Small Craft Advisory Issued for Illinois Waters
National Weather Service Chicago warns of hazardous northwest winds and high waves on Lake Michigan through early Saturday.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Forecasts
The National Weather Service in Chicago issued a Small Craft Advisory for Illinois waters, forecasting northwest winds up to 20 knots and significant waves up to 6 feet. Conditions are hazardous to small craft.
Why it matters
The advisory warns boaters and anyone operating small vessels on Lake Michigan that conditions along the Illinois shoreline are unsafe. Residents along the lakefront should expect rough water and elevated risk for recreational and commercial small craft.
The National Weather Service forecast northwest winds up to 20 knots, significant waves up to 6 feet, and occasional waves of 8 feet in the Calumet Harbor to Burns Harbor area. The advisory does not state how long the elevated wave heights will persist beyond its scheduled expiration.
The players
National Weather Service Chicago
The Chicago office of the National Weather Service, the federal agency responsible for issuing weather, water and marine forecasts and advisories for the region.
The details
The advisory covers Illinois waters from Winthrop Harbor to Calumet Harbor and extends from Calumet Harbor to Burns Harbor, Indiana. It was issued at 9:44 PM CST on November 6, 2026, and remains in effect until midnight CST.
Timeline
November 6, 2026, 9:44 PM CST: Small Craft Advisory issued.
November 7, 2026, midnight CST: First advisory expires.
November 7, 2026, 9 AM CST: Extended advisory expires.
Seasonal Patterns
Small Craft Advisories are a routine tool of the National Weather Service's marine program, issued when winds and waves reach levels hazardous to vessels under 33 feet. Lake Michigan's autumn storm season regularly produces northwest wind events of this kind along the Illinois and Indiana shorelines.
Boaters and small craft operators on Lake Michigan should postpone trips until the advisory expires at midnight and 9 AM CST on November 7. Anyone already on the water near Calumet Harbor or Burns Harbor should head to a sheltered harbor given waves up to 8 feet.
The takeaway
Waves up to 8 feet and winds up to 20 knots make open-water boating on Lake Michigan hazardous through the advisory window. Checking marine forecasts before leaving the dock is the simplest way to avoid trouble.
Further reading
For more on incoming conditions, see the Forecasts section.
