Southern Lake Michigan · Racine 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 Racine 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
6:28:44 AM
Sunset
7:04:25 PM
Observed near Racine 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.
Racine, Batten International Airport (KRAC) · Observed 9/14/2026, 1:00:00 AM
Air temp
50°F
Feels like
50°F
Conditions
Clear
Wind
0 mph
Wind direction
N
Gusts
Not currently available from source
Humidity
94%
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 Racine 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 Racine Harbor. Watch wind shifts and thunderstorm chances before afternoon lake trips.
1 AM
55°
Clear
Wind 5 mph · 0%
2 AM
54°
Clear
Wind 5 mph · 0%
3 AM
53°
Clear
Wind 5 mph · 0%
4 AM
53°
Clear
Wind 5 mph · 0%
5 AM
53°
Mostly Clear
Wind 5 mph · 0%
6 AM
53°
Sunny
Wind 5 mph · 0%
7 AM
54°
Sunny
Wind 5 mph · 0%
8 AM
57°
Sunny
Wind 5 mph · 0%
9 AM
61°
Sunny
Wind 5 mph · 0%
10 AM
65°
Sunny
Wind 10 mph · 0%
11 AM
67°
Mostly Sunny
Wind 10 mph · 0%
12 PM
68°
Mostly Sunny
Wind 10 mph · 0%
1 PM
69°
Partly Sunny
Wind 15 mph · 0%
2 PM
70°
Partly Sunny
Wind 15 mph · 1%
3 PM
70°
Partly Sunny
Wind 15 mph · 1%
4 PM
70°
Partly Sunny
Wind 15 mph · 2%
5 PM
70°
Partly Sunny
Wind 15 mph · 3%
6 PM
69°
Mostly Cloudy
Wind 15 mph · 3%
7 PM
68°
Mostly Cloudy
Wind 15 mph · 6%
8 PM
67°
Mostly Cloudy
Wind 15 mph · 7%
9 PM
66°
Mostly Cloudy
Wind 25 mph · 8%
10 PM
66°
Mostly Cloudy
Wind 25 mph · 9%
11 PM
65°
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Wind 25 mph · 15%
12 AM
65°
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Wind 25 mph · 16%
Overnight
53°F
Clear
Clear, with a low around 53. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Wind NW 5 mph · Precip 0%
Monday
70°F
Mostly Sunny
Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. East wind 5 to 15 mph.
Wind E 5 to 15 mph · Precip 3%
Monday Night
63°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
A slight chance of rain showers between 11pm and 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1am and 5am, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind 15 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 15 to 25 mph · Precip 63%
Tuesday
76°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Showers and thunderstorms likely before 5pm. Cloudy, with a high near 76. Southwest wind 5 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 5 to 20 mph · Precip 62%
Tuesday Night
62°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
A slight chance of rain showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Wind N 5 mph · Precip 19%
Wednesday
70°F
Chance Rain Showers
A chance of rain showers. Cloudy, with a high near 70. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Wind NE 10 mph · Precip 54%
Wednesday Night
63°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
A chance of rain showers before 7pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7pm and 1am, then showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 63. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Wind NE 5 to 10 mph · Precip 79%
Thursday
72°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Wind N 5 to 10 mph · Precip 79%
Thursday Night
62°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
A slight chance of rain showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wind NE 5 mph · Precip 21%
Friday
72°F
Chance Rain Showers
A chance of rain showers before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Wind E 10 mph · Precip 35%
Friday Night
62°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Wind SE 10 mph · Precip 47%
Saturday
74°F
Chance Rain Showers
A chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 74. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Wind SW 10 to 15 mph · Precip 54%
Saturday Night
60°F
Chance Rain Showers
A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Wind N 10 to 15 mph · Precip 54%
Sunday
71°F
Chance Rain Showers
A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wind NE 15 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 →Lake Michigan
Official updateNOAA buoy / lake observations · 9/14/2026
Read at NOAA buoy / lake observations →Wisconsin
NWS Alerts (Wisconsin) · 9/13/2026
Read at NWS Alerts (Wisconsin) →Last fetched 9/14/2026, 1:19:26 AM (approx. 15-minute cache).