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Boreal Community Media

Memorial Day weekend may be hot, but Great Lakes still dangerously cold

May 24, 2018 06:33AM ● By Editor
Image:  NOAA/UW-Madison CIMSS

By Mark Torregrossa | [email protected] | May 23, 2018

Great Lakes water is still cold

Memorial Day weekend weather is going to be summery. High temperatures in the 80s will make you think it's beach-time. We better tip-toe into the water rather than dive in. Great Lakes water temperatures are still in the 40s and 50s at most Michigan beaches. If anyone goes swimming, hypothermia could happen in minutes. Here's a look at the cold Great Lakes water temperatures.

Great Lakes water temperatures
Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab/ Coastwatch
Great Lakes water temperatures

Above are the current water temperatures on May 21, 2018. Much of the Great Lakes water is still in the 40s. Some parts of Lake Superior and Lake Huron still have surface water temperatures in the 30s. Only Toledo and Bay City have water temperatures even close to warm enough for a quick swim.


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