Lake Michigan water level today
Lake Michigan level right now: 579.21 ft at the Calumet Harbor, IL gauge (Oct 23, 2026, 3:24 PM CT), down 0.14 ft in 7 days; 579.06 ft at the Milwaukee, WI gauge (Oct 23, 2026, 3:24 PM CT), down 0.22 ft in 7 days. Updated · source: NOAA CO-OPS
Datum: IGLD 1985, feet
Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are one water body hydraulically (joined at the Straits of Mackinac), so they share one level; the four gauges sit on the Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan shores.
Source: NOAA CO-OPS 9087044 ↗
Source: NOAA CO-OPS 9087057 ↗
Source: NOAA CO-OPS 9087031 ↗
Source: NOAA CO-OPS 9087023 ↗
How today compares with the last 30 days
| Gauge | Latest | 30-day low | 30-day high | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calumet Harbor, IL | 579.21 | 578.42 | 579.77 | high (89th pct.) |
| Milwaukee, WI | 579.06 | 578.53 | 579.33 | near the middle (78th pct.) |
| Holland, MI | 578.98 | 578.50 | 579.40 | near the middle (56th pct.) |
| Ludington, MI | 578.98 | 578.64 | 579.11 | near the middle (56th pct.) |
Our calculation from NOAA CO-OPS daily means (ft); provisional data.
Fishing rules on Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan can have its own limits that differ from statewide or zone rules. Check our pages and the official booklets before you fish:
Water levels are provisional agency data, can change after review, and are not for navigation.
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FAQ
Is Lake Michigan high or low right now?
At the Calumet Harbor, IL gauge the latest reading (579.21 ft) is high for the last 9 days: higher than or equal to 89% of those daily means (range 578.42–579.77 ft). At the Milwaukee, WI gauge the latest reading (579.06 ft) is near the middle for the last 9 days: higher than or equal to 78% of those daily means (range 578.53–579.33 ft). At the Holland, MI gauge the latest reading (578.98 ft) is near the middle for the last 9 days: higher than or equal to 56% of those daily means (range 578.50–579.40 ft). At the Ludington, MI gauge the latest reading (578.98 ft) is near the middle for the last 9 days: higher than or equal to 56% of those daily means (range 578.64–579.11 ft).
Where does the Lake Michigan reading come from?
From NOAA CO-OPS gauges 9087044 (Calumet Harbor, IL), 9087057 (Milwaukee, WI), 9087031 (Holland, MI), 9087023 (Ludington, MI). The data is provisional public-domain government data; we fetch it every 1–3 hours and show the time of each reading.
What does the number mean?
It is the water surface elevation in feet relative to IGLD 1985.
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