Marine forecast
Lake Superior: Saxon Harbor–Portage Canal, MI
- current wind
- 6 kt N
- Gusts
- 10 kt
- Seas
- 2.6 ft
- Period
- 6 sec
- Air
- 46°F
Observed Tue 1:40 PM | LSZ263
- Gusts now
- 10 kt
- Seas now
- 2.6 ft · 6 sec
- Air
- 46°F
- Water
- 43°F
- 72-hr peak
- 33 kt
In brief
At 1:40 pm CDT on Oct 13, 2026, NDBC station 45023 (North Entry Buoy, North Keweenaw Peninsula, MI, 41 miles away) measured wind from the N at 6 kt, gusting to 10 kt, with seas of 2.6 ft. The NWS forecast for Lake Superior: Saxon Harbor–Portage Canal, MI issued at 9:01 am CDT on Oct 13, 2026 reads, for rest of today: “North winds 5 to 15 knots backing west late. Waves 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.”
Source: National Weather Service Marquette MI forecast; NDBC observations
Wind forecast · ktPeak 33 kt
Seas forecast · ftPeak 6 ft
NWS marine forecast
| Period | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Rest Of Today | North winds 5 to 15 knots backing west late. Waves 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. |
| Tonight | West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest 10 to 20 knots after midnight. Waves subsiding to calm to 2 feet, then building to 1 to 3 feet. |
| Wednesday | Northwest winds 10 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to 15 knots in the afternoon. Waves subsiding to calm to 2 feet. |
| Wednesday Night | North winds 5 to 15 knots veering southeast after midnight. Waves calm to 2 feet. |
| Thursday | South winds 10 to 20 knots becoming southwest 15 to 25 knots by mid afternoon. A slight chance of showers by mid afternoon. Waves calm to 2 feet. |
| Thursday Night | West winds 20 to 30 knots becoming northwest gales to 45 knots after midnight. A chance of showers. Waves building to 10 to 14 feet occasionally to 18 feet. |
| Friday | Northwest gales to 45 knots diminishing to 20 to 30 knots. Waves building to 11 to 15 feet occasionally to 19 feet, then subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. |
| Saturday | Southwest winds 20 to 30 knots increasing to gales to 40 knots. Waves building to 7 to 10 feet occasionally to 13 feet. |
Issued Tue 9:01 AM by Marquette MI (product GLFLS).
Synopsis
Lake Superior remains situated between a 29.6 inch low over Wisconsin and a 30.2 inch high over Quebec. Ridging dominates over Lake Superior midweek as the low marches east and high pressure of 30.2 inches builds over the Dakotas by Wednesday afternoon. The high further builds to 30.3 inches over Lake Superior Wednesday night while a 29.9 inch low develops over Saskatchewan. By Thursday evening, this low weakens to 29.9 inches over northern Ontario as the high moves to New England, then the low rapidly deepens into Friday while tracking towards New England. Meanwhile, 30.6 inch high pressure expands across the Plains for Friday. Pressure increases rapidly over the Upper Great Lakes Friday afternoon into Saturday, reaching 30.4 inches by Saturday morning, then decreasing to 30.0 inches by Saturday night as the high collapses southeast. LSZ162-132000- Lake Superior west of a line from Saxon Harbor WI to Grand Portage MN beyond 5NM- 1001 AM EDT Tue Oct 13 2026 /901 AM CDT Tue Oct 13 2026/
Recent buoy conditions
| Time | Wind | Gust | Seas | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 1:40 PM | 6 kt N | 10 kt | 2.6 ft | 43°F |
| Tue 12:40 PM | 8 kt NNE | 12 kt | 2.6 ft | 42°F |
| Tue 11:40 AM | 6 kt ENE | 8 kt | 3.0 ft | 43°F |
| Tue 10:40 AM | 6 kt ENE | 8 kt | 3.0 ft | 43°F |
| Tue 9:40 AM | 6 kt ENE | 8 kt | 3.0 ft | 43°F |
| Tue 8:40 AM | 12 kt E | 14 kt | 3.0 ft | 43°F |
| Tue 7:40 AM | 16 kt E | 21 kt | 3.3 ft | 44°F |
| Tue 6:40 AM | 16 kt E | 19 kt | 3.6 ft | 44°F |
| Tue 5:40 AM | 18 kt E | 23 kt | 3.9 ft | 45°F |
| Tue 4:40 AM | 14 kt E | 18 kt | 3.6 ft | 46°F |
| Tue 3:40 AM | 12 kt E | 16 kt | 3.9 ft | 47°F |
| Tue 2:40 AM | 12 kt E | 16 kt | 3.9 ft | 46°F |
Observed Tue 1:40 PM at NDBC buoy 45023 (North Entry Buoy, North Keweenaw Peninsula, MI), 40.8 miles away.
Frequently asked questions
What is the marine forecast for Lake Superior: Saxon Harbor–Portage Canal today?
Rest Of Today: North winds 5 to 15 knots backing west late. Waves 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
Is there a small craft advisory for Lake Superior: Saxon Harbor–Portage Canal?
No advisories, warnings or watches are in effect for NWS zone LSZ263 as of the last update on this page. Advisories can be issued at any time; check the current bulletin before leaving the dock.
How high are the waves at Lake Superior: Saxon Harbor–Portage Canal right now?
Seas are running 2.6 ft at a 6-second period, measured at NDBC buoy 45023 Tue 1:40 PM, 40.8 miles from this zone. The forecast peaks at 5.0 ft Fri 7 AM.
What is the water temperature at Lake Superior: Saxon Harbor–Portage Canal?
The nearest buoy read 43°F (6°C) at Tue 1:40 PM. Sea surface temperature at a single buoy can differ by several degrees from the water at a beach or in a shallow bay nearby.
What do the wind speeds in knots mean?
One knot is 1.15 mph. The National Weather Service issues a small craft advisory for sustained winds of roughly 22–33 knots or hazardous seas, a gale warning at 34–47 knots, and a storm warning at 48 knots and above. Exact advisory thresholds vary by forecast office and by water body — a bay reaches dangerous chop at a lower wind speed than open ocean.
Where does this forecast come from?
The forecast text is the National Weather Service's own marine bulletin for zone LSZ263, issued by Marquette MI, reproduced in full. The wind and seas charts are drawn from the NWS gridded forecast for a point inside the zone. Observations come from the nearest reporting NDBC buoy. We are not affiliated with NOAA or the National Weather Service.
Forecast: NOAA/NWS product GLFLS, issued Tue 9:01 AM. Observations: NOAA National Data Buoy Center station 45023, read Tue 1:40 PM. Retrieved Oct 13, 2:42 PM. Conditions offshore change faster than any page can be rebuilt, so check the current NWS bulletin and your own instruments before going out.