The water temperature in Lake Michigan is higher than normal for this time of year, and that could be a sign of the weather coming this winter.

National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Roller tells us the lake temperature can have a few effects on the weather.

“The spring and fall time frames tend to be our breeziest and so it can help to bring down some extra stronger winds during this time of year,” Roller said. “It can also during the winter time help to create some more instability to get some better precipitation formation as a result of lake enhancement, lake effect rain, lake effect snow.”

So, the warm water could mean more lake effect. Of course, there’s a catch.

“We would need the warmer temperatures to continue to last.”

And Roller says the water temperature often will change this time of year.

Roller says the temperature of the lake right now is around 56 to 58 degrees Fahrenheit. The normal this time of year is 54 degrees. He calls the current temperature at the upper echelon on what’s been seen in recent years.