Southern Lake Michigan · Kenosha Harbor
Official NOAA/NWS forecasts and alerts for recreational boaters — plus a plain-language conditions summary. Always verify marine products before you cast off. Currently showing the nearest official forecast for Kenosha Harbor.
Forecasts come from the nearest National Weather Service grid and station for each area.
Boating conditions summary
Caution
Caution — Wave height about 2 ft.
Boating conditions can change quickly. This rating is informational only and is not a substitute for official NOAA/NWS marine forecasts, local regulations, or the judgment of a qualified captain.
Use these resources alongside the official forecast above. They are planning links — not recommendations based on today's rating.
Sunrise
6:28:57 AM
Sunset
7:04:29 PM
Observed near Kenosha Harbor for recreational boaters. On-water conditions can differ from land station readings — always cross-check the nearshore marine forecast before you leave the harbor.
Kenosha, Kenosha Regional Airport (KENW) · Observed 9/14/2026, 12:00:00 AM
Air temp
48°F
Feels like
48°F
Conditions
Clear
Wind
5 mph
Wind direction
SW
Gusts
Not currently available from source
Humidity
100%
Visibility
10 mi
Wave and water readings come from NOAA buoy data when the station reports them. Missing values mean the buoy did not report that field — we never invent lake numbers.
Water temperature
Not currently available from source
Wave height
~2 ft
Buoy
45174
NOAA buoy 45174 sits off Chicago — treat these readings as a southern Lake Michigan reference, not a local Kenosha Harbor observation.
Official National Weather Service products. These are not BoatingChicago opinions.
Official NOAA/NWS · Marine-related
Beach Hazards Statement issued September 13 at 11:31PM CDT until September 15 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
* WHAT...Life threatening waves of 5 to 8 feet and dangerous currents are expected. * WHERE...Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha Counties. * WHEN...From Monday afternoon through early Tuesday morning. * IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming conditions are expected due to high waves and onshore winds.
View official alert →NWS hourly grid forecast for Kenosha Harbor. Watch wind shifts and thunderstorm chances before afternoon lake trips.
12 AM
57°
Clear
Wind 5 mph · 0%
1 AM
56°
Clear
Wind 5 mph · 0%
2 AM
55°
Clear
Wind 5 mph · 0%
3 AM
55°
Clear
Wind 5 mph · 0%
4 AM
54°
Clear
Wind 5 mph · 0%
5 AM
53°
Mostly Clear
Wind 5 mph · 0%
6 AM
52°
Sunny
Wind 5 mph · 0%
7 AM
53°
Sunny
Wind 5 mph · 0%
8 AM
57°
Sunny
Wind 5 mph · 0%
9 AM
61°
Sunny
Wind 10 mph · 0%
10 AM
65°
Sunny
Wind 10 mph · 0%
11 AM
66°
Sunny
Wind 10 mph · 0%
12 PM
66°
Mostly Sunny
Wind 15 mph · 0%
1 PM
66°
Mostly Sunny
Wind 15 mph · 0%
2 PM
67°
Mostly Sunny
Wind 15 mph · 0%
3 PM
67°
Mostly Sunny
Wind 15 mph · 1%
4 PM
68°
Partly Sunny
Wind 15 mph · 1%
5 PM
68°
Partly Sunny
Wind 15 mph · 2%
6 PM
69°
Mostly Cloudy
Wind 20 mph · 3%
7 PM
69°
Mostly Cloudy
Wind 20 mph · 5%
8 PM
69°
Mostly Cloudy
Wind 20 mph · 6%
9 PM
69°
Mostly Cloudy
Wind 25 mph · 7%
10 PM
69°
Mostly Cloudy
Wind 25 mph · 8%
11 PM
69°
Mostly Cloudy
Wind 25 mph · 10%
Overnight
52°F
Clear
Clear, with a low around 52. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Wind NW 5 mph · Precip 0%
Monday
69°F
Mostly Sunny
Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. East wind 5 to 15 mph.
Wind E 5 to 15 mph · Precip 2%
Monday Night
65°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1am and 5am, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Wind S 20 to 25 mph · Precip 61%
Tuesday
74°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 74. Southwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Wind SW 10 to 20 mph · Precip 64%
Tuesday Night
64°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers
A chance of rain showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Wind N 5 to 10 mph · Precip 27%
Wednesday
69°F
Rain Showers Likely
Rain showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 69. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Wind NE 10 to 15 mph · Precip 59%
Wednesday Night
65°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Rain showers likely before 7pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7pm and 1am, then showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 65. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Wind NE 10 to 15 mph · Precip 79%
Thursday
71°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Wind N 10 mph · Precip 79%
Thursday Night
64°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
A slight chance of rain showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wind NE 10 to 15 mph · Precip 21%
Friday
70°F
Chance Rain Showers
A chance of rain showers before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Wind E 15 mph · Precip 35%
Friday Night
64°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Wind SE 15 mph · Precip 47%
Saturday
72°F
Rain Showers Likely
Rain showers likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wind SW 15 mph · Precip 55%
Saturday Night
62°F
Rain Showers Likely
Rain showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wind N 15 mph · Precip 55%
Sunday
68°F
Chance Rain Showers
A chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 68. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wind NE 15 to 20 mph · Precip 34%
Downtown air temperature is not the same as Lake Michigan. Wind over open water builds chop faster than the same breeze feels on land, and thunderstorms can arrive with little room to run for a harbor.
As a conservative rule of thumb for small recreational boats: winds climbing through the teens often mean a tougher ride; mid-20s and higher — especially with gusts or a small craft advisory — are a strong reason to stay docked unless you and your vessel are truly prepared.
This site's Good / Caution / Poor summary is informational only. Official NOAA/NWS marine forecasts and a qualified captain's judgment always come first.
A quick read of conditions, official alerts, and recent source-cited updates for Lake Michigan boaters.
Boating conditions summary
Caution
Caution — Wave height about 2 ft.
Boating conditions can change quickly. This rating is informational only and is not a substitute for official NOAA/NWS marine forecasts, local regulations, or the judgment of a qualified captain.
Official alert spotlight
NOAA/NWS
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued September 13 at 11:31PM CDT until September 15 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Seasonal tip
Night fireworks and special-event weekends fill harbors early — plan fuel, dockage, and a sober captain before you go.
Safety
Official updateNational Weather Service · 9/14/2026
Read at National Weather Service →Safety
Official updateBoatingChicago Weather · 9/14/2026
Read at BoatingChicago Weather →Lake Michigan
Official updateNOAA / NWS observations · 9/14/2026
Read at NOAA / NWS observations →Wisconsin
NWS Alerts (Wisconsin) · 9/13/2026
Read at NWS Alerts (Wisconsin) →Wisconsin
NWS Alerts (Wisconsin) · 9/13/2026
Read at NWS Alerts (Wisconsin) →Last fetched 9/14/2026, 12:21:53 AM (approx. 15-minute cache).