Storm Warning Issued for Lake Michigan: Winds Up to 50 Knots and 17-Foot Waves Expected
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
Areazine synthesizes this NWS weather alert directly from NOAA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
The National Weather Service has issued a Storm Warning for Lake Michigan, forecasting dangerous west winds and high waves through Friday evening.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Storm Warning
- Affected area
- Lake Michigan
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan
Storm notices can cover different combinations of wind, hail, lightning, and rainfall. Use the original notice for the hazards and boundaries attached to this specific record.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Lake Michigan.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Milwaukee/Sullivan has issued a Storm Warning for the southern open waters and nearshore areas of Lake Michigan. This alert indicates that severe weather conditions are currently observed or imminent in the specified maritime regions.
Affected Areas
The warning covers the southern open waters of Lake Michigan and nearshore waters extending from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, to Winthrop Harbor, Illinois. Specific areas include:
- Lake Michigan from Michigan City, IN to St. Joseph, MI (5 NM offshore to mid-line)
- Sheboygan to Port Washington, WI
- Port Washington to North Point Light, WI
- North Point Light to Wind Point, WI
- Wind Point, WI to Winthrop Harbor, IL
- Offshore zones including Whitehall, Pentwater, Grand Haven, Holland, and South Haven, MI
What You Should Do
Mariners are advised to take immediate safety precautions. The National Weather Service recommends that mariners remain in port, alter their course to avoid the storm, or secure their vessels for severe conditions. The combination of high winds and waves could capsize or damage vessels.
Expected Conditions
The region is bracing for significant maritime hazards:
- Wind: West winds between 25 to 35 knots, with gusts reaching up to 50 knots.
- Waves: Wave heights are expected to range from 12 to 17 feet.
- Visibility: Very strong winds may lead to reduced visibility.
Timeline
The Storm Warning is effective immediately and is scheduled to remain in effect until 10:00 PM CDT this evening, March 13, 2026.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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