Many folks who live in Milwaukee and in other places along the lakeshore believe that Lake Michigan can help prevent tornadoes. Is this a myth or is there some truth to it?

What You Need To Know

  • Locations close to Lake Michigan are typically much cooler than inland areas

  • Cooler lakeshore areas are generally more stable, decreasing storm chances

  • Tornadoes tend to favor western Wisconsin, where there is greater instability

If you've lived in southeast Wisconsin for any length of time, you have probably noticed the cool lake breeze that kicks in almost every afternoon during the spring and summer. 

It's not uncommon for lakeshore areas to be 10 to 20 degrees cooler than inland locations during the spring and summer months. While this might not seem like a big deal, this plays a huge role in limiting severe weather compared to the rest of the state. 

Cooler air tends to be more stable and often times severe storms in western Wisconsin will weaken significantly as they encounter more stable air closer to the lake.

So the rumors are true. Lake Michigan really protects locations closer to the lake from severe weather and tornadoes, but only to a certain extent. 

Sometimes the atmospheric setup can still bring that warm and unstable air all the way to the lakeshore. It's during these times that no place is safe from severe storms and tornadoes. 

For example, in March 2000, a tornado formed on the south side of Milwaukee and tracked all the way to the lakeshore.

Thus, you should always be prepared for severe weather in Wisconsin during the spring and summer. Even though Lake Michigan lowers the chance of severe weather and tornadoes, nothing is ever a guarantee!