Today's Mackinac Island sea temperature is 9.6 °C
(4.1°C warmer than normal for this time of year)
| Mean: | 5.5 °C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Range: | 3.5 °C to 8.1 °C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics for 09 Jun (1981–2005) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Today, many surfers would wear a winter wetsuit, a neoprene hood, gloves and boots.
The Mackinac Island water temperature (9 °C) is very cold. Although it will be cloudy today, air temperatures will be relatively mild, feeling like 11 °C. Despite the mild air, surfers will need plenty of neoprene: a good winter wetsuit, a neoprene hood, gloves and boots.
 Map of current United States Surface Water Temperatures (based on measurements from oceanographic satellites) |  Map of current United States Sea Water Temperature Anomalies (compared with long term averages at this time of year) |
click thumbnails to expand
Below is a graph of Historical Sea Surface Temperature for Mackinac Island. This has been derived from analysis of two decades of oceanographic satellite measurements of nearby open water. We have calculated the average water temperature variation around the year as well as the extremes that have been observed on each date.
All of the graphs for the surf breaks presented on Surf-Forecast.com are on the same scale to enable comparison between locations around the world.
Mackinac Island sea water temperatures peak in the range 14 to 20°C (57 to 68°F) on around the 14th of August and are at their minimum on about the 22nd of March, in the range 1 to 3°C (34 to 37°F). The highest seasonal sea water temperatures at Mackinac Island in mid August lend themselves to a 4/3mm wetsuit or a 3/2mm suit and 3mm neoprene boots. The minimum sea water temperatures at Mackinac Island mean that you will need a flexible 6/5/4mm wetsuit or a well fitting 5/4mm wetsuit with gloves and 5mm neoprene booties and a hood to surf here in the second half of March.
Actual sea surface water temperatures close to shore at Mackinac Island can vary by several degrees compared with these open water averages. This is especially true after heavy rain, close to river mouths or after long periods of strong offshore winds. Offshore winds cause colder deep water to replace surface water that has been warmed by the sun. Air temperature, wind-chill and sunshine should also be considered before deciding on the kind of wetsuit needed to stay warm when surfing at Mackinac Island. Refer to our detailed weather forecasts for this information.
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