Post by elizabeth on Jul 24, 2006 10:49:58 GMT -5
A heads up that I received today:
"I know Steelhead is 2 weeks out, but here is a tip for checking or predicting the lake temps prior to the race. Check to see if the winds are out of the northwest anytime up to 2 days before and the day of the race. What happens with this is there is a turnover of the cold water from the bottom of the lake to the top and the water becomes frigid until the winds shift again from the south or southwest. This happened over the weekend. Lake Michigan water temps were in the upper 70s most of the week, but Friday the winds shifted and by Saturday the temps were falling to 70 or below. Sunday they were in the 50s. Invariably, Benton Harbor and South Haven tend to get coldest and warmest the fastest, so even if the lake temps to the north are 60s to 70, the Benton Harbor and South Haven temps will be in the 40s and 50s! Then its just a matter of a day or so before those temps go farther north.
The good thing of course is that Benton Harbor and South Haven will warm the fastest as well, so as soon as the winds shift, the temps will warm.
I hope the water is warmer than 54 like it was this past weekend! Pass this on to anyone who may be doing the race and might wonder. "
I can handle 54 but I hope it doesn't get much colder than that!
"I know Steelhead is 2 weeks out, but here is a tip for checking or predicting the lake temps prior to the race. Check to see if the winds are out of the northwest anytime up to 2 days before and the day of the race. What happens with this is there is a turnover of the cold water from the bottom of the lake to the top and the water becomes frigid until the winds shift again from the south or southwest. This happened over the weekend. Lake Michigan water temps were in the upper 70s most of the week, but Friday the winds shifted and by Saturday the temps were falling to 70 or below. Sunday they were in the 50s. Invariably, Benton Harbor and South Haven tend to get coldest and warmest the fastest, so even if the lake temps to the north are 60s to 70, the Benton Harbor and South Haven temps will be in the 40s and 50s! Then its just a matter of a day or so before those temps go farther north.
The good thing of course is that Benton Harbor and South Haven will warm the fastest as well, so as soon as the winds shift, the temps will warm.
I hope the water is warmer than 54 like it was this past weekend! Pass this on to anyone who may be doing the race and might wonder. "
I can handle 54 but I hope it doesn't get much colder than that!