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Author Topic:   It's still deadly cold on Superior

Plotman posted 07-14-2014 12:45 AM ET (US)
Here it is mid-July, but we are really seeing the effects of this past winter linger on. It was the first winter in about 20 years where the lake almost completely froze, and the last ice cleared out only about a month ago.
Even so, the open water temperatures on Lake Superior have only climbed a few degrees since winter - all of the open water buoys are still showing water temperatures of between 37 and 38 degrees. At this time of year, we would normally expect these reading to be 15 degrees warmer.
here are some of the latest buoy readings:
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=45006
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=45001
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=45004
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=45136
I'm not sure how much use I'm likely to get out of the whalers. Even on nice sunny days on shore, the air temps drop down pretty close to the water temp as soon as you get more than a couple miles from shore.
deepwater posted 07-14-2014 01:59 AM ET (US)
No heat ,,No bugs,,enjoy ^@^
jimh posted 07-14-2014 12:27 PM ET (US)
I am concerned about northern Lake Huron temperatures, too. We like to swim from the boat when cruising, and normally in a cove you can find the water close to 70-degree-F. Right now, it looks about 61-degree water is what we'll find up there:
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=45154
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=45137
dfmcintyre posted 07-14-2014 05:18 PM ET (US)
Jim -
I'm seriously considering this to handle avoiding the plunge, (and subsequent submerged auto-launch):
http://www.amazon.com/ZODI-Outback-Gear-Instant-Shower/dp/B003EEESPW/ ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1405372467&sr=8-10&keywords=camping+hot+water+ heater
One of the other forum members had an earlier model, and loved using it in the North Channel.
Regards - Don
Teak Oil posted 07-14-2014 05:20 PM ET (US)
Jim I am an optimist we still have three weeks for the water to warm up
Jefecinco posted 07-14-2014 06:36 PM ET (US)
Sea water temperatures for the past few weeks on the coast near Mobile Bay have been in the mid-eighties. During the early part of the days water temperatures are warmer than the air.
Boating conditions are very nice.
Come down if you can get away, you'll enjoy it.
Butch
Dave Sutton posted 07-14-2014 08:27 PM ET (US)
The temperature at 200 feet in the water just north of Whitefish Point is about 38. Electrically heated undergarments and a drysuit are barely enough to keep divers warm.

Dave
.
martyn1075 posted 07-16-2014 03:31 PM ET (US)
Yes the weather pattern is coming from Alaska funneled down through the central part of Canada which runs directly into the Great Lakes and areas of the USA before it gets beaten down by a High pressure much further away. The western part of Canada is in return receiving record highs in many areas. 30-34 off the water and higher inland then up to 38-40C in the interior of British Columbia. Thats about 10 degrees difference then normal temps in the interior at this time of the year and close to that off the shoreline of Vancouver. For us there are tremendous warm water swimming possibilities if you know where to go. I would imagine western States like Seattle Washington may be in the same situation.
EJO posted 07-21-2014 12:25 PM ET (US)
I just came back from a week on Elk & Torch Lakes in upper lower Michigan and the highest water temp reading I had was on Torch Lake sandbar (1 ft deep) where it was 70.6 deg F on Friday noon.
The Lakes it selves where 67.8 to 69.9 deg. F surface water temps from my depth sounder.
Now of course these lakes are 175 and 285 deep respectively.
Michigan is cold.
Hal Watkins posted 07-21-2014 10:23 PM ET (US)
Two weeks ago...5 mi. S of Grand Marais, Mn...39° surface temp
Last week...Apostle Islands...64°
This week...Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Munising, Mi...58°
Who's the boss? The lake is the boss!
jimh posted 07-22-2014 08:46 AM ET (US)
In Little Tub Harbor (Georgian Bay) this morning: 65.5-degrees surface water temperature.
boatdryver posted 07-22-2014 09:35 AM ET (US)
Bodega Bay Sea buoy this morning (near San Francisco):
sea water temperature: 59 degrees F
bad if you fall in, but gives us our free air conditioning......
JimL
Hoosier posted 07-25-2014 11:00 AM ET (US)
I was in the Slate Islands a week ago, water temp, inside the sheltered bays was 41. I have a feeling Lake Superior will freeze early this year.
EJO posted 07-30-2014 09:13 AM ET (US)
Mid lake Michigan buoy says 59F this morning and the beach here in West Michigan not much better at 1-2 degrees more.
Poor vacationers for the end of July. That global warming is playing havoc.
Plotman posted 07-30-2014 10:57 AM ET (US)
3 of the 4 Lake Superior buoys still 38-39 degrees. Have warmed a whole degree in 2 weeks!
Hal Watkins posted 08-07-2014 03:05 PM ET (US)
Water temp on the down side at the Soo locks is 59.

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Author	Topic: It's still deadly cold on Superior
Plotman	posted 07-14-2014 12:45 AM ET (US) Here it is mid-July, but we are really seeing the effects of this past winter linger on. It was the first winter in about 20 years where the lake almost completely froze, and the last ice cleared out only about a month ago. Even so, the open water temperatures on Lake Superior have only climbed a few degrees since winter - all of the open water buoys are still showing water temperatures of between 37 and 38 degrees. At this time of year, we would normally expect these reading to be 15 degrees warmer. here are some of the latest buoy readings: http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=45006 http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=45001 http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=45004 http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=45136 I'm not sure how much use I'm likely to get out of the whalers. Even on nice sunny days on shore, the air temps drop down pretty close to the water temp as soon as you get more than a couple miles from shore.
deepwater	posted 07-14-2014 01:59 AM ET (US) No heat ,,No bugs,,enjoy ^@^
jimh	posted 07-14-2014 12:27 PM ET (US) I am concerned about northern Lake Huron temperatures, too. We like to swim from the boat when cruising, and normally in a cove you can find the water close to 70-degree-F. Right now, it looks about 61-degree water is what we'll find up there: http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=45154 http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=45137
dfmcintyre	posted 07-14-2014 05:18 PM ET (US) Jim - I'm seriously considering this to handle avoiding the plunge, (and subsequent submerged auto-launch): http://www.amazon.com/ZODI-Outback-Gear-Instant-Shower/dp/B003EEESPW/ ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1405372467&sr=8-10&keywords=camping+hot+water+ heater One of the other forum members had an earlier model, and loved using it in the North Channel. Regards - Don
Teak Oil	posted 07-14-2014 05:20 PM ET (US) Jim I am an optimist we still have three weeks for the water to warm up
Jefecinco	posted 07-14-2014 06:36 PM ET (US) Sea water temperatures for the past few weeks on the coast near Mobile Bay have been in the mid-eighties. During the early part of the days water temperatures are warmer than the air. Boating conditions are very nice. Come down if you can get away, you'll enjoy it. Butch
Dave Sutton	posted 07-14-2014 08:27 PM ET (US) The temperature at 200 feet in the water just north of Whitefish Point is about 38. Electrically heated undergarments and a drysuit are barely enough to keep divers warm. Dave .
martyn1075	posted 07-16-2014 03:31 PM ET (US) Yes the weather pattern is coming from Alaska funneled down through the central part of Canada which runs directly into the Great Lakes and areas of the USA before it gets beaten down by a High pressure much further away. The western part of Canada is in return receiving record highs in many areas. 30-34 off the water and higher inland then up to 38-40C in the interior of British Columbia. Thats about 10 degrees difference then normal temps in the interior at this time of the year and close to that off the shoreline of Vancouver. For us there are tremendous warm water swimming possibilities if you know where to go. I would imagine western States like Seattle Washington may be in the same situation.
EJO	posted 07-21-2014 12:25 PM ET (US) I just came back from a week on Elk & Torch Lakes in upper lower Michigan and the highest water temp reading I had was on Torch Lake sandbar (1 ft deep) where it was 70.6 deg F on Friday noon. The Lakes it selves where 67.8 to 69.9 deg. F surface water temps from my depth sounder. Now of course these lakes are 175 and 285 deep respectively. Michigan is cold.
Hal Watkins	posted 07-21-2014 10:23 PM ET (US) Two weeks ago...5 mi. S of Grand Marais, Mn...39° surface temp Last week...Apostle Islands...64° This week...Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Munising, Mi...58° Who's the boss? The lake is the boss!
jimh	posted 07-22-2014 08:46 AM ET (US) In Little Tub Harbor (Georgian Bay) this morning: 65.5-degrees surface water temperature.
boatdryver	posted 07-22-2014 09:35 AM ET (US) Bodega Bay Sea buoy this morning (near San Francisco): sea water temperature: 59 degrees F bad if you fall in, but gives us our free air conditioning...... JimL
Hoosier	posted 07-25-2014 11:00 AM ET (US) I was in the Slate Islands a week ago, water temp, inside the sheltered bays was 41. I have a feeling Lake Superior will freeze early this year.
EJO	posted 07-30-2014 09:13 AM ET (US) Mid lake Michigan buoy says 59F this morning and the beach here in West Michigan not much better at 1-2 degrees more. Poor vacationers for the end of July. That global warming is playing havoc.
Plotman	posted 07-30-2014 10:57 AM ET (US) 3 of the 4 Lake Superior buoys still 38-39 degrees. Have warmed a whole degree in 2 weeks!
Hal Watkins	posted 08-07-2014 03:05 PM ET (US) Water temp on the down side at the Soo locks is 59.