Marine forecast
Straits of Mackinac, MI
- current wind
- 7 kt NW
- Gusts
- 11 kt
- Seas
- 0.7 ft
- Air
- 51°F
- Water
- 57°F
Observed Tue 2:54 PM | LHZ345
- Gusts now
- 11 kt
- Seas now
- 0.7 ft
- Air
- 51°F
- Water
- 57°F
- 72-hr peak
- 27 kt
In brief
At 2:54 pm EDT on Oct 13, 2026, NDBC station MACM4 (Mackinaw City, MI, 3 miles away) measured wind from the NW at 7 kt, gusting to 11 kt; buoy 45194 measured seas of 0.7 ft. The NWS forecast for Straits of Mackinac, MI issued at 2:51 pm EDT on Oct 13, 2026 reads, for through early evening: “Northwest wind 10 to 15 knots. Cloudy.”
Source: National Weather Service Gaylord MI forecast; NDBC observations
Wind forecast · ktPeak 27 kt
Seas forecast · ftPeak 2 ft
NWS marine forecast
| Period | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Through Early Evening | Northwest wind 10 to 15 knots. Cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less. |
| Tonight | Northwest wind 10 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less. |
| Wednesday | Northwest wind 10 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less. |
| Wednesday Night | Northeast wind 5 to 10 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less. |
| Thursday | Southeast wind 5 to 10 knots. Chance of showers. Waves 2 feet or less. See the open lakes forecast for days 3 through 5. |
Issued Tue 2:51 PM by Gaylord MI (product NSHAPX).
Recent buoy conditions
| Time | Wind | Gust | Seas | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 2:54 PM | 7 kt NW | 11 kt | — | 57°F |
| Tue 1:54 PM | 9 kt NNE | 10 kt | — | 57°F |
| Tue 12:54 PM | 10 kt NE | 12 kt | — | 56°F |
| Tue 11:54 AM | 11 kt ESE | 13 kt | — | 56°F |
| Tue 10:54 AM | 12 kt ESE | 14 kt | — | 57°F |
| Tue 9:54 AM | 12 kt SE | 17 kt | — | 57°F |
| Tue 8:54 AM | 17 kt ESE | 20 kt | — | 57°F |
| Tue 7:54 AM | 17 kt ESE | 19 kt | — | 57°F |
| Tue 6:54 AM | 16 kt E | 19 kt | — | 57°F |
| Tue 5:54 AM | 15 kt E | 20 kt | — | 57°F |
| Tue 4:54 AM | 18 kt ESE | 21 kt | — | 57°F |
| Tue 3:54 AM | 20 kt E | 23 kt | — | 57°F |
Observed Tue 2:54 PM at NDBC buoy MACM4 (Mackinaw City, MI), 2.7 miles away. Seas from buoy 45194 (McGulpin Point North, MI (253)), 2.6 miles away, at Tue 3:00 PM.
Frequently asked questions
What is the marine forecast for Straits of Mackinac today?
Through Early Evening: Northwest wind 10 to 15 knots. Cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.
Is there a small craft advisory for Straits of Mackinac?
No advisories, warnings or watches are in effect for NWS zone LHZ345 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 Straits of Mackinac right now?
Seas are running 0.7 ft, measured at NDBC buoy MACM4 Tue 2:54 PM, 2.7 miles from this zone. The forecast peaks at 2.0 ft Fri 5 AM.
What is the water temperature at Straits of Mackinac?
The nearest buoy read 57°F (14°C) at Tue 2:54 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 LHZ345, issued by Gaylord 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 NSHAPX, issued Tue 2:51 PM. Observations: NOAA National Data Buoy Center station MACM4, read Tue 2:54 PM. Retrieved Oct 13, 3:42 PM. Conditions offshore change faster than any page can be rebuilt, so check the current NWS bulletin and your own instruments before going out.