Marine forecast
Michigan Waters of Lake Erie: Detroit River–North Cape
- current wind
- 14 kt S
- Gusts
- 19 kt
- Seas
- 1.6 ft
- Period
- 2 sec
- Air
- 80°F
Observed Tue 3:10 PM | LEZ444
- Gusts now
- 19 kt
- Seas now
- 1.6 ft · 2 sec
- Air
- 80°F
- Water
- 64°F
- 72-hr peak
- 24 kt
In brief
At 3:10 pm EDT on Oct 13, 2026, NDBC station 45165 (Toledo Water Intake Buoy, Oregon, OH, 12 miles away) measured wind from the S at 14 kt, gusting to 19 kt, with seas of 1.6 ft. The NWS forecast for Michigan Waters of Lake Erie: Detroit River–North Cape, MI issued at 9:53 am EDT on Oct 13, 2026 reads, for rest of today: “Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots. Sunny.”
Source: National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac MI forecast; NDBC observations
Wind forecast · ktPeak 24 kt
Seas forecast · ftPeak 2 ft
NWS marine forecast
| Period | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Rest Of Today | Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots. Sunny. Waves 1 to 3 feet. |
| Tonight | West winds 10 to 15 knots becoming light and variable. Mostly clear. A chance of light rain and a slight chance of thunderstorms after midnight. Waves 2 feet or less. |
| Wednesday | Light and variable winds becoming north 5 to 10 knots in the late morning and afternoon. Mostly cloudy becoming partly cloudy in the late morning and early afternoon becoming mostly cloudy. A chance of light rain and a slight chance of thunderstorms early in the morning, then a chance of light rain in the late morning and early afternoon. Waves 2 feet or less. |
| Wednesday Night | Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to 20 knots in the late evening and overnight. Partly cloudy early in the evening becoming mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet. See Lake Erie Open Lake Forecast for days 3 through 5. The water temperature at Belle Isle is 65 degrees. |
Issued Tue 9:53 AM by Detroit/Pontiac MI (product NSHDTX).
Recent buoy conditions
| Time | Wind | Gust | Seas | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 3:10 PM | 14 kt S | 19 kt | 1.6 ft | 64°F |
| Tue 2:50 PM | 16 kt SSW | 21 kt | 1.3 ft | 64°F |
| Tue 1:50 PM | 14 kt SSW | 21 kt | 1.6 ft | 64°F |
| Tue 12:50 PM | 14 kt S | 21 kt | 1.3 ft | 64°F |
| Tue 11:50 AM | 16 kt S | 21 kt | 1.6 ft | 64°F |
| Tue 10:50 AM | 16 kt S | 21 kt | 1.6 ft | 64°F |
| Tue 9:50 AM | 16 kt S | 23 kt | 1.3 ft | 63°F |
| Tue 8:50 AM | 14 kt S | 18 kt | 1.0 ft | 63°F |
| Tue 7:50 AM | 14 kt S | 18 kt | 1.3 ft | 63°F |
| Tue 6:50 AM | 16 kt S | 19 kt | 1.0 ft | 63°F |
| Tue 5:50 AM | 14 kt S | 18 kt | 1.0 ft | 63°F |
| Tue 4:50 AM | 12 kt S | 18 kt | 1.3 ft | 63°F |
Observed Tue 3:10 PM at NDBC buoy 45165 (Toledo Water Intake Buoy, Oregon, OH), 11.8 miles away.
Frequently asked questions
What is the marine forecast for Michigan Waters of Lake Erie: Detroit River–North Cape today?
Rest Of Today: Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots. Sunny. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
Is there a small craft advisory for Michigan Waters of Lake Erie: Detroit River–North Cape?
No advisories, warnings or watches are in effect for NWS zone LEZ444 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 Michigan Waters of Lake Erie: Detroit River–North Cape right now?
Seas are running 1.6 ft at a 2-second period, measured at NDBC buoy 45165 Tue 3:10 PM, 11.8 miles from this zone. The forecast peaks at 2.0 ft Fri 2 PM.
What is the water temperature at Michigan Waters of Lake Erie: Detroit River–North Cape?
The nearest buoy read 64°F (18°C) at Tue 3:10 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 LEZ444, 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 NSHDTX, issued Tue 9:53 AM. Observations: NOAA National Data Buoy Center station 45165, read Tue 3:10 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.