Great Lakes Surface Water Temperatures

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Steady Hand

This video shows satellite photos of Lake Superior for one ice season.

The ice covers the lake completely for several weeks, as shown in the video, with large sections of ice lasting through May.

Nice.

Here’s another data animation from NOAA:

https://www.glerl.noaa.gov//data/ice/historicalAnim/

According to NOAA researchers: "The Great Lakes ice cover data set is relatively short: 1973 to present. However, averaging the ice cover data for each lake for different 20-year time periods does reveal a downward trend in ice cover."

[Padastty]

You asked for anecdotal stories about Great Lakes temperature. I grew up in Bay Village on Erie. Went to college at the University of Georgia. One summer break in August I took my roommate, native of Macon, GA, home with me. The beach was crowded, the water full of girls in bikinis he was excited to dive in. He got about calf deep ran back out and in his southern draw professed “Y’all yankees are idiots. That water is ice cold”

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by Padastty

You asked for anecdotal stories about Great Lakes temperature. I grew up in Bay Village on Erie. Went to college at the University of Georgia. One summer break in August I took my roommate, native of Macon, GA, home with me. The beach was crowded, the water full of girls in bikinis he was excited to dive in. He got about calf deep ran back out and in his southern draw professed “Y’all yankees are idiots. That water is ice cold”

I might have said:

Cold enough to turn one's balls to raisins!


_____

Thanks for sharing your anecdote. I would have felt the same.

[Doug4bass]

UP here on Lake Superior 70s F in August is considered bathwater.

[Zugbug99]

Thank you for the great information!
I just bought a boat at Lake Saint Clair, Michigan. It looks like I will need to get ready for cool water when she launches in Spring!

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Zugbug99

Thank you for the great information!
I just bought a boat at Lake Saint Clair, Michigan. It looks like I will need to get ready for cool water when she launches in Spring!

True, but those lower lakes sure warm up nicely by July. I remember sailing down from Superior into the North Channel one July. Water had been the typical ~6C in Superior. By the time I got to Richard’s Landing I was sweltering.

We were diving in without a care. Water was something like 18C. All the locals thought we were nuts.

[danielamartindm]

Agreed. The Great Lakes are one of the world's most interesting cruising grounds, and Toronto is a great summer destination. I never realized how big the lakes were until I flew over Superior en route to Thunder Bay. At 30,000 feet on a clear day, no shoreline was visible anywhere for a looooong time!

[ArmyDaveNY]

Originally Posted by Steadman Uhlich

If you have any anecdotes about "Cold Water Sailing in the Great Lakes" or 'how cold was it when you were sailing" when sailing on the Great Lakes, please feel free to add them to this thread.

How cold was it? It was so cold that for a change Al Gore had his hands in his own pockets!

[captlloyd]

Originally Posted by ArmyDaveNY

How cold was it? It was so cold that for a change Al Gore had his hands in his own pockets!

I tend to think Al has it right. The growing zone here in Ohio as been raised one level. What would that tell you ?

[30yearslater]

Originally Posted by danielamartindm

Agreed. The Great Lakes are one of the world's most interesting cruising grounds, and Toronto is a great summer destination. I never realized how big the lakes were until I flew over Superior en route to Thunder Bay. At 30,000 feet on a clear day, no shoreline was visible anywhere for a looooong time!

Somebody mention Toronto? Great city to visit and I would recommend staying at Marina Quay West along the wall. Plenty of sights to see as the scantily clad ladies walk the promenade. The Music Garden has regular free concerts and is a favorite place for photo opportunities.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by 30yearslater

Somebody mention Toronto? Great city to visit and I would recommend staying at Marina Quay West along the wall. Plenty of sights to see as the scantily clad ladies walk the promenade. The Music Garden has regular free concerts and is a favorite place for photo opportunities.

Good suggestion. We spent a week anchored (for free!) just past the wall down in the small bay next to Gibraltar lighthouse, close to the water treatment plant. It was actually pretty nice, and not very noisy or busy. Just have to make sure you’re deep enough in to avoid the round-a-bout traffic from all the tour boats that circle Hanlan Island.

[ArmyDaveNY]

Originally Posted by 30yearslater

Somebody mention Toronto? Great city to visit....

Toronto is a lot of fun. If you are by the waterfront, be sure to head up into the heart of Toronto. There is a lot to do there. Among other things, the inner harbour tour (that's harbor for us south of the border!) is very worth while. If you like steak houses, I highly recommend Barbarian's on Elm Street at Yonge Street. In addition to great steaks, they have an amazing wine collection.