219
FZUS63 KMKX 122041
GLFLM
OPEN LAKE FORECAST FOR LAKE MICHIGAN
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
341 PM CDT THU MAR 12 2026
FOR WATERS BEYOND FIVE NAUTICAL MILES OF SHORE ON LAKE MICHIGAN.
WAVES ARE PROVIDED AS A RANGE OF SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHTS, WHICH
IS THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST 1/3 OF THE WAVE, ALONG WITH THE
AVERAGE HEIGHT OF THE HIGHEST 10% OF THE WAVES WHICH WILL
OCCASIONALLY BE ENCOUNTERED.
SYNOPSIS
VERY ACTIVE CONDITIONS ARE ANTICIPATED ACROSS THE OPEN WATERS FROM
TONIGHT THROUGH THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK. CURRENTLY IN THE
NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS, 29.2 INCH LOW PRESSURE WILL APPROACH AND
CROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF LAKE MICHIGAN TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY
MORNING. SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL QUICKLY INCREASE AS THE LOW
APPROACHES TONIGHT, ULTIMATELY VEERING WESTERLY TO NORTHWESTERLY
AS IT MOVES INTO ONTARIO FRIDAY EVENING. WIDESPREAD GALE FORCE
GUSTS REMAIN FORECAST ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE OPEN WATERS,
WHERE A GALE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT BETWEEN 10 PM CDT TONIGHT
AND 10 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING. EVEN STRONGER GUSTS ARE EXPECTED
ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE OPEN WATERS, WHERE CONFIDENCE HAS
INCREASED IN WIDESPREAD STORM FORCE GUSTS IN THIS FORECAST. A
STORM WARNING HAS THUS BEEN ISSUED FOR SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN
BETWEEN 10 PM CDT TONIGHT AND 10 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING. IT'S
POSSIBLE THAT WINDS COULD DECREASE BELOW STORM THRESHOLDS PRIOR TO
THE CURRENT 10 PM CDT FRIDAY EXPIRATION OF THE STORM WARNING. IF
NECESSARY, ANY EARLY CANCELLATIONS WILL BE HANDLED AS WINDS
DECREASE FRIDAY EVENING. AREAS OF RAIN AND SNOW WILL ACCOMPANY
PASSING LOW PRESSURE TONIGHT. AREAS OF LIGHT TO OCCASIONALLY
MODERATE FREEZING SPRAY ARE POSSIBLE OVER NORTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN
FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
WINDS WILL TAPER AWAY FROM HEADLINE THRESHOLDS LATER FRIDAY NIGHT
THROUGH SATURDAY AS 30.2 INCH HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE
NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS & ULTIMATELY CROSSES THE OPEN WATERS. EAST-
NORTHEAST WINDS WILL STEADILY INCREASE SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH
SUNDAY AS A SECOND AREA OF 29.4 INCH LOW PRESSURE FORMS IN THE
CENTRAL GREAT PLAINS. THE LOW WILL PROGRESS OVER OR JUST SOUTH OF
THE SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN SUNDAY NIGHT AS IT DEEPENS TOWARD 29.1
INCHES, RESULTING IN A NORTHERLY WIND SHIFT. WINDS WILL SHIFT OUT
OF THE NORTHWEST MONDAY AS THE LOW CONTINUES INTO ONTARIO. EXPECT
ANOTHER PROLONGED PERIOD OF GALE, IF NOT STORM FORCE GUSTS ACROSS
ALL OF THE OPEN WATERS AS THE LOW APPROACHES & SHIFTS EAST OF
LAKE MICHIGAN EARLY SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY, WITH HEADLINES
BECOMING NECESSARY WITHIN THE NEXT 12-24 HOURS. PROLONGED SNOW IS
EXPECTED SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY, SOME OF WHICH COULD BE
HEAVY. SLEET OR FREEZING RAIN COULD MIX IN WITH SNOW OVER SOUTHERN
LAKE MICHIGAN SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY. FREEZING SPRAY
POTENTIAL WILL INCREASE MONDAY BEHIND THE DEPARTING LOW, WITH
AREAS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY POSSIBLE. TRENDS WILL BE
MONITORED IN COMING FORECASTS FOR POTENTIAL HEADLINES.
LMZ261-362-364-366-563-565-567-868-130315-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM SEUL CHOIX POINT TO ROCK ISLAND PASSAGE 5 NM
OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN SOUTH OF A LINE FROM SEUL CHOIX POINT TO THE
MACKINAC BRIDGE AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM CHARLEVOIX MI TO SOUTH
FOX ISLAND 5 NM OFFSHORE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM CHARLEVOIX TO POINT BETSIE MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO
MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM POINT BETSIE TO MANISTEE MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO
MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM ROCK ISLAND PASSAGE TO STURGEON BAY WI-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM STURGEON BAY TO TWO RIVERS WI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO
MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM TWO RIVERS TO SHEBOYGAN WI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO
MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM PENTWATER TO MANISTEE MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID
LAKE-
341 PM CDT THU MAR 12 2026
SHEBOYGAN WI TO PENTWATER MI NORTH...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING THROUGH
FRIDAY EVENING...
TONIGHT
SOUTH WINDS TO 30 KT INCREASING TO GALE FORCE WINDS OF
45 KT. SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN AND SNOW THIS EVENING, THEN SNOW AND
SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN OVERNIGHT. WAVES 3 TO 5 FT BUILDING TO 14
TO 18 FT OCCASIONALLY TO 23 FT.
FRIDAY
SOUTH GALES TO 40 KT VEERING TO NORTHWEST GALES TO
45 KT. CHANCE OF RAIN AND SNOW IN THE MORNING, THEN CHANCE OF
SNOW AND RAIN IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES 12 TO 16 FT OCCASIONALLY TO
21 FT.
FRIDAY NIGHT
NORTHWEST GALES TO 40 KT DIMINISHING TO 10 TO
20 KT. WAVES 12 TO 16 FT OCCASIONALLY TO 21 FT SUBSIDING TO 4 TO
6 FT OCCASIONALLY TO 8 FT.
SATURDAY
NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 KT BACKING TO SOUTHWEST 5 TO
10 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES 3 TO 5 FT SUBSIDING TO 1 TO 3 FT.
SATURDAY NIGHT
SOUTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KT BECOMING EAST TO
30 KT OVERNIGHT. CHANCE OF SNOW. WAVES 1 TO 3 FT BUILDING TO 5 TO
8 FT OCCASIONALLY TO 10 FT.
SUNDAY
EAST GALES TO 35 KT BECOMING NORTHEAST GALES TO 45 KT
IN THE AFTERNOON. VISIBILITY ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES.
SNOW. WAVES 10 TO 14 FT OCCASIONALLY TO 18 FT BUILDING TO 15 TO
20 FT OCCASIONALLY TO 26 FT.
SUNDAY NIGHT
NORTHEAST STORM FORCE WINDS TO 50 KT BECOMING
NORTH. SNOW. VISIBILITY ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES. WAVES
25 TO 30 FT OCCASIONALLY TO 39 FT.
MONDAY
NORTH STORM FORCE WINDS TO 50 KT BECOMING NORTHWEST.
SNOW. VISIBILITY ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES. WAVES 25 TO
30 FT OCCASIONALLY TO 39 FT SUBSIDING TO 20 TO 25 FT OCCASIONALLY
TO 33 FT.
TUESDAY
NORTHWEST GALES TO 40 KT DIMINISHING TO 15 TO 25 KT.
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. WAVES 12 TO 16 FT OCCASIONALLY TO 21 FT
SUBSIDING TO 6 TO 9 FT OCCASIONALLY TO 12 FT.
LMZ080-669-671-673-675-777-779-870-872-874-876-878-130315-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM MICHIGAN CITY IN TO ST. JOSEPH MI 5 NM
OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM SHEBOYGAN TO PORT WASHINGTON WI 5 NM OFFSHORE
TO MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM PORT WASHINGTON TO NORTH POINT LIGHT WI 5 NM
OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM NORTH POINT LIGHT TO WIND POINT WI 5 NM
OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM WIND POINT WI TO WINTHROP HARBOR IL 5 NM
OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM WINTHROP HARBOR TO WILMETTE HARBOR IL 5 NM
OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM WILMETTE HARBOR IL TO MICHIGAN CITY IN 5 NM
OFFSHORE TO MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM WHITEHALL TO PENTWATER MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID
LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM GRAND HAVEN TO WHITEHALL MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO
MID LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM HOLLAND TO GRAND HAVEN MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID
LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM SOUTH HAVEN TO HOLLAND MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO MID
LAKE-
LAKE MICHIGAN FROM ST. JOSEPH TO SOUTH HAVEN MI 5 NM OFFSHORE TO
MID LAKE-
341 PM CDT THU MAR 12 2026
SHEBOYGAN WI TO PENTWATER MI SOUTH...
...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING THROUGH
FRIDAY EVENING...
TONIGHT
SOUTH WINDS TO 30 KT BECOMING SOUTHWEST STORM FORCE
WINDS TO 50 KT. CHANCE OF SNOW AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN THIS
EVENING, THEN CHANCE OF RAIN AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW OVERNIGHT.
WAVES 3 TO 5 FT BUILDING TO 14 TO 18 FT OCCASIONALLY TO 23 FT.
FRIDAY
SOUTHWEST STORM FORCE WINDS TO 50 KT BECOMING
NORTHWEST. SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN AND SNOW IN THE MORNING, THEN
SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES 14 TO 18 FT
OCCASIONALLY TO 23 FT.
FRIDAY NIGHT
NORTHWEST GALES TO 45 KT BECOMING NORTH 10 TO
20 KT. WAVES 12 TO 16 FT OCCASIONALLY TO 21 FT SUBSIDING TO 5 TO
8 FT OCCASIONALLY TO 10 FT.
SATURDAY
NORTH WINDS 10 TO 15 KT VEERING TO SOUTHEAST. WAVES
4 TO 6 FT OCCASIONALLY TO 8 FT SUBSIDING TO 2 TO 4 FT.
SATURDAY NIGHT
EAST WINDS 10 TO 20 KT INCREASING TO 30 KT
OVERNIGHT. CHANCE OF SNOW AND RAIN IN THE EVENING, THEN SNOW AND
RAIN OVERNIGHT. WAVES 2 TO 4 FT BUILDING TO 6 TO 9 FT
OCCASIONALLY TO 12 FT.
SUNDAY
EAST GALES TO 35 KT INCREASING TO GALES TO 45 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. RAIN AND SNOW. WAVES 12 TO 16 FT OCCASIONALLY TO 21 FT
BUILDING TO 15 TO 20 FT OCCASIONALLY TO 26 FT.
SUNDAY NIGHT
NORTH STORM FORCE WINDS TO 50 KT. FREEZING SPRAY.
RAIN AND SNOW. WAVES 25 TO 30 FT OCCASIONALLY TO 39 FT.
MONDAY
NORTHWEST STORM FORCE WINDS TO 50 KT. FREEZING SPRAY.
SNOW. WAVES 25 TO 30 FT OCCASIONALLY TO 39 FT.
TUESDAY
NORTHWEST GALES TO 35 KT BECOMING WEST 15 TO 25 KT.
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. WAVES 12 TO 16 FT OCCASIONALLY TO 21 FT
SUBSIDING TO 8 TO 11 FT OCCASIONALLY TO 14 FT.
STORM
STORM
LMZ761-130315-
MAFOR 1222/
MICHIGAN NORTH...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT...11430 11350 11367 11477
11467 11567 12760. A CHANCE OF RAIN FRIDAY. WAVES 2 FEET OR LESS
BUILDING TO 11 TO 16 FEET TONIGHT. WAVES 10 TO 15 FEET FRIDAY.
MICHIGAN SOUTH...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT...11430 11440 11467
11477 11570 13670. WAVES 1 TO 3 FEET BUILDING TO 12 TO 16 FEET
TONIGHT. WAVES 12 TO 17 FEET BUILDING TO 14 TO 18 FEET FRIDAY.
QUIGLEY
EXPERIMENTAL MODERNIZED OPEN LAKE FORECAST IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT
WEATHER.GOV/MKX/GLFTABLE
GRAPHICAL MARINE FORECASTS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT:
WEATHER.GOV/GREATLAKES
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