Michigan Lake Water Temperatures
Typical surface water temperatures for 185 Michigan lakes. Lake George; Central Deep Basin; Lincoln Township runs warmest (~79°F in summer); the statewide summer average is about 65°F. Values are typical by month, not live readings.
185
Lakes with a temperature record
65°F
Typical summer average
79°F
Warmest: Lake George; Central Deep Basin; Lincoln Township
Michigan lakes by typical summer water temperature (warmest first)
| Lake | County | Summer avg | Warmest | Coldest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake George; Central Deep Basin; Lincoln Township | Clare | 79°F | 81°F (Aug) | 36°F (Mar) |
| Thread Lake Central Basin | Genesee | 78°F | 81°F (Jul) | 69°F (May) |
| Lake Victoria | Clinton | 77°F | 80°F (Aug) | 71°F (May) |
| Palmer Lake Central Basin; Colon Township | St. Joseph | 77°F | 85°F (Jul) | 50°F (Apr) |
| Star Lake; Norman Twp | Manistee | 77°F | 80°F (Aug) | 67°F (May) |
| Shell Lake | Leelanau | 76°F | 78°F (Jul) | 70°F (Sep) |
| Lily Lake North Central Basin; Greenwood Township | Clare | 76°F | 80°F (May) | 73°F (Sep) |
| Susan Lake | Charlevoix | 76°F | 76°F (Jul) | 39°F (Feb) |
| Larks Lake | Emmet | 76°F | 76°F (Jul) | 39°F (Feb) |
| Twilight Lake | Schoolcraft | 76°F | 76°F (Jul) | 67°F (Sep) |
| Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township | Lake | 75°F | 76°F (Jul) | 63°F (May) |
| Grass Lake | Gladwin | 75°F | 77°F (Jun) | 61°F (May) |
| Little Platte Lake North Basin | Benzie | 75°F | 76°F (Jul) | 71°F (May) |
| Round Lake | Emmet | 75°F | 75°F (Jul) | 41°F (Feb) |
| Big Island Lake | Schoolcraft | 75°F | 75°F (Jul) | 63°F (Sep) |
| Lake Ovid North Basin; Ovid Township | Clinton | 74°F | 77°F (Aug) | 64°F (May) |
| Upper Long Lake Northwest Basin; Bloomfield Township | Oakland | 74°F | 78°F (Aug) | 62°F (May) |
| Wakeley Lake; Central Basin; Grayling Township | Crawford | 74°F | 75°F (Jul) | 66°F (May) |
| Spring Lake | Emmet | 74°F | 74°F (Jul) | 38°F (Feb) |
| Lancelot Lake Southwest Basin | Gladwin | 73°F | 75°F (Aug) | 62°F (May) |
| Stanley Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township | Iron | 73°F | 73°F (Jul) | 68°F (Sep) |
| Cub Lake Central Basin | Kalkaska | 73°F | 74°F (Jul) | 72°F (Jun) |
| Wycamp Lake | Emmet | 73°F | 73°F (Jul) | 35°F (Feb) |
| Fishers Lake North Central Basin; Park Township | St. Joseph | 72°F | 74°F (Jul) | 52°F (Apr) |
| Eagle Lake West Central Basin; Ontwa Township | Cass | 72°F | 74°F (Jul) | 62°F (May) |
| Bass Lake | Leelanau | 72°F | 74°F (Jul) | 69°F (Jun) |
| Florence Lake | Leelanau | 72°F | 74°F (Jul) | 68°F (Jun) |
| Trapper'S Lake | Alger | 72°F | 75°F (Jul) | 70°F (Jun) |
| Rennie Lake; Central Basin; East Bay Township | Grand Traverse | 72°F | 75°F (Aug) | 56°F (May) |
| Gun Lake Central Basin; Freesoil Township | Mason | 72°F | 76°F (Aug) | 66°F (Jun) |
| Otter Lake | Benzie | 72°F | 75°F (Aug) | 62°F (May) |
| Jewell Lake West Basin | Alcona | 72°F | 73°F (Aug) | 69°F (Sep) |
| Lower Hamlin Lake North Central Basin South of the Narrows | Mason | 71°F | 74°F (Aug) | 57°F (May) |
| Gage Lake | Cass | 71°F | 73°F (Aug) | 39°F (Feb) |
| Manistee North Lake | Manistee | 71°F | 73°F (Jul) | 34°F (Feb) |
| Lancer Lake Southeast | Gladwin | 71°F | 73°F (Aug) | 58°F (May) |
| Lake Harvey | Keweenaw | 71°F | 74°F (Jul) | 67°F (Jun) |
| Triangle Lake | Livingston | 71°F | 74°F (Aug) | 61°F (May) |
| Back Bay Lake | Chippewa | 71°F | 74°F (Jul) | 32°F (Jan) |
| Smoky Lake | Iron | 71°F | 74°F (Jul) | 33°F (Feb) |
| Upper Herring Lake; Central Basin; Blaine Township | Benzie | 71°F | 73°F (Aug) | 57°F (May) |
| Round Lake | Benzie | 71°F | 76°F (Aug) | 58°F (May) |
| Turtle Lake South Basin; Inland Township | Benzie | 71°F | 75°F (Aug) | 60°F (May) |
| Fox Lake | Charlevoix | 71°F | 72°F (Jul) | 70°F (Aug) |
| Little Long Lake Central Basin; Prairieville Township | Barry | 70°F | 73°F (Aug) | 60°F (May) |
| Boot Lake | Kalamazoo | 70°F | 72°F (Jul) | 37°F (Jan) |
| Upper Hamlin Lake West Basin East of the Narrows | Mason | 70°F | 72°F (Aug) | 59°F (May) |
| Rodgers Lake | Cass | 70°F | 71°F (Jul) | 45°F (Nov) |
| Spectacle Lake | Chippewa | 70°F | 71°F (Jul) | 35°F (Feb) |
| Perch Lake Central Basin; Bates Township | Iron | 70°F | 72°F (Jul) | 56°F (May) |
| Big Bateau Lake | Gogebic | 70°F | 77°F (Jul) | 63°F (Jun) |
| Manistee Lake South | Manistee | 69°F | 71°F (Aug) | 34°F (Feb) |
| Tippy Pond Pine Arm | Manistee | 69°F | 71°F (Jul) | 33°F (Feb) |
| Earl Lake Central Basin | Livingston | 69°F | 71°F (Aug) | 59°F (May) |
| Lake Ahmik | Keweenaw | 69°F | 71°F (Jul) | 54°F (May) |
| Feldtmann Lake | Keweenaw | 69°F | 71°F (Jul) | 49°F (May) |
| Lake George | Keweenaw | 69°F | 73°F (Jul) | 65°F (Jun) |
| Chickenbone Lake | Keweenaw | 69°F | 72°F (Aug) | 65°F (Jun) |
| Rose Lake | Shiawassee | 69°F | 71°F (Aug) | 59°F (May) |
| Lake Charlevoix | Charlevoix | 69°F | 69°F (Jul) | 34°F (Feb) |
| Moore Lake | Allegan | 68°F | 69°F (Jul) | 45°F (Mar) |
| Indian Lake | Kalamazoo | 68°F | 70°F (Jul) | 38°F (Jan) |
| Beaver Lake | Alger | 68°F | 69°F (Jul) | 65°F (Jun) |
| North Bar Lake | Leelanau | 68°F | 70°F (Jul) | 58°F (Oct) |
| Beaver Lake | Keweenaw | 68°F | 70°F (Aug) | 49°F (May) |
| South Pond | Chippewa | 68°F | 70°F (Jul) | 35°F (Feb) |
| Lake Gogebic; North Deep Basin; Bergland Township | Ontonagon | 68°F | 72°F (Jul) | 43°F (May) |
| Lake Gogebic; South Deep Basin; Marenisco Township | Gogebic | 68°F | 72°F (Aug) | 44°F (May) |
| Flint Park Lake | Genesee | 68°F | 73°F (Aug) | 59°F (Jun) |
| Langford Lake; Deepest Basin; Watersmeet Township | Gogebic | 68°F | 70°F (Jul) | 63°F (Sep) |
| Hidden Lake | Keweenaw | 68°F | 70°F (Aug) | 54°F (May) |
| Devils Head Lake | Gogebic | 68°F | 75°F (Jul) | 61°F (Jun) |
| Cobb Lake Central Basin | Barry | 67°F | 70°F (Aug) | 57°F (May) |
| Tippy Pond Manistee Arm | Manistee | 67°F | 69°F (Jul) | 46°F (Apr) |
| White Lake Middle Basin; Fruitland Township | Muskegon | 67°F | 69°F (Jul) | 60°F (May) |
| Chippewa Lake Northeast Basin; Chippewa Township | Mecosta | 67°F | 68°F (Jul) | 58°F (May) |
| Ingerson Lake | Allegan | 67°F | 68°F (Jul) | 39°F (Jan) |
| Arbutus Lake South Central Basin | Grand Traverse | 67°F | 69°F (Jul) | 56°F (May) |
| Pleasant Lake Northwest Basin; Freedom Township | Washtenaw | 67°F | 70°F (Aug) | 61°F (May) |
| Pearl Lake Central Basin | Benzie | 67°F | 69°F (Aug) | 54°F (May) |
| Spider Lake West Basin | Grand Traverse | 67°F | 71°F (Aug) | 56°F (May) |
| Perch Lake | Otsego | 67°F | 72°F (Aug) | 56°F (May) |
| Tie Lake; Deep Basin; Munising Township | Alger | 67°F | 71°F (Aug) | 55°F (May) |
| Lake Whittlesey | Keweenaw | 67°F | 70°F (Jul) | 62°F (Jun) |
| Crooked Lake | Emmet | 67°F | 67°F (Jul) | 38°F (Feb) |
| Pleasant Lake Central Basin; Freedom Township | Washtenaw | 67°F | 71°F (Aug) | 60°F (Jun) |
| Lake Leelanau; South Basin; Center of Deepest Basin; Bingham Township | Leelanau | 66°F | 68°F (Aug) | 59°F (May) |
| Tippy Pond by Dam | Manistee | 66°F | 68°F (Aug) | 33°F (Feb) |
| Christiana Lake Central Basin; Ontwa Township | Cass | 66°F | 68°F (Aug) | 57°F (May) |
| Sassafras Lake | Van Buren | 66°F | 69°F (Aug) | 47°F (Mar) |
| Juno Lake Central Basin; Mason Township | Cass | 66°F | 69°F (Aug) | 58°F (May) |
| Farewell Lake West Basin; Hanover Township | Jackson | 66°F | 70°F (Sep) | 60°F (May) |
| Back Bay Waiskey River Lake | Chippewa | 66°F | 70°F (Jul) | 32°F (Feb) |
| Community College Pond | Chippewa | 66°F | 69°F (Jul) | 35°F (Feb) |
| Lower Woodcock Lake; Almira Twp | Benzie | 66°F | 69°F (Aug) | 55°F (May) |
| Manitou Lake | Leelanau | 65°F | 66°F (Jul) | 62°F (Jun) |
| Little Beaver Lake | Alger | 65°F | 67°F (Jul) | 62°F (Jun) |
| Shingle Lake South Basin; Lincoln Township | Clare | 65°F | 67°F (Aug) | 36°F (Mar) |
| Big Bass Lake North Basin; Elk Township | Lake | 65°F | 68°F (Sep) | 57°F (May) |
| Rose Lake East Basin; Rose Lake Township | Osceola | 65°F | 68°F (Aug) | 55°F (May) |
| Monocle Lake | Chippewa | 65°F | 68°F (Jul) | 35°F (Feb) |
| Lake Lansing Northwest Basin; Meridian Township | Ingham | 65°F | 68°F (Aug) | 56°F (May) |
| Lime Lake | Benzie | 65°F | 68°F (Aug) | 55°F (May) |
| Lake Richie | Keweenaw | 64°F | 66°F (Aug) | 51°F (May) |
| Long Lake North Central Basin; Long Lake Township | Grand Traverse | 64°F | 66°F (Jul) | 53°F (May) |
| Silver Lake | Washtenaw | 64°F | 66°F (Aug) | 57°F (May) |
| Stony Lake | Oceana | 64°F | 66°F (Aug) | 56°F (May) |
| Portage Lake Southwest Basin; Mendon Township | St. Joseph | 64°F | 65°F (Jul) | 58°F (May) |
| Black Lake Southwest Basin; Grant Township | Cheboygan | 64°F | 69°F (Aug) | 53°F (May) |
| Big Maggie Lake; Mastodon Township | Iron | 64°F | 67°F (Aug) | 55°F (May) |
| Sand Lake Central Basin; Cambridge Township | Lenawee | 63°F | 65°F (Aug) | 58°F (May) |
| Pentwater Lake Northwest Basin; Pentwater Township | Oceana | 63°F | 66°F (Aug) | 50°F (Apr) |
| Back Bay Deep Lake | Chippewa | 63°F | 68°F (Aug) | 32°F (Jan) |
| Long Lake South Central Basin | Cass | 63°F | 65°F (Sep) | 55°F (May) |
| Devils Lake Central Basin North | Lenawee | 62°F | 64°F (Aug) | 55°F (May) |
| Lake Desor | Keweenaw | 62°F | 66°F (Sep) | 45°F (May) |
| Bear Lake Southeast Basin | Kalkaska | 62°F | 66°F (Aug) | 53°F (May) |
| Barton Lake West Basin; Schoolcraft Township | Kalamazoo | 62°F | 63°F (Jul) | 54°F (May) |
| Little Bass Lake | Lake | 62°F | 65°F (Aug) | 52°F (May) |
| Sanford Lake | Benzie | 62°F | 64°F (Aug) | 54°F (May) |
| Higgins Lake East Basin | Roscommon | 61°F | 64°F (Aug) | 50°F (May) |
| Round Lake Central Basin | Lenawee | 61°F | 62°F (Jul) | 42°F (Mar) |
| Hubbard Lake Central Basin | Alcona | 61°F | 63°F (Jul) | 51°F (May) |
| Sargent Lake | Keweenaw | 61°F | 62°F (Jul) | 47°F (May) |
| Legion Lake | Alger | 61°F | 63°F (Aug) | 57°F (Jun) |
| North Pond | Chippewa | 61°F | 65°F (Aug) | 45°F (Feb) |
| Sugar Island Lake | Chippewa | 61°F | 68°F (Aug) | 44°F (Apr) |
| Twin Lakes; Grayling Twp | Crawford | 61°F | 65°F (Aug) | 50°F (May) |
| Higgins Lake Northwest Basin | Roscommon | 60°F | 64°F (Aug) | 49°F (May) |
| Saint Mary'S River Shore Lake | Chippewa | 60°F | 65°F (Aug) | 47°F (May) |
| Whitefish Lake Southeast Basin; Pierson Township | Montcalm | 60°F | 62°F (Sep) | 54°F (May) |
| Horsehead Lake Northwest Basin; Martiny Township | Mecosta | 60°F | 62°F (Aug) | 56°F (May) |
| Baldwin Lake Northwest Basin | Cass | 60°F | 62°F (Aug) | 54°F (May) |
| Oneida Lake East Central Basin | Livingston | 60°F | 62°F (Aug) | 54°F (May) |
| Round Lake | Shiawassee | 60°F | 62°F (Aug) | 53°F (May) |
| West Maggie Lake; Mastodon Township | Iron | 60°F | 63°F (Aug) | 54°F (May) |
| Little Traverse Bay Lake | Charlevoix | 60°F | 60°F (Jul) | 43°F (May) |
| Grand Sable Lake | Alger | 59°F | 61°F (Aug) | 48°F (May) |
| Duck Lake; Center of Deepest Basin; Fruitland Township | Muskegon | 59°F | 60°F (Aug) | 51°F (Apr) |
| North Lake North Central Basin; Dexter Township | Washtenaw | 59°F | 61°F (Aug) | 51°F (Apr) |
| Loon Lake | Benzie | 59°F | 60°F (Jul) | 58°F (Jun) |
| Lakeville Lake Central Basin | Oakland | 59°F | 60°F (Jul) | 53°F (May) |
| Miners Lake | Alger | 59°F | 61°F (Jul) | 56°F (Jun) |
| Lake Diane South Basin; Amboy Township | Hillsdale | 59°F | 60°F (Jul) | 53°F (May) |
| Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw Township | Van Buren | 59°F | 65°F (Sep) | 53°F (Jun) |
| Saint Mary'S River Offshore Lake | Chippewa | 59°F | 67°F (Aug) | 44°F (May) |
| Whitefish Bay Shore Lake | Chippewa | 59°F | 66°F (Aug) | 44°F (May) |
| Sylvan Lake; Sylvan Lake Township | Oakland | 59°F | 60°F (Aug) | 54°F (May) |
| Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township | Benzie | 59°F | 64°F (Sep) | 55°F (May) |
| Indian Lake Central Basin; Brady Township | Kalamazoo | 58°F | 59°F (Aug) | 50°F (Apr) |
| Lake Leelanau; North Basin | Leelanau | 58°F | 61°F (Aug) | 49°F (May) |
| Stony Lake West Basin North | Oceana | 58°F | 59°F (Jul) | 52°F (May) |
| Rose Lake North Basin; Ovid Township | Branch | 58°F | 63°F (Sep) | 41°F (Mar) |
| Corey Lake Southeastern Basin; Fabius Township | St. Joseph | 57°F | 58°F (Aug) | 45°F (Apr) |
| Eagle Lake North Central Basin | Allegan | 57°F | 59°F (Aug) | 53°F (May) |
| Otter Lake North Basin; Waterford Township | Oakland | 57°F | 59°F (Aug) | 51°F (May) |
| Loon Lake; Lake Twp | Benzie | 57°F | 59°F (Aug) | 51°F (May) |
| Beaver Lake Central Basin; Ossineke Township | Alpena | 57°F | 58°F (Jul) | 41°F (Mar) |
| Ransom Lake | Benzie | 57°F | 58°F (Jul) | 52°F (May) |
| Base Line Lake Northeast Basin; Hamburg Township | Livingston | 57°F | 58°F (Sep) | 57°F (Jun) |
| Twin Lakes | Oakland | 56°F | 57°F (Aug) | 50°F (May) |
| Au Sable Lake East Central Basin,Goodar Township | Ogemaw | 56°F | 57°F (Aug) | 51°F (May) |
| Little Traverse Bay Lake | Emmet | 56°F | 57°F (Oct) | 41°F (May) |
| Birch Lake Central Basin; Porter Township | Cass | 55°F | 56°F (Aug) | 50°F (May) |
| Murray Lake East Basin; Grattan Township | Kent | 55°F | 56°F (Aug) | 48°F (May) |
| Crystal Lake | Hillsdale | 55°F | 56°F (Aug) | 51°F (May) |
| Crockery Lake Southwest Basin; Chester Township | Ottawa | 55°F | 57°F (Aug) | 52°F (May) |
| Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township | Montcalm | 55°F | 57°F (Sep) | 49°F (May) |
| Betsie River Lake | Benzie | 55°F | 66°F (Sep) | 51°F (Aug) |
| Mohawk Lake | Oakland | 54°F | 56°F (Aug) | 49°F (May) |
| Kimball Lake Central Basin; Garfield Township | Newaygo | 54°F | 56°F (Sep) | 50°F (May) |
| Coldwater Lake Southeast Basin; Nottawa Township | Isabella | 54°F | 56°F (Aug) | 51°F (May) |
| Windover Lake South Basin; Freeman Township | Clare | 54°F | 56°F (Aug) | 50°F (May) |
| Woods Lake Northeast Central Basin; Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo | 54°F | 57°F (Aug) | 45°F (Apr) |
| Lake View; Almira Twp | Benzie | 54°F | 56°F (Aug) | 48°F (May) |
| Upper Woodcock Lake; Almira Twp | Benzie | 54°F | 56°F (Aug) | 48°F (May) |
| Ore Lake West Basin; Hamburg Township | Livingston | 53°F | 56°F (Sep) | 50°F (May) |
| Lake Twenty East Basin | Gladwin | 53°F | 55°F (Sep) | 47°F (May) |
| High Lake Central Basin; Aloma Township | Kent | 53°F | 55°F (Aug) | 51°F (Jun) |
| Siskiwit Lake | Keweenaw | 52°F | 55°F (Aug) | 49°F (Jun) |
| Scram Lake East Basin; Oakfield Township | Kent | 51°F | 52°F (Aug) | 47°F (May) |
| Ellen Lake South Central Basin; Mansfield Township | Iron | 51°F | 53°F (Aug) | 49°F (Jun) |
| Chapel Lake | Alger | 50°F | 51°F (Aug) | 48°F (Jun) |
| Whitefish Bay Deep Lake | Chippewa | 49°F | 53°F (Aug) | 38°F (May) |
| O'Rourke Lake; Bagley Twp | Otsego | 49°F | 51°F (Aug) | 44°F (May) |
More Michigan lake data
Frequently asked questions
Which Michigan lake has the warmest water?
Of the 185 Michigan lakes with a temperature record, Lake George; Central Deep Basin; Lincoln Township in Clare County runs warmest, averaging about 79°F at the surface in summer. Colder lakes like O'Rourke Lake; Bagley Twp sit closer to 49°F.
What is a typical summer water temperature in Michigan?
Across the Michigan lakes we track, typical summer surface temperature averages about 65°F, though it varies widely by lake depth, elevation, and region. Shallow lowland lakes warm faster and further than deep or high-elevation ones.
Where does this Michigan water temperature data come from?
Each temperature is a typical (climatological) value computed from real surface-water field readings collected by state and federal agencies and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. They describe what is typical for each month, not the temperature right now.
About this data
Water temperatures are a climatology — the typical value for each month, averaged from real surface-water field readings published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. They tell you what to expect, not the temperature right now.