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Black Butte Lake is a reservoir located in California.
Updated
Alerts are published by official agencies and shown verbatim. View the official alert source.
Red Flag Warning issued October 11 at 7:38AM PDT until October 12 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Sacramento CA
Overall Poor (45/100) across 4 activities. Best right now: Fishing (64/100).
How the score is calculated →Best good fishing window, averaging 82/100 across these hours. Dusk hours (19:00 local). 0% chance of precipitation. Derived from the hourly forecast; official alerts are not forecast and are checked separately.
| Metric | 6p | 7p | 8p | 9p | 10p | 11p | 12a | 1a | 2a | 3a | 4a | 5a | 6a | 7a | 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 66° | 68° | 71° | 72° | 73° | 74° | 72° | 72° | 69° | 65° | 63° | 61° | 60° | 58° | 57° | 57° | 56° | 54° | 53° | 52° | 50° | 51° | 56° | 60° |
| Wind (kts) | 21 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 |
| Direction | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
| Gusts (kts) | 36 | 35 | 34 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Time | Temp | Wind | Gusts | Precip | Cloud | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, 11 AM PDT | 66°F | 24 mph NNW (338°) | 41 mph | 0% | 0% | Sunny |
| Sun, 12 PM PDT | 68°F | 23 mph NNW (338°) | 40 mph | 0% | 0% | Sunny |
| Sun, 1 PM PDT | 71°F | 23 mph NNW (338°) | 39 mph | 0% | 0% | Sunny |
| Sun, 2 PM PDT | 72°F | 21 mph NNW (338°) | 36 mph | 0% | 0% | Sunny |
| Sun, 3 PM PDT | 73°F | 20 mph NNW (338°) | 35 mph | 0% | 0% | Sunny |
| Sun, 4 PM PDT | 74°F | 17 mph NNW (338°) | 33 mph | 0% | 2% | Sunny |
| Sun, 5 PM PDT | 72°F | 16 mph N (0°) | 29 mph | 0% | 4% | Sunny |
| Sun, 6 PM PDT | 72°F | 15 mph NNW (338°) | 28 mph | 0% | 18% | Mostly Clear |
| Sun, 7 PM PDT | 69°F | 15 mph NNW (338°) | 27 mph | 0% | 31% | Partly Cloudy |
| Sun, 8 PM PDT | 65°F | 16 mph NNW (338°) | 28 mph | 0% | 16% | Mostly Clear |
| Sun, 9 PM PDT | 63°F | 20 mph NNW (338°) | 31 mph | 0% | 8% | Mostly Clear |
| Sun, 10 PM PDT | 61°F | 21 mph NNW (338°) | 33 mph | 0% | 19% | Mostly Clear |
| Sun, 11 PM PDT | 60°F | 21 mph NNW (338°) | 35 mph | 0% | 4% | Clear |
| Mon, 12 AM PDT | 58°F | 20 mph NNW (338°) | 35 mph | 0% | 19% | Mostly Clear |
| Mon, 1 AM PDT | 57°F | 18 mph NNW (338°) | 32 mph | 0% | 8% | Mostly Clear |
| Mon, 2 AM PDT | 57°F | 17 mph NNW (338°) | 30 mph | 0% | 2% | Clear |
| Mon, 3 AM PDT | 56°F | 16 mph NNW (338°) | 29 mph | 0% | 1% | Clear |
| Mon, 4 AM PDT | 54°F | 16 mph NNW (338°) | 28 mph | 0% | 0% | Clear |
| Mon, 5 AM PDT | 53°F | 14 mph NNW (338°) | 25 mph | 0% | 1% | Clear |
| Mon, 6 AM PDT | 52°F | 14 mph N (0°) | 25 mph | 0% | 3% | Sunny |
| Mon, 7 AM PDT | 50°F | 13 mph N (0°) | 24 mph | 0% | 3% | Sunny |
| Mon, 8 AM PDT | 51°F | 13 mph N (0°) | 23 mph | 0% | 1% | Sunny |
| Mon, 9 AM PDT | 56°F | 15 mph N (0°) | 24 mph | 0% | 6% | Sunny |
| Mon, 10 AM PDT | 60°F | 14 mph N (0°) | 23 mph | 0% | 5% | Sunny |
| Mon, 11 AM PDT | 63°F | 12 mph N (0°) | 20 mph | 0% | 3% | Sunny |
Official National Weather Service hourly forecast. Showing 10 of 25 hours. Wind arrows point the way the wind is blowing; the compass point and degrees show where it comes from.
| Period | Today October 11, 2026 | Tonight October 11, 2026 | Columbus Day October 12, 2026 | Monday Night October 12, 2026 | Tuesday October 13, 2026 | Tuesday Night October 13, 2026 | Wednesday October 14, 2026 | Wednesday Night October 14, 2026 | Thursday October 15, 2026 | Thursday Night October 15, 2026 | Friday October 16, 2026 | Friday Night October 16, 2026 | Saturday October 17, 2026 | Saturday Night October 17, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 74° | 50° | 70° | 47° | 76° | 49° | 81° | 54° | 87° | 57° | 87° | 56° | 84° | 55° |
| Wind | NNW 16 to 24 mph | NNW 14 to 21 mph | N 6 to 15 mph | NNW 5 to 9 mph | NNW 6 to 13 mph | NW 2 to 6 mph | N 3 to 7 mph | NW 2 to 7 mph | NNW 7 to 13 mph | NW 3 to 7 mph | N 3 to 8 mph | WNW 1 to 5 mph | N 5 mph | WNW 5 mph |
| Gusts | 41 mph | 35 mph | 25 mph | 17 mph | 22 mph | 12 mph | 14 mph | 12 mph | 22 mph | 14 mph | 17 mph | 7 mph | 9 mph | 8 mph |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Forecast |
No active USGS or USACE telemetry gauge is currently mapped to Black Butte Lake. Not available from a verified source for this lake.
Fair for fishing (64/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: 0% chance of precipitation. Sky is clear (0% cloud cover). Working against it: Wind 24 mph from the north-northwest. Not available from a verified source for this lake: pressure trend, water temperature. Confidence is moderate (74%) because some inputs are unavailable or older than ideal.
Very Poor / Avoid for boating (30/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: 0% chance of precipitation. Working against it: Gusts to 41 mph. Active severe alert: Red Flag Warning. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility and conditions, verified water access. Confidence is moderate (84%) because some inputs are unavailable or older than ideal.
Poor for sailing (46/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: 0% chance of precipitation. Working against it: Active severe alert: Red Flag Warning. Gusts exceed sustained wind by 17 mph, making the breeze puffy. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility. Confidence is high (88%).
Very Poor / Avoid for kayaking (32/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: 0% chance of precipitation. Air temperature 66°F. Working against it: Gusts to 41 mph. Active severe alert: Red Flag Warning. Confidence is high (90%).
Water temperature is not available from a verified source for this lake. No swimming score is shown without it.
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Individual boat ramp GPS coordinates are maintained under the jurisdiction of CA Parks & Wildlife Authority. Public boaters should verify seasonal launch water levels, gate hours, and daily vehicle/vessel fees before traveling.
As one of CA's notable waterbodies, Black Butte Lake provides vital freshwater habitat and extensive recreational opportunities for public use. Whether you are navigating main channels by motorboat or fishing along quiet shoreline coves, the lake offers diverse seasonal experiences. On-site facilities and access points are overseen by state and local natural resource agencies.
Valid freshwater sport fishing license issued by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is required for anglers age 16+. Digital license on mobile is accepted.
Mandatory Clean, Drain & Dry inspection. Out-of-area craft require on-site Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS Quagga/Zebra) inspection or decontamination before launch. USCG life jackets required for all.
Public shoreline and boating access managed by State & Local Authorities. Verify seasonal gate hours, launch fees, and parking rules before travel.
High-speed motorboating, pontoon cruising, wakeboarding, and water skiing across main channels. Target gamefish include European Carp, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass. Morning hours typically provide optimal glassy conditions for kayak and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) touring.
Warm water temperatures, peak swimming, active watersports, and open full-service campgrounds. Highest weekly attendance; plan early arrivals on summer weekends.
Spring pre-spawn and fall feeding transitions create prime trophy angling conditions. Cooler air, lower boat traffic, and vibrant seasonal shoreline foliage.
Mild year-round outdoor climate. Uncrowded waters, active winter bass and crappie fishing, and open year-round boat launch access.
No external source rows are cited by the data currently shown on this page.
Updated
Scores are heuristics, not safety guarantees. LakeRadar scores summarize available conditions and are not a substitute for official warnings, local rules, or on-water judgment.
All telemetry for Black Butte Lake is synchronized directly from authorized federal and state monitoring networks (USGS, NWS, NOAA, and state environmental authorities). Observations are strictly instrumented readings — unmonitored sensors are transparently disclosed rather than synthetic estimates.
Last source audit: Oct 11, 11:56 AM PDT