Marine forecast
Lake Superior: Upper Entrance–Portage Canal–Manitou I
- current wind
- 9 kt NNW
- Gusts
- 10 kt
- Seas
- 2.6 ft
- Period
- 6 sec
- 72-hr peak
- 35 kt
Observed Tue 2:00 PM | LSZ264
- Gusts now
- 10 kt
- Seas now
- 2.6 ft · 6 sec
- 72-hr peak
- 35 kt
- Peak seas
- 9 ft
In brief
At 2:00 pm CDT on Oct 13, 2026, NDBC station PILM4 (Passage Island, MI, 20 miles away) measured wind from the NNW at 9 kt, gusting to 10 kt; buoy 45023 measured seas of 2.6 ft. The NWS forecast for Lake Superior: Upper Entrance–Portage Canal–Manitou I, MI issued at 9:01 am CDT on Oct 13, 2026 reads, for rest of today: “Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots backing northwest 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 35 kt
Seas forecast · ftPeak 9 ft
NWS marine forecast
| Period | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Rest Of Today | Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots backing northwest late. Waves 3 to 6 feet occasionally to 8 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. |
| Tonight | Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 10 to 20 knots after midnight. Waves subsiding to calm to 2 feet, then building to 2 to 4 feet. |
| Wednesday | Northwest winds 10 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to 15 knots late. 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 5 to 15 knots veering southwest 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. Showers likely through midnight, then a chance of showers after midnight. Waves building to 10 to 14 feet occasionally to 18 feet. |
| Friday | North storm force winds to 60 knots becoming northwest gales to 40 knots. Waves building to 12 to 17 feet occasionally to 21 feet, then subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. |
| Saturday | West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest gales to 35 knots. Waves building to 6 to 9 feet occasionally to 11 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 2:00 PM | 9 kt NNW | 10 kt | — | — |
| Tue 1:00 PM | 8 kt NNW | 9 kt | — | — |
| Tue 12:00 PM | 7 kt NNE | 11 kt | — | — |
| Tue 11:00 AM | 6 kt N | 8 kt | — | — |
| Tue 10:00 AM | 8 kt NNE | 12 kt | — | — |
| Tue 9:00 AM | 12 kt NE | 15 kt | — | — |
| Tue 8:00 AM | 9 kt NE | 12 kt | — | — |
| Tue 7:00 AM | 13 kt NE | 17 kt | — | — |
| Tue 6:00 AM | 12 kt NE | 16 kt | — | — |
| Tue 5:00 AM | 15 kt NE | 18 kt | — | — |
| Tue 4:00 AM | 22 kt ENE | 24 kt | — | — |
| Tue 3:00 AM | 22 kt ENE | 24 kt | — | — |
Observed Tue 2:00 PM at NDBC buoy PILM4 (Passage Island, MI), 19.8 miles away. Seas from buoy 45023 (North Entry Buoy, North Keweenaw Peninsula, MI), 47.2 miles away, at Tue 1:40 PM.
Frequently asked questions
What is the marine forecast for Lake Superior: Upper Entrance–Portage Canal–Manitou I today?
Rest Of Today: Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots backing northwest 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: Upper Entrance–Portage Canal–Manitou I?
No advisories, warnings or watches are in effect for NWS zone LSZ264 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: Upper Entrance–Portage Canal–Manitou I right now?
Seas are running 2.6 ft at a 6-second period, measured at NDBC buoy PILM4 Tue 2:00 PM, 19.8 miles from this zone. The forecast peaks at 9.0 ft Fri 8 AM.
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 LSZ264, 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 PILM4, read Tue 2:00 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.