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Crab Orchard Lake is a reservoir in Illinois. At around 6,965 acres (about 11 square miles), it is a mid-sized waterbody. Below you will find an hourly and 7-day forecast, wind and gust outlook, and activity scores for boating, paddling, and swimming. Other waters in the region include Devils Kitchen Lake, Kinkaid Lake, and Rend Lake. Check the hourly forecast and activity outlook below before heading out to Crab Orchard Lake.
Updated
No active alerts for this lake as of the last check (Oct 9, 5:40 AM CDT). Alerts are re-checked automatically; see the official source for updates.
Overall Good (87/100) across 4 activities. Best right now: Boating (99/100).
How the score is calculated →Best excellent fishing window, averaging 93/100 across these hours. Wind 2 mph from the southeast. Dusk hours (19:00 local). Derived from the hourly forecast; official alerts are not forecast and are checked separately.
| Metric | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | 8p | 9p | 10p | 11p | 12a | 1a | 2a | 3a | 4a | 5a | 6a | 7a | 8a | 9a |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 52° | 54° | 56° | 58° | 63° | 70° | 75° | 78° | 82° | 82° | 84° | 85° | 83° | 81° | 76° | 70° | 68° | 66° | 66° | 65° | 64° | 65° | 64° | 63° |
| Wind (kts) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Direction | — | S | SE | SE | SE | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE |
| Gusts (kts) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Time | Temp | Wind | Gusts | Precip | Cloud | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 5 AM CDT | 52°F | Calm | 5 mph | 0% | 3% | Clear |
| Fri, 6 AM CDT | 54°F | 1 mph SSE (158°) | 5 mph | 0% | 2% | Sunny |
| Fri, 7 AM CDT | 56°F | 2 mph SE (135°) | 5 mph | 0% | 2% | Sunny |
| Fri, 8 AM CDT | 58°F | 3 mph SE (135°) | 7 mph | 0% | 1% | Sunny |
| Fri, 9 AM CDT | 63°F | 3 mph SE (135°) | 8 mph | 0% | 1% | Sunny |
| Fri, 10 AM CDT | 70°F | 3 mph SSE (158°) | 8 mph | 0% | 2% | Sunny |
| Fri, 11 AM CDT | 75°F | 5 mph SSE (158°) | 10 mph | 0% | 3% | Sunny |
| Fri, 12 PM CDT | 78°F | 6 mph SSE (158°) | 12 mph | 0% | 2% | Sunny |
| Fri, 1 PM CDT | 82°F | 7 mph SSE (158°) | 12 mph | 1% | 2% | Sunny |
| Fri, 2 PM CDT | 82°F | 7 mph SSE (158°) | 12 mph | 1% | 3% | Sunny |
| Fri, 3 PM CDT | 84°F | 7 mph SSE (158°) | 12 mph | 1% | 1% | Sunny |
| Fri, 4 PM CDT | 85°F | 7 mph SSE (158°) | 12 mph | 1% | 7% | Sunny |
| Fri, 5 PM CDT | 83°F | 5 mph SE (135°) | 9 mph | 1% | 8% | Sunny |
| Fri, 6 PM CDT | 81°F | 3 mph SE (135°) | 6 mph | 1% | 15% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 7 PM CDT | 76°F | 2 mph SE (135°) | 5 mph | 1% | 27% | Partly Cloudy |
| Fri, 8 PM CDT | 70°F | 2 mph ESE (113°) | 6 mph | 1% | 36% | Partly Cloudy |
| Fri, 9 PM CDT | 68°F | 2 mph ESE (113°) | 7 mph | 1% | 34% | Partly Cloudy |
| Fri, 10 PM CDT | 66°F | 2 mph ESE (113°) | 7 mph | 1% | 48% | Partly Cloudy |
| Fri, 11 PM CDT | 66°F | 2 mph ESE (113°) | 7 mph | 1% | 48% | Partly Cloudy |
| Sat, 12 AM CDT | 65°F | 2 mph SE (135°) | 7 mph | 1% | 51% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sat, 1 AM CDT | 64°F | 2 mph SE (135°) | 8 mph | 1% | 71% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sat, 2 AM CDT | 65°F | 2 mph SE (135°) | 7 mph | 1% | 81% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sat, 3 AM CDT | 64°F | 2 mph SE (135°) | 7 mph | 1% | 85% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sat, 4 AM CDT | 63°F | 2 mph ESE (113°) | 6 mph | 1% | 88% | Cloudy |
| Sat, 5 AM CDT | 63°F | 2 mph ESE (113°) | 6 mph | 1% | 91% | Cloudy |
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 | Overnight October 9, 2026 | Friday October 9, 2026 | Friday Night October 9, 2026 | Saturday October 10, 2026 | Saturday Night October 10, 2026 | Sunday October 11, 2026 | Sunday Night 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 52° | 86° | 61° | 73° | 59° | 76° | 59° | 86° | 66° | 85° | 64° | 82° | 64° | 81° |
| Wind | 0 mph | SE 1 to 7 mph | SE 3 mph | ENE 2 to 13 mph | NNE 5 to 13 mph | NW 3 to 7 mph | WSW 1 mph | SW 2 to 9 mph | SSW 8 mph | SW 5 to 9 mph | S 6 mph | SSE 5 to 8 mph | S 6 mph | SSW 6 to 10 mph |
| Gusts | 5 mph | 12 mph | 8 mph | 21 mph | 21 mph | 13 mph | 5 mph | 15 mph | 14 mph | 15 mph | 12 mph | 13 mph | 13 mph | 17 mph |
| Precip % | 0% | 1% | 1% | 63% | 75% | 41% | 3% | 0% | 0% | 5% | 7% | 19% | 19% | 26% |
| Forecast |
No active USGS or USACE telemetry gauge is currently mapped to Crab Orchard Lake. Not available from a verified source for this lake.
Nearby river temperature: 70.9°F at BIG MUDDY RIVER AT RTE 127 AT MURPHYSBORO, IL (16.1 mi away) · Oct 9, 10:00 AM UTC
Good for fishing (85/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 0 mph from the east-southeast. 0% chance of precipitation. 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.
Excellent for boating (99/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 0 mph from the east-southeast. Gusts to 5 mph. 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.
Fair for sailing (61/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: No active official alerts for this lake. Gusts are within 5 mph of sustained wind, so the breeze is steady. Working against it: Wind 0 mph is light; expect limited sailing. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility. Confidence is high (88%).
Excellent for kayaking (98/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 0 mph from the east-southeast. Gusts to 5 mph. 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 IL Parks & Wildlife Authority. Public boaters should verify seasonal launch water levels, gate hours, and daily vehicle/vessel fees before traveling.
Celebrated for its accessible waters and scenic surroundings, Crab Orchard Lake is a standout freshwater reservoir in IL for weekend recreation. Boaters, anglers, and paddlers share its waters while enjoying well-maintained public amenities around the perimeter. Always check local launch ramp conditions and weather windows before arrival.
Valid freshwater sport fishing license issued by Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is required for anglers age 16+. Digital license on mobile is accepted.
Current motorized watercraft registration mandatory. Practice Clean, Drain & Dry protocols: drain all livewells and inspect props before launching. Life jackets required for all passengers.
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 Warmouth, Green Sunfish, Black Crappie, Redear Sunfish. 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 Crab Orchard 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 9, 5:40 AM CDT