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Current Lake Conditions
What's New | Great Lakes Observations Explorer | Weather |
Beaches |
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Ice Conditions
What's New
Great Lakes water levels: How did April's rain raise Lake Michigan and Huron, and what is the forecast? MLive (5/7) The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports that the average level of Lake Michigan-Huron rose 5.16 inches from March to April.
Up to 375 flood gauges to turn off because of fund cuts Detroit Free Press (4/26) Just in time for the spring flood season, the federal sequester is threatening to shut off funding for hundreds of stream gauges used by the U.S. Geological Survey to predict and monitor flood levels across the country.
Record-breaking storms add two inches to Lakes Michigan and Huron Michigan Radio (4/25) Recent storms are improving the low water levels in the Great Lakes, at least a little.
NASA satellite images show extent of West Michigan, Great Lakes Bay area flooding MLive (4/24) From space, the difference between record flooding and normal conditions is some extra green and the thickness of a squiggly line. The situation at ground level is a bit different.
Check out Lake Michigan's 50-pound ice balls chicagoist (3/3) Evidently a natural winter phenomenon, the boulders of ice that stud Good Harbor Bay in Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore can weigh up to 50 pounds.
Weather buoy returning in 2013 thanks to grant The Holland Sentinel (12/27) Next summer’s boaters will again be able to get real-time data on Lake Michigan after a weather buoy that spent part of 2012 off the Holland shore received a grant to keep it afloat.

Great Lakes Observations Explorer
View real-time and historic lake conditions; water levels, wave heights, air and water temperatures and more from the station or buoy of your choice:

The Great Lakes Observations Explorer is a product developed by the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) in an effort dedicated to providing wide internet access to real-time and historic data on the hydrology, biology, chemistry, geology and cultural resources of the Great Lakes, its interconnecting waterways and the St. Lawrence River. GLOS is a regional node of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) initiative.

Weather
Recent Marine Data National Data Buoy Center, National Weather Service (NOAA) Real-time data from all US Moored Buoy Stations, Canadian Moored Buoy Stations and C-MAN Stations in Eastern / Western Great Lakes. Dial-a-Buoy phone service is also available.
Great Lakes Air Temperatures NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) Real-time and forecasted Great Lakes weather maps with optional animation.
Great Lakes Marine Text Forecasts by Zone Marine & Coastal Weather Services, National Weather Service (NOAA) Great Lakes open water marine forecasts in text format. (View NOAA's PDF Guide to Marine Weather Services for information on how to read text forecasts.)
Great Lakes NOAAPORT Marine Observations CoastWatch Great Lakes Node, Great Lakes Environmental Reseach Laboratory (NOAA) Real-time weather observations from numerous Great Lakes sites.
NEXRAD Doppler RADAR National Weather Service Access NWS's national network of doppler radar stations.
Ontario Marine Map Environment Canada Ontario marine observations and forecasts.
Recent Great Lakes Ship Observations CoastWatch Great Lakes Node, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (NOAA) Recent weather reports from ships traveling on the Great Lakes.

Lake Superior | St.
Marys River | Lake Michigan | Lake
Huron | St. Clair River
Lake St. Clair | Detroit
River | Lake Erie | Niagara
River | Lake Ontario | St.
Lawrence

Water Temperatures
Contour Maps of the Great Lakes Michigan Sea Grant Marine observations, buoy data, water temperatures and more.
NOAA CoastWatch Great Lakes Node NOAA/Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) The CoastWatch Great Lakes regional node obtains, produces, and delivers environmental data and products for near real-time monitoring of the Great Lakes to support environmental science, decision making, and supporting research. In addition, through a cooperative project with Michigan Sea Grant, Great Lakes CoastWatch satellite-derived surface temperature imagery is contoured and made available via Michigan State Sea Grant's web site.

Wave Heights
Great Lakes Water Currents NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) Real-time and forecasted Great Lakes weather maps. Optional animated time loops.

Beaches
Great Lakes BeachCast Great Lakes Information Network An Internet gateway to information on Great Lakes beach conditions, including health advisories, weather, monitoring data and more.

Boating Safety/Security Advisories
Information for U.S. and Canadian Cross-Border Boaters U.S. Coast Guard Ninth District Information and requirements for U.S. and Canadian recreational boaters planning cross-border travel on the Great Lakes.
Ninth Coast Guard District Public Information Site U.S. Coast Guard Ninth District News on active Coast Guard searches and rescues.
Requirements for Foreign Recreational Boaters In Canadian Waters Canadian Coast Guard, Office of Boating Safety Information on boating safety and environmental protection regulations in Canadian Waters.
What American Boaters Need to Know When Entering Canada U.S. Coast Guard, Office of Boating Safety Important contact information and guidelines for boaters entering Canadian Waters.

Fishing Conditions
Michigan Recreational Fishing Report Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Comprehensive Michigan fishing report covering Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair, and Lake Erie fisheries.

Lock & Port Updates
Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System : Customer Advisories Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System Updates and advisories for Great Lakes locks and canals.
Soo Locks PORTS Data Products Center for Oceanographic Operational Products and Services (NOAA) The Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS®) is a program of the National Ocean Service that provides ship masters and pilots with accurate real-time information required to avoid groundings and collisions.

Ice Conditions
Great Lakes Ice Charts NOAA National Ice Center Access recent ice analyses for Eastern and Western Great Lakes.

Related Resources
GLIN: Agencies and Organizations, Weather
GLIN: Climate Change in the Great Lakes Region
GLIN: Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Hydrology
GLIN: Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Water Flows
GLIN: Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Water Levels

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