Lake Michigan water temp way up - WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports

MILWAUKEE (WKOW) -- Given the record heat and how long it has stayed hot this year, it stands to reason that lakes around the Midwest are heating up, too. 

And that includes Lake Michigan, which is the warmest it's ever been this early into summer.

Water temperatures are in the upper 70's, even into the 80's in Chicago.  

Usually the lake is this warm in August.

And that's something the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee school of freshwater sciences is keeping a close eye on.

"It's gotten that warm in the past, but it's very warm for Lake Michigan and pretty unusual, but it's never happened this early," said Professor Val Klump.

Experts say the hot and dry conditions have brought down lake levels, which could continue dropping if we don't get any rain.