Sleeping Bear Dunes Beach Water Temperature
Lake Michigan surface temperature at Sleeping Bear Dunes Beach, Michigan · times in EDT
Updated 7:03 AM EDT
How it compares today
Water temperature through the year
Monthly normals computed from 2023–2025 daily GLSEA satellite surface temperature history.
Nearby water right now
7-day outlook
| Day | Air high / low | Max UV | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Aug 28 | 72° / 50° | 6 | 3% |
| Sat, Aug 29 | 77° / 62° | 6 | 41% |
| Sun, Aug 30 | 79° / 65° | 4 | 53% |
| Mon, Aug 31 | 80° / 66° | 5 | 32% |
| Tue, Sep 1 | 86° / 66° | 6 | 35% |
| Wed, Sep 2 | 78° / 66° | 5 | 12% |
| Thu, Sep 3 | 72° / 60° | 5 | 15% |
Water temperature from the NOAA GLERL Great Lakes Surface Environmental Analysis (satellite, updated daily); waves from the Open-Meteo marine model; weather from Open-Meteo.
Is Sleeping Bear Dunes Beach warm enough to swim?
At 68°F, the water at Sleeping Bear Dunes Beach is cool but swimmable. Most swimmers are comfortable without a wetsuit above 72°F; below 62°F, cold-water shock becomes a real risk for unprotected swimmers.
That is 1° below the August average of 69°F here.
The water here never averages above 70°F — even in August, the warmest month, it sits around 69°F. Most people wear a wetsuit.
Frequently asked questions
How warm is the water at Sleeping Bear Dunes Beach right now?
The Lake Michigan surface temperature is about 68°F, from NOAA’s daily satellite analysis. That is 1° below the August average of 69°F here.
When is the water warm enough to swim at Sleeping Bear Dunes Beach?
The water here never averages above 70°F — even in August, the warmest month, it sits around 69°F. Most people wear a wetsuit.
What is the warmest the water gets at Sleeping Bear Dunes Beach?
Around 69°F in August, based on 2023–2025 records. The coolest month is February at roughly 36°F.