Chicago Breaks Water Temperature and Wetsuit Guide
(Lake Michigan, USA)
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Today's Chicago Breaks sea temperature is 11.4 °C
(Which is 4.4°C warmer than normal for this time of year)
| Mean: | 7.0 °C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Range: | 5.8 °C to 8.9 °C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics for 05 May (1981–2005) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Today, many surfers would wear a winter wetsuit and neoprene boots.
The Chicago Breaks water temperature is rather cold (11 °C). Although it will be cloudy today, air temperatures will be relatively mild, feeling like 13 °C, so feeling about the same in the water as out of it. A winter steamer or even a good quality spring wetsuit and neoprene boots should suffice. Wear a hood and gloves if you have not been surfing for a while.
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 Chicago Breaks. 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.
Chicago Breaks water temperatures peak in the range 20 to 24°C (68 to 75°F) on around the 10th of August and are at their minimum on about the 1st of March, in the range 4 to 5°C (39 to 41°F). Chicago Breaks water temperatures are warmest in early to mid August. Surfers should use a 2mm long sleeve shorty or a 3/2mm spring wetsuit if the wind is up. The minimum water temperatures at Chicago Breaks 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 at the beginning of March.
Actual sea surface water temperatures close to shore at Chicago Breaks 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 Chicago Breaks. Refer to our detailed weather forecasts for this information.
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