Is it too cold to swim in the Great Lakes? When you can dip your toes in the water
Warm weather doesn't always mean warm lakes, and while summer in Michigan is approaching, residents planning their next trip to the one of the Great Lakes should wait a little longer before jumping in.
Water temperature throughout the Great Lakes currently do not exceed 68 degrees Fahrenheit. The warmest water temperature in the Great Lakes Monday, May 19, is 63.5 degrees Fahrenheit near Bay City, and the surface temperature is 41.9 degrees near Toronto, according to Seatemperature.com.
Lake Superior, the largest of the lakes, had its highest reading at 52.5 degrees Fahrenheit near Sault Ste. Marie, Seatemperature.com said as of May 19. Lake Superior was barely above freezing at 36.3 degrees near Grand Portage, Minnesota.
Lake Michigan was the second-coldest of the five Great Lakes with an average of 51.1 degrees. Lake Ontario posted a high reading of 54.3 degrees, and Lake Huron's high was 63.5 degrees in Saginaw Bay.
Lake Erie, the shallowest of the lakes, was the warmest at 64.6 degrees near Monroe.
Swimming is most comfortable in lake waters at about 70 degrees, according to Swimoutlet.com.
With lake temperatures rising, but not expected to peak until late summer/early fall, according to GLISA, the best thing to do to avoid hypothermia and panic is wait to swim.
Here's what you should know about when it's time to swim in the Great Lakes:
The warmest average water temperature Great Lakes in May is 60.6 degrees, near Bay City, and the coldest surface temperature average is 37.6 degrees, near Duluth, Minnesota. In June, the warmest average water temperature Great Lakes is 70.5 degrees, near Bay City, and the coldest temperature is 47.3 degrees, near Duluth.
Temperatures climb in the spring and summer months, reaching peak temperatures in the late summer and early fall, according to GLISA, a collaborative between Michigan State University, University of Michigan and by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Lake Michigan was the second-coldest of the five Great Lakes at 51.1 degrees, according to Seatemperature.com as of May 19.
The warmest water temperature in Lake Michigan was 62.6 degrees (Green Bay, Wisconsin), and the coldest temperature is 39.6 degrees (Fairport, Michigan).
Lake Michigan reaches an average of 70.5 degrees Fahrenheit in August.
The warmest water temperature in Lake Ontario on May 19 was 54.3 degrees (Niagara Falls), and the coldest temperature was 41.2 degrees (Rochester, New York).
Lake Ontario reaches an average of 72.9 degrees Fahrenheit in August.
Lake Erie, the shallowest of the lakes, was the warmest at 64.6 degrees near Monroe as of May 19. The coldest reading was 48.6 degrees (Peacock Point, Ontario).
Lake Erie reaches an average of 76.1 degrees Fahrenheit in August.
The warmest water temperature in Lake Superior May 19 was 52.5 (Sault Saint Marie, Michigan), and the coldest temperature was 36.3 (Grand Portage, Minnesota).
Lake Superior reaches an average of 64.6 degrees Fahrenheit in August.
The warmest water temperature in Lake Huron May 19 was 63.5 degrees (Bay City), and the coldest temperature is 39.9 degrees (Rogers City).
Lake Huron reaches an average of 69.1 degrees Fahrenheit in August.
The National Weather Service says your body can enter a cold shock if exposed to water between 50 and 60 degrees, spiking an elevation in heart rate, blood pressure and eventually panic, fear and stress.
Prolonged exposure could result in loss of muscle control in your arms,legs, hands and feet, triggering hypothermia among other things that can be fatal.
The first day of summer is marked by the summer solstice, which can be either June 20 or 21, occurring when the Earth tilts toward the sun is at a maximum, reporting from the Detroit Free Press shows.
This year's is on June 20, although summer temperatures may start earlier.
The five Great Lakes include, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, connected at the Straits of Mackinac, Lake Superior, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
The Great Lakes:
account for 94,250 square miles of water.
account for 84% of North America's surface fresh water.
account for 21% of the world's supply of surface fresh water.
Lake Superior is the largest Great Lake also the biggest lake in the U.S. and the second-biggest lake in the world, it makes up 31,700 square miles.
Detroit Free Press contributed reporting.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Planning a dive into the Great Lakes? When you'll see warm water in Michigan
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