It's mid-summer and Lake Superior is still chilly.  Mid-lake buoy temperatures usually warm up quickly from early July on.  So far as of Monday, water temperatures at these buoys are barely above spring-time levels, running from the upper 30s at the northern and northeastern buoys to the low 40s at the western buoy.  Over the last several years, readings ran about ten degrees or so higher at mid-July.  There are likely a couple of reasons for the cold water.  First, it was a chilly spring and the summer through mid-July has been close to average.  Secondly over the last week, unseasonably powerful low-pressure areas have brought strong winds that have stirred up the lake, allowing upwelling of colder water to the surface.  I suspect with light winds and warmer air this week surface water temperatures will begin rising quickly.

If you are a lake watcher, you have probably noticed that the water level has come up, too.  As of this past Sunday, the level of Lake Superior is 601.7 feet.  That's 1.3 feet above the average of last year and less than five inches below the long-term average.  Lake Superior's level is primarily influenced by precipitation in its watershed and there has been abundant snow and rain over the last six-to-nine months.