Water Temperature Drops 20 Degrees in 24 Hours Along Western Shore of Lake Michigan

randy56

 ODD It's July? 

• Parts of Lake Michigan's western shore have seen water temperatures fall from the 60s to the 40s this weekend.
• Persistent winds pushed warmer surface water away from the shore.

Water temperatures on the western shore of Lake Michigan have fallen dramatically over the weekend and persistent southwest winds are to blame.

A buoy near Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, or about halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee, reported a water temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit late Friday afternoon. Just 24 hours later on Saturday afternoon, the water temperature had plummeted to 48 degrees Fahrenheit.

There was a similar drop in water temperature at a buoy near Milwaukee which reported 62 degrees Fahrenheit Friday afternoon and then 43 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday afternoon.

Ian

Leaving the club Friday afternoon on the Mohawk and water temperature was 82 degrees. Noticed down to 78 today.

Willhound

Hmmmm....keep an eye out for Godzilla!
No wait......alien space craft under Lake Michigan.....yeah, that's the ticket.😁

PickleRick

Does that not trigger a major fish kill?  We lose fish in lakes on a regular basis when weather changes rapidly causing the lakes warm and cold waters to flip.  The dnr heads out for testing to ensure its not something else causing the fish kill.

MarkB

Fish will move. The warm water is somewhere, likely on the north east shore now.  Salmon and trout actually prefer 42F to 48F temperatures.

Black_Diamond

The lake flipped. Happens pretty regular with big winds. 

PickleRick

Our fish are kinda dumb, they apparently dont move quick enough. We also don't have any lakes that rival anything compared to the size of any great lake.  

The last fish kill i know off was white bass in saluda lake. Think big shallow mud puddle.

Black_Diamond

Back up to 68F today!