Lake Michigan water temperatures drop, could pose hypothermia risk

LAKE MICHIGAN - If the sunshine is luring you back to Lake Michigan today, you may want to think again.

The cooler weather and a change in wind direction has dropped Lake Michigan water temperatures by as much as 30 degrees in some locations.  The National Weather Service says that the Ludington buoy which is four miles offshore recorded a water temperature of 41 degrees at midnight. At 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, the water temperature at that location was 73 degrees.

Small craft advisories and beach hazard statements are still in effect for Wednesday for high waves and strong current action making conditions dangerous for swimming.

Temperatures at the shoreline are not expected to rise very quickly after this major cool down. Lake Michigan will remain dangerously cold even through this weekend when conditions away from the lake will once again become hot and humid.

According to T.J. Turnage with the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids, water this cold can take away strength, it can lead to hypothermia, and it can even cause gasping reflexes that sometimes can end in drowning.

To reduce your risk of hypothermia, it is best to avoid long periods of time in Lake Michigan even after the waves subside.

You can always check the latest forecast here.