Southern Lake Michigan · New Buffalo Harbor

Chicago Boating Weather & Lake Michigan Conditions

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 New Buffalo Harbor.

Chicago Boating News →Marinas Boat launches Destinations Guides Events

Choose a boating area

Chicago Lakefront Waukegan Harbor Winthrop Harbor / North Point Marina Geneva Lake (Lake Geneva, WI)Chain O' Lakes Kenosha Harbor Racine Harbor Milwaukee Lakefront Michigan City Harbor New Buffalo 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.

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.

Explore while you check conditions

Use these resources alongside the official forecast above. They are planning links — not recommendations based on today's rating.

Boating news Marinas Boat launches Destinations

Marine alerts on this page →Boating guides →Events →Lake Michigan →

Sunrise

6:25:04 AM

Sunset

6:59:49 PM

Current conditions

Observed near New Buffalo 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.

Michigan City Municipal Airport (KMGC) · Observed 9/13/2026, 11:35:00 PM

Air temp

52°F

Feels like

52°F

Conditions

Clear

Wind

Not currently available from source

Wind direction

Not currently available from source

Gusts

Not currently available from source

Humidity

100%

Visibility

10 mi

Lake conditions · New Buffalo Harbor

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 New Buffalo Harbor observation.

Active NOAA/NWS alerts

Official National Weather Service products. These are not BoatingChicago opinions.

Official NOAA/NWS · Marine-related

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued September 13 at 10:48PM EDT until September 14 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana

* WHAT...Dangerous swimming conditions. *Breaking Waves: 3 to 5 feet. *Longshore current: Expected, moving north to south along the beach. *Structural currents: Expected, especially strong on the north sides of piers and breakwalls. *Rip currents: Expected * WHERE...In Indiana, Northern La Porte county. In Michigan, Northern Berrien and Southern Berrien counties. * WHEN...Until 4 AM EDT /3 AM CDT/ Monday. * IMPACTS...Strong currents can pull swimmers into deeper water and high waves can sweep people off piers.

View official alert →

Next 24 hours

NWS hourly grid forecast for New Buffalo Harbor. Watch wind shifts and thunderstorm chances before afternoon lake trips.

12 AM

58°

Mostly Clear

Wind 5 mph · 0%

1 AM

59°

Mostly Clear

Wind 5 mph · 0%

2 AM

58°

Mostly Clear

Wind 5 mph · 0%

3 AM

56°

Mostly Clear

Wind 5 mph · 0%

4 AM

56°

Mostly Clear

Wind 5 mph · 0%

5 AM

55°

Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

6 AM

54°

Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

7 AM

55°

Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

8 AM

58°

Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

9 AM

63°

Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

10 AM

66°

Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

11 AM

68°

Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

12 PM

71°

Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

1 PM

72°

Mostly Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

2 PM

72°

Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

3 PM

74°

Mostly Sunny

Wind 5 mph · 0%

4 PM

72°

Partly Sunny

Wind 10 mph · 0%

5 PM

72°

Mostly Cloudy

Wind 10 mph · 0%

6 PM

71°

Partly Cloudy

Wind 10 mph · 0%

7 PM

68°

Partly Cloudy

Wind 10 mph · 1%

8 PM

66°

Partly Cloudy

Wind 10 mph · 1%

9 PM

64°

Partly Cloudy

Wind 15 mph · 1%

10 PM

63°

Partly Cloudy

Wind 15 mph · 1%

11 PM

63°

Partly Cloudy

Wind 15 mph · 1%

7-day outlook

Overnight

54°F

Mostly Clear

Mostly clear, with a low around 54. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Wind NE 5 mph · Precip 0%

Monday

74°F

Sunny

Sunny, with a high near 74. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wind SE 5 to 10 mph · Precip 0%

Monday Night

63°F

Mostly Cloudy

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wind SE 10 to 15 mph · Precip 6%

Tuesday

84°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8am and 11am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11am and 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Wind SW 5 to 15 mph · Precip 45%

Tuesday Night

65°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wind N 5 mph · Precip 72%

Wednesday

76°F

Rain Showers Likely

Rain showers likely before 5pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wind NE 5 mph · Precip 72%

Wednesday Night

68°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wind E 5 mph · Precip 63%

Thursday

78°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wind W 5 mph · Precip 63%

Thursday Night

64°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers

A slight chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wind NE 5 mph · Precip 20%

Friday

78°F

Chance Rain Showers

A chance of rain showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wind E 5 mph · Precip 32%

Friday Night

65°F

Chance Rain Showers

A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Wind SE 5 to 10 mph · Precip 46%

Saturday

77°F

Rain Showers Likely

Rain showers likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 77.

Wind S 10 mph · Precip 61%

Saturday Night

61°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Rain showers likely before 8pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.

Wind SE 10 mph · Precip 61%

Sunday

74°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 74.

Wind NE 10 mph · Precip 36%

What wind means for recreational boating

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.

Chicago Boating Brief

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.

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 10:48PM EDT until September 14 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana

Seasonal tip

Night fireworks and special-event weekends fill harbors early — plan fuel, dockage, and a sober captain before you go.

Full weather →All news →