When Is It Safe To Jump Into Michigan’s Waters This Spring

With it finally looking like spring in Michigan, when is the safest time to go swimming in Michigan Ponds and lakes?

This is probably a question people have been thinking of, considering it took so long for us to get into some warm weather in Michigan this year that people are looking forward to summertime and swimming.

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But considering we had frost so far into spring, will that affect the time that we can swim in lakes and ponds?

Depending on what lake or pond you decide to go to, you want to monitor a few things to make sure that swimming is safe. Typically in Michigan, it’s safest to swim in our lakes from late June through early September when water temperatures rise above 65°F to 70°F.

Usually, peak conditions for temperature happen in July and August. But it’s not just the temperature you have to watch out for, but things like water quality and weather events that can also impact your swimming.

Before entering any water, you’re gonna wanna make sure that the city has deemed it safe to enter. Things like bacteria levels can make water a dangerous thing. Making sure you call eye levels are below 300 per 100 mL is crucial.

It’s also important to avoid swimming in lakes and ponds for 48 hours after heavy rainfall, as runoff can carry high levels of pollution and bacteria into lakes. Recently, we saw an issue with Lake Michigan: there is foam appearing on the top of the water, which the state has urged residents to avoid. These are just some of the things to consider before doing a cannonball into your favorite body of water.

Hopefully things will continue to warm up, and we will be back to the beaches in no time.