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 water temperature by month
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?
Wetsuit territory. Brief exposure is tolerable but prolonged swimming without protection risks hypothermia.
Want more than temperature? Sylvan Lake scored A on water quality — clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and swimming safety, all on one report card.
Water temperatures at nearby Michigan lakes
Explore water temperatures
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 Sep 4–6, 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.
Planning a trip to Sylvan Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Sylvan Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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.