feet Thursday. Superior South Central...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT...14757 11750 11740 11630 11530. Waves 7 to 11 feet building to 9 to 13 feet tonight. Waves 9 to 12 feet subsiding to 3 to 5 feet Thursday. Superior East...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT...14757 11757 11747 11737 11637. Waves 7 to 11 feet building to 10 to 14 feet tonight. Waves 10 to 13 feet subsiding to 5 to 9 feet Thursday. $$ 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