Bring A Blanket, Lake Michigan Temperatures Are Plummeting Below Average For This Time of Year

Last weekend felt a little cooler than average, but it wasn't just the air that was cooler, it turns out the water at some Lake Michigan beaches has plummeted thanks to cool air that blew in and cooled water temperatures off shore.

According to data from SeaTemperature.com and Seagull, you can see that the lakes have had a significant drop in temperature since last week.

Why does the water temperature at Lake Michigan drop so quickly?

A lot of time our water temperature in Lake Michigan drops when the air temperature drops, but it may not be as immediate as we see on land.

When we saw temperatures drop from the average of mid eighties to mid-sixties and rain, the water overall had time to cool, and as the waves come in to the shore, it causes the water temperature to be a delayed cool, even though our air temperature has already risen back to average.

What beaches have the coolest water right now?

If you're planning to go to South Haven, you may want to delay getting into the water.

On average, their water temperature is in the mid 70's this time of year, but as of this morning (August 16th) the water is still 65 degrees, which would be quite a shock if you're expecting to just run in and have an average Michigan summer beach day.

Water temperatures are rising again in Grand Haven and Warren Dunes to reach the low to mid 70s, so you will likely have a good time if you're further south on the coast.

So if you plan to head to the beach, make sure you check the temperature as you go here.