floating yellow buoy can be seen in water through a boat window

Data buoys, also known as weather buoys, are loved by boaters, swimmers, paddlers, fishermen and anyone who uses the water recreationally or for work. Knowing weather and wave conditions before going out on the water makes boating and other activities safer. Many people use our website and follow our Two Yellow Buoys on Twitter to get information on water and air temperature, wind speed and direction, wave height and more about southern Lake Michigan. While the buoys are out on the water, we host real-time data on our website for nearshore conditions off the coasts of Michigan City, Indiana, and Waukegan, Wilmette and Winthrop Harbor, Illinois.

Rich Armstrong of BoatUS Magazine highlighted these “weather watchdogs” and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s Jay Beugly—our buoy handler—in his article “Data Buoys: Sentinels of the Sea,” as part of the December 2019 issue.

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📢 Show Your Support for Sea Grant! 📢Continued federal funding for Sea Grant in FY26 is crucial, and we need your help to demonstrate the nationwide support for these essential programs.🖊️ Sign the letter urging Congress to continue funding Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and all 34 state Sea Grant programs:🔗 https://forms.gle/7sPGHGyh8j8a7vfGA or link in bio
Exciting news! The call for sessions for the 2026 Emerging Contaminants in the Environment Conference has been extended! We are excited to offer the opportunity to propose a speaker or panel session during the 2026 Emerging Contaminants in the Environment Conference April 28-29.  The conference will feature traditional 15-minute presentations and a poster session on the latest in emerging contaminant research, policies, and outreach in the soil, water, and air.The deadline to propose a session is September 30, 2025.Learn more at go.illinois.edu/ecec or the link in bio
Stay safe and have fun this Fourth of July with these 5 water safety tips! Click the link in bio to learn more ways to keep yourself and others safe as you enjoy the Lake Michigan beaches this holiday.
Four science educators from Illinois and Indiana have been selected for the 2025 Shipboard Science Immersion on Lake Michigan July 7-13. The educators will spend a full week alongside researchers aboard the EPA research vessel Lake Guardian. Afterwards, they will bring Great Lakes science back to their classroom. Learn more and meet the four incredible teachers representing Illinois and Indiana at the link in bio.
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