Traverse City Beach Water Temperature
Lake Michigan surface temperature at Traverse City Beach, Michigan · times in EDT
Updated 4:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Oct 13 | 64° / 53° | 2 | 86% |
| Wed, Oct 14 | 53° / 51° | 2 | 13% |
| Thu, Oct 15 | 58° / 45° | 2 | 65% |
| Fri, Oct 16 | 52° / 42° | 2 | 70% |
| Sat, Oct 17 | 49° / 37° | 4 | 14% |
| Sun, Oct 18 | 60° / 43° | 3 | 2% |
| Mon, Oct 19 | 62° / 55° | 3 | 7% |
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 Traverse City Beach warm enough to swim?
At 60°F, the water at Traverse City Beach is chilly — wetsuit recommended. 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 right on the October average of 60°F for this 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.
Frequently asked questions
How warm is the water at Traverse City Beach right now?
The Lake Michigan surface temperature is about 60°F, from NOAA’s daily satellite analysis. That is right on the October average of 60°F for this beach.
When is the water warm enough 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.
What is the warmest the water gets at Traverse City Beach?
Around 72°F in August, based on 2023–2025 records. The coolest month is February at roughly 38°F.