Door County Area Beaches: swim risk and surf forecast
Swim risk today: High. Life-threatening conditions are likely, and dangerous for swimmers of every level. Stay out of the water.
Surf 2 to 3 feet, water in the mid 60s. Buoy MNMM4, 26 mi out, measured 65 °F water. Sunset 6:49 PM.
- Swim risk
- HighToday
- Surf
- 2 to 3 feetForecast
- Water
- In the mid 60sForecast
- Sunset
- 6:49 PMCDT
Radar
Reflectivity now over Door County Area Beaches. Open it to see rip current risk on the map.
Radar mosaic and map layers from NOAA MRMS. Boundaries from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
Alerts in force1
Beach hazards statements, high surf advisories, rip current statements and every other National Weather Service product in force for zone WIZ022.
Beach Hazards Statementuntil Mon 1:00 PM
Beach Hazards Statement issued September 20 at 2:58AM CDT until September 21 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
* WHAT...High waves and dangerous currents expected. * WHERE...Beaches along Lake Michigan in Door County. * WHEN...From 6 AM CDT Sunday through 1 PM CDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming conditions are expected. Strong currents can pull swimmers into deeper water and high waves can sweep people off piers. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Several beaches that will be most susceptible to the dangerous swimming conditions include... Rock Island State Beach, Baileys Harbor beaches and Whitefish Dunes Beach in Door County.
Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions.
Today and tomorrow
From the National Weather Service beach forecast, issued 624 AM CDT, 9/20/2026.
Today Today
High swim risk
- Swim risk
- High
- Surf
- 2 to 3 feet
- Water temperature
- In the mid 60s
- UV index
- Low
- High temperature
- In the mid 60s
- Weather
- Mostly sunny
- Wind
- Northeast winds around 15 mph
UV index 2 or less. Little danger for most people.
Tomorrow Monday
High swim risk
- Swim risk
- High
- Surf
- 2 to 4 feet
- High temperature
- In the upper 50s
- Weather
- Mostly cloudy
- Wind
- Northeast winds around 15 mph
The surf zone forecast, period by period
Door. Issued 6:24 AM CDT on Sun, Sep 20 by the National Weather Service in Green Bay, WI.
Beach hazards statement in effect through monday afternoon
Today
- Swim Risk
- High
- Wave Height
- 2 to 3 feet
- UV Index
- Low
- Water Temperature
- In the mid 60s
- Weather
- Mostly sunny
- High Temperature
- In the mid 60s
- Winds
- Northeast winds around 15 mph
- Sunrise
- 6:32 AM
- Sunset
- 6:53 PM
Monday
- Swim Risk
- High
- Wave Height
- 2 to 4 feet
- Weather
- Mostly cloudy
- High Temperature
- In the upper 50s
- Winds
- Northeast winds around 15 mph
- Sunrise
- 6:34 AM
- Sunset
- 6:51 PM
The days after
Tuesday. Wave height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. Northeast winds around 15 mph.
Wednesday. Wave height 2 to 3 feet. Sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. East winds around 10 mph.
Thursday. Wave height 1 to 2 feet. Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. East winds around 5 mph.
The office's notes on this forecast
Swim Risk Category * Low Risk - Large waves and dangerous currents are not expected, however dangerous currents may exist at any time near piers, breakwalls, and river outlets. * Moderate Risk - Breaking waves and currents are expected. Stay away from dangerous areas like piers, breakwalls, and river outlets. Always have a flotation device with you in the water. * High Risk - Life-threatening waves and currents are expected. Stay out of the water and stay away from dangerous areas like piers and breakwalls.
** For thunderstorm, waterspout, and UV definitions see: https://www.weather.gov/beach/grb
The product as issued
FZUS53 KGRB 201124 SRFGRB Surf Zone Forecast for East-Central and Northeast Wisconsin National Weather Service Green Bay WI 624 AM CDT Sun Sep 20 2026 WIZ022-210100- Door- Including the beaches of Rock Island State Beach, Baileys Harbor Beaches, and Whitefish Dunes Beach 624 AM CDT Sun Sep 20 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON... .TODAY... Swim Risk*..................High. Wave Height.................2 to 3 feet. UV Index**..................Low. Water Temperature...........In the mid 60s. Weather.....................Mostly sunny. High Temperature............In the mid 60s. Winds.......................Northeast winds around 15 mph. Sunrise.....................6:32 AM. Sunset......................6:53 PM. .MONDAY... Swim Risk*..................High. Wave Height.................2 to 4 feet. Weather.....................Mostly cloudy. High Temperature............In the upper 50s. Winds.......................Northeast winds around 15 mph. Sunrise.....................6:34 AM. Sunset......................6:51 PM. .EXTENDED... .TUESDAY...Wave height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. Northeast winds around 15 mph. .WEDNESDAY...Wave height 2 to 3 feet. Sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. East winds around 10 mph. .THURSDAY...Wave height 1 to 2 feet. Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. East winds around 5 mph. && Swim Risk Category * Low Risk - Large waves and dangerous currents are not expected, however dangerous currents may exist at any time near piers, breakwalls, and river outlets. * Moderate Risk - Breaking waves and currents are expected. Stay away from dangerous areas like piers, breakwalls, and river outlets. Always have a flotation device with you in the water. * High Risk - Life-threatening waves and currents are expected. Stay out of the water and stay away from dangerous areas like piers and breakwalls. ** For thunderstorm, waterspout, and UV definitions see: https://www.weather.gov/beach/grb $$ WIZ040-210100- Kewaunee- Including the beaches of Crescent Beach and City of Kewaunee Beach 624 AM CDT Sun Sep 20 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING... .TODAY... Swim Risk*..................High. Wave Height.................2 to 5 feet. UV Index**..................Low. Water Temperature...........In the mid 60s. Weather.....................Partly sunny. High Temperature............In the mid 60s. Winds.......................Northeast winds around 15 mph. Sunrise.....................6:34 AM. Sunset......................6:54 PM. .MONDAY... Swim Risk*..................High. Wave Height.................4 to 5 feet. Weather.....................Mostly cloudy. High Temperature............Around 60. Winds.......................Northeast winds around 15 mph. Sunrise.....................6:35 AM. Sunset......................6:52 PM. .EXTENDED... .TUESDAY...Wave height 3 to 4 feet. Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. Northeast winds around 15 mph. .WEDNESDAY...Wave height 2 to 3 feet. Sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. Northeast winds around 10 mph. .THURSDAY...Wave height around 2 feet. Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. East winds around 5 mph. && Swim Risk Category * Low Risk - Large waves and dangerous currents are not expected, however dangerous currents may exist at any time near piers, breakwalls, and river outlets. * Moderate Risk - Breaking waves and currents are expected. Stay away from dangerous areas like piers, breakwalls, and river outlets. Always have a flotation device with you in the water. * High Risk - Life-threatening waves and currents are expected. Stay out of the water and stay away from dangerous areas like piers and breakwalls. ** For thunderstorm, waterspout, and UV definitions see: https://www.weather.gov/beach/grb $$ WIZ050-210100- Manitowoc- Including the beaches of Point Beach, Neshotah Beach, and Red Arrow Beach 624 AM CDT Sun Sep 20 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING... .TODAY... Swim Risk*..................High. Wave Height.................4 to 7 feet. UV Index**..................Low. Water Temperature...........In the mid 60s. Weather.....................Mostly cloudy. High Temperature............In the mid 60s. Winds.......................Northeast winds 15 to 20 mph. Sunrise.....................6:34 AM. Sunset......................6:54 PM. .MONDAY... Swim Risk*..................High. Wave Height.................3 to 5 feet. Weather.....................Mostly cloudy. High Temperature............In the lower 60s. Winds.......................Northeast winds around 15 mph. Sunrise.....................6:35 AM. Sunset......................6:52 PM. .EXTENDED... .TUESDAY...Wave height 2 to 5 feet. Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. Northeast winds around 15 mph. .WEDNESDAY...Wave height 2 to 4 feet. Sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. Northeast winds around 10 mph. .THURSDAY...Wave height 1 to 3 feet. Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. East winds around 5 mph. && Swim Risk Category * Low Risk - Large waves and dangerous currents are not expected, however dangerous currents may exist at any time near piers, breakwalls, and river outlets. * Moderate Risk - Breaking waves and currents are expected. Stay away from dangerous areas like piers, breakwalls, and river outlets. Always have a flotation device with you in the water. * High Risk - Life-threatening waves and currents are expected. Stay out of the water and stay away from dangerous areas like piers and breakwalls. ** For thunderstorm, waterspout, and UV definitions see: https://www.weather.gov/beach/grb $$
The water now, measured
Buoy MNMM4, 9087088 - Menominee, MI, 26 mi away, reported 7:00 AM.
- Water temperature
- 65 °F
- Air temperature
- 57 °F
- Wind
- 16 kt from the N
From NOAA's National Data Buoy Center. Wave height is the significant height, the average of the highest third; the largest waves run half again as high. Offshore buoys read bigger than the surf at the beach.
Sun and daylight
- Sunrise today
- 6:33 AM
- Sunset today
- 6:49 PM
- Sunrise tomorrow
- 6:34 AM
- Sunset tomorrow
- 6:47 PM
Times are Central Daylight Time. Lifeguards are off duty outside posted hours, and the swim risk does not fall with the light.
Beaches in this forecast
- Rock Island State Beach
- Baileys Harbor Beaches
- Whitefish Dunes Beach
As the National Weather Service lists them in its surf zone forecast.
What this means
The three levels the National Weather Service issues, and what to do at each.
| High | Life-threatening conditions are likely, and dangerous for swimmers of every level. Stay out of the water. |
|---|---|
| Moderate | Life-threatening conditions for swimmers are possible. Swim near a lifeguard, and follow the beach patrol and its flags. |
| Low | The risk to swimmers is low, but life-threatening conditions can still occur near piers, groins and river mouths. Swim near a lifeguard. |
If a rip current carries you out
- Do not fight the current. It pulls you away from the beach, not under the water.
- Stay calm and keep your head above water. Float or tread water until the pull eases.
- Swim parallel to the beach, along the shore, until you are out of the current, then angle in toward the beach.
- If you cannot escape, face the shore, wave your arms and call for help.
- If someone else is caught, do not go in after them. Get a lifeguard, call 911, and throw them something that floats.
Thunderstorms and lightning
Thunderstorms build fast over water on a summer afternoon. Water and open sand leave you the tallest thing around. When thunder roars, go indoors: leave the water and the beach for a building or a hard-topped vehicle, and wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back.
A rip current is a narrow stream of water flowing away from the beach, through the surf and past the breakers. It pulls swimmers out, not under. Rip current and lightning safety guidance from the National Weather Service.
Nearby
The stretches of shore the National Weather Service forecasts on either side of this one.
More for this place
Sources
Rip current risk, surf, water temperature and UV from the National Weather Service surf zone forecast and beach forecast, office GRB, issued 624 AM CDT, 9/20/2026. Original at NWS. Waves and water temperature measured by NOAA's National Data Buoy Center. Tides from NOAA CO-OPS. Alerts from the National Weather Service for zone WIZ022.