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LakeQuality
A wave breaking on the cobble beach of Lake Superior at Duluth, Minnesota, with a wooded headland beyond

Sylvan Lake Water Temperature

Sylvan Lake in Oakland County, Michigan typically sits around 59°F at the surface in September — warmest in Aug (~60°F) and coldest in May (~54°F). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.

Typical in September
59°F
Cold
Summer average
59°F
Warmest (Aug)
60°F
Coldest (May)
54°F

Typical water temperature by month

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
54°
May
58°
Jun
59°
Jul
60°
Aug
59°
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (54°F) to its warmest (60°F).

Typical surface water temperature by month, from 189 field readings (2019–2019) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.

Is Sylvan Lake warm enough to swim?

At its summer peak (~59°F): Cold

Wetsuit territory. Brief exposure is tolerable but prolonged swimming without protection risks hypothermia.

Want more than temperature? Sylvan Lake water quality: clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and current advisories, all on one page.

Where to stay near Sylvan Lake

Planning a swim or lake trip? Compare cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals near Sylvan Lake — live availability and prices. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.

Top-rated places to stay near Sylvan Lake

Prices for Oct 23–25, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the water temperature of Sylvan Lake?

Sylvan Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in September, from 189 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2019). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.

When is Sylvan Lake warmest?

Surface water at Sylvan Lake is typically warmest in August, reaching about 60°F. Lake surface temperature lags air temperature by several weeks, so the warmest water usually arrives in mid-to-late summer even though the hottest air can come earlier.

Is Sylvan Lake warm enough to swim?

At its typical summer peak of about 59°F, Sylvan Lake rates as "cold" for swimming. Wetsuit territory. Brief exposure is tolerable but prolonged swimming without protection risks hypothermia.

Where does this Sylvan Lake water temperature data come from?

Every temperature on this page 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 — 189 readings from 1 monitoring station between 2019 and 2019. 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 collected by state and federal agencies and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. They tell you what to expect, not the temperature at this moment. Actual conditions vary with recent weather, depth, and time of day.