Swimming at Traverse City Beach today
Traverse City, Michigan
Updated 4:00 AM EDT
What decides a swimming score
Before you swim
At 60°F the water is cold enough that unprotected swimmers risk cold-water shock.
Swim near a staffed lifeguard tower, and check the National Weather Service surf-zone forecast for the official rip-current outlook — we report conditions, we don't forecast rip currents.
Better nearby for swimming
Traverse City Beach is also scored for
About Traverse City Beach
Traverse City Beach sits on Lake Michigan, where the water runs from about 38°F in February to 72°F in August.
The water averages above 70°F in July and August — 2 months of the year — peaking around 72°F in August and dropping to about 38°F in February.
Today it is 60°F. That is right on the October average of 60°F for this beach.
Frequently asked questions
Is Traverse City Beach good for swimming today?
Poor for swimming — we score it 50 out of 100 today. The limiting factor is water temperature at 60°F.
What makes a good swimming day?
We weight water temperature (40%), uv exposure (15%), air comfort (12%) and combine them into one score. Conditions we cannot read are left out rather than guessed.
When is the best time of year to swim at Traverse City Beach?
The water averages above 70°F in July and August — 2 months of the year — peaking around 72°F in August and dropping to about 38°F in February.