Marine forecast
Lake Huron: Mackinac–Presque Isle–Border (5+ nm)
- current wind
- 12 kt NW
- Gusts
- 16 kt
- Seas
- 0.7 ft
- Air
- 53°F
- 72-hr peak
- 30 kt
Observed Tue 3:25 PM | LHZ361
- Gusts now
- 16 kt
- Seas now
- 0.7 ft
- Air
- 53°F
- 72-hr peak
- 30 kt
- Peak seas
- 7 ft
In brief
At 3:25 pm EDT on Oct 13, 2026, NDBC station CYGM4 (Cheboygan Marina, MI, 15 miles away) measured wind from the NW at 12 kt, gusting to 16 kt; buoy 45194 measured seas of 0.7 ft. The NWS forecast for Lake Huron: Mackinac–Presque Isle–Border (5+ nm), MI issued at 9:52 am EDT on Oct 13, 2026 reads, for rest of today: “East winds 10 to 15 knots decreasing to 5 to 10 knots early in the afternoon...then backing to the east 5 to 10 knots late in the afternoon. A chance of rain.”
Source: National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac MI forecast; NDBC observations
Wind forecast · ktPeak 30 kt
Seas forecast · ftPeak 7 ft
NWS marine forecast
| Period | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Rest Of Today | East winds 10 to 15 knots decreasing to 5 to 10 knots early in the afternoon...then backing to the east 5 to 10 knots late in the afternoon. A chance of rain. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet in the afternoon. |
| Tonight | Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots increasing to 15 to 20 knots. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet after midnight. |
| Wednesday | Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots. Waves 3 to 5 feet. |
| Wednesday Night | Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming north 10 to 15 knots in the late evening and overnight. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet after midnight. |
| Thursday | East winds 10 to 15 knots decreasing to 5 to 10 knots late in the morning...then veering to the southeast late in the evening. Rain likely late in the afternoon. Rain late in the evening. Waves 1 to 3 feet. |
| Friday | West winds 20 to 25 knots with gusts to 40 knot gales becoming northwest at 40 knot gales with storm force gusts to 50 knots until early evening...then decreasing to 30 knots with gusts to 45 knot gales by midnight. Rain early in the morning. Rain likely in the late morning and early afternoon...then a chance of rain early in the evening. Waves 6 to 9 feet building to 14 to 18 feet. Waves occasionally around 23 feet. A gale warning may be needed. |
| Saturday | Northwest winds 20 to 25 knots with gusts to 35 knot gales becoming west 15 to 20 knots until early evening...then decreasing to 10 to 15 knots by midnight. Waves 8 to 12 feet subsiding to 4 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 15 feet. |
Issued Tue 9:52 AM by Detroit/Pontiac MI (product GLFLH).
Synopsis
Low pressure, 29.60 inches, moves across northern lower Michigan this morning. Departure of this system will then facilitate the passage of a cold front tomorrow morning, bringing breezy northwest flow across northern Lake Huron. LHZ361-362-132200- Lake Huron from 5NM east of Mackinac Bridge to Presque Isle Lt beyond 5 NM off shore- Lake Huron from Presque Isle Light to Sturgeon Point MI beyond 5NM off shore- 952 AM EDT Tue Oct 13 2026
Recent buoy conditions
| Time | Wind | Gust | Seas | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 3:25 PM | 12 kt NW | 16 kt | — | — |
| Tue 2:55 PM | 8 kt NNW | 10 kt | — | — |
| Tue 1:55 PM | 14 kt ENE | 17 kt | — | — |
| Tue 12:55 PM | 12 kt E | 12 kt | — | — |
| Tue 11:55 AM | 0 kt | 5 kt | — | — |
| Tue 10:55 AM | 8 kt ENE | 11 kt | — | — |
| Tue 9:55 AM | 10 kt ESE | 15 kt | — | — |
| Tue 8:55 AM | 10 kt E | 17 kt | — | — |
| Tue 7:55 AM | 16 kt E | 25 kt | — | — |
| Tue 6:55 AM | 23 kt ENE | 30 kt | — | — |
| Tue 5:55 AM | 16 kt E | 25 kt | — | — |
| Tue 4:55 AM | 18 kt NE | 22 kt | — | — |
Observed Tue 3:25 PM at NDBC buoy CYGM4 (Cheboygan Marina, MI), 14.8 miles away. Seas from buoy 45194 (McGulpin Point North, MI (253)), 30.4 miles away, at Tue 3:00 PM.
Frequently asked questions
What is the marine forecast for Lake Huron: Mackinac–Presque Isle–Border (5+ nm) today?
Rest Of Today: East winds 10 to 15 knots decreasing to 5 to 10 knots early in the afternoon...then backing to the east 5 to 10 knots late in the afternoon. A chance of rain. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet in the afternoon.
Is there a small craft advisory for Lake Huron: Mackinac–Presque Isle–Border (5+ nm)?
No advisories, warnings or watches are in effect for NWS zone LHZ361 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 Huron: Mackinac–Presque Isle–Border (5+ nm) right now?
Seas are running 0.7 ft, measured at NDBC buoy CYGM4 Tue 3:25 PM, 14.8 miles from this zone. The forecast peaks at 7.0 ft Fri 1 PM.
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 LHZ361, issued by Detroit/Pontiac 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 GLFLH, issued Tue 9:52 AM. Observations: NOAA National Data Buoy Center station CYGM4, read Tue 3:25 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.