If you’re headed out to enjoy the weather and the outdoors this holiday weekend, you may want to balance swim time with some time on the beach as water temperatures look to be below average in some areas of Lake Michigan
 
“In contrast to air temperatures forecast in the 80s, Lake Michigan water won’t warm up in time for the Thursday holiday, according to the National Weather Service office in Grand Rapids.
 
Water temperatures in Lake Michigan are 10 to 15 degrees colder than they were this time in 2012 and 5 to 10 degrees colder than they were in 2011, according to meteorologist Evan Webb. He said it’s a product of the cool spring this year.”
Water temperatures may be warmer or cooler at other points on the lake, and there are a number of sites to keep up to date on the conditions. If you’re planning to spend your time near the waters around Michigan City, Indiana, for instance, you can get current and recent nearshore conditions from the buoy operated by Purdue University and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
 
However you spend time this holiday weekend, enjoy the sights and scenery safely.

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Happy International Women’s Day! A special thank you to the incredible members of our IISG community who inspire, lead, and drive change every day. 🎉
It’s almost our favorite time of the year...Rain Garden Rumble!This will be our 6th annual competition where 28 native plant species go head-to-head (or bloom-to-bloom?) in a fierce competition. But the best part? YOU determine who is crowned champion.There are a few ways to participate. First, fill out a bracket* (steps below). Then, vote in our daily Instagram polls or Facebook posts from March 18th through April 4th. The person who submits the most accurate bracket wins a sweet set of Illinois Extension "rain-care" merch (an umbrella and rain gauge)!👀*You do NOT have to fill out a bracket to vote in the polls!1. Click the link in our bio to open our official blog with more information regarding the event.2. Scroll down and click our bracket.3. In the tab that pops up, click the “download” icon.4. Fill it out with your picks and save the document. Please include your name! Note that you can learn more about the plants by clicking their names in the bracket.5. Submit your completed bracket to RedOakRainGarden@illinois.edu by Monday, March 17. Matches begin the following day on Facebook and Instagram.May the best plant win...🌿🏆#RainGardenRumble2025
Learn about freshwater jellyfish in Wolf Lake!! #IISGfunded researcher Nadine Folino-Rorem of Wheaton College is speaking to Calumet Revisited on Mar 4, 2025 at 5:00 PM Central, and you can listen in! Request a Zoom link: booscommunications@gmail.comLearn more about this research at the link in bio.
Reminder to apply by March 5!!IISG has a new funding opportunity for promising two-year research projects addressing issues relevant to the southern Lake Michigan ecosystem and the surrounding communities in northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana.The competitive grant program funds research projects aligned with the goals outlined in the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Strategic Plan 2024-2027. These goals include Healthy Coastal Ecosystems, Resilient Communities and Economies, Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development.Learn more at the link in bio.
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