Loading page content…
Loading page content…
Loading lake conditions…
Edward MacDowell Lake sits in New Hampshire and is classified as a reservoir. At around 102 acres, it is a modest waterbody. Below you will find an hourly and 7-day forecast, wind and gust outlook, and activity scores for boating, paddling, and swimming. Nearby alternatives include Lake Sunapee. Check the hourly forecast and activity outlook below before heading out to Edward MacDowell Lake.
Updated
No active alerts for this lake as of the last check (Oct 9, 8:30 AM EDT). Alerts are re-checked automatically; see the official source for updates.
Overall Excellent (91/100) across 4 activities. Best right now: Boating (96/100).
How the score is calculated →Best excellent fishing window, averaging 90/100 across these hours. Wind 5 mph from the west. Dusk hours (18:00 local). Derived from the hourly forecast; official alerts are not forecast and are checked separately.
| Metric | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | 8p | 9p | 10p | 11p | 12a | 1a | 2a | 3a | 4a | 5a | 6a | 7a | 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 46° | 50° | 55° | 57° | 59° | 60° | 60° | 61° | 60° | 60° | 57° | 52° | 52° | 50° | 49° | 48° | 47° | 46° | 45° | 43° | 42° | 41° | 40° | 39° |
| Wind (kts) | 4 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Direction | SW | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | NW | — | — | — | W | W | W | NW | NW | NW | NW |
| Gusts (kts) | 8 | 15 | 17 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Time | Temp | Wind | Gusts | Precip | Cloud | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 8 AM EDT | 46°F | 5 mph SW (225°) | 9 mph | 0% | 4% | Sunny |
| Fri, 9 AM EDT | 50°F | 5 mph W (270°) | 17 mph | 0% | 6% | Sunny |
| Fri, 10 AM EDT | 55°F | 10 mph W (270°) | 20 mph | 0% | 5% | Sunny |
| Fri, 11 AM EDT | 57°F | 10 mph W (270°) | 24 mph | 0% | 19% | Sunny |
| Fri, 12 PM EDT | 59°F | 15 mph W (270°) | 27 mph | 0% | 14% | Sunny |
| Fri, 1 PM EDT | 60°F | 15 mph W (270°) | 28 mph | 0% | 16% | Sunny |
| Fri, 2 PM EDT | 60°F | 15 mph W (270°) | 28 mph | 0% | 18% | Sunny |
| Fri, 3 PM EDT | 61°F | 15 mph W (270°) | 28 mph | 0% | 10% | Sunny |
| Fri, 4 PM EDT | 60°F | 15 mph W (270°) | 27 mph | 0% | 4% | Sunny |
| Fri, 5 PM EDT | 60°F | 10 mph W (270°) | 23 mph | 0% | 12% | Sunny |
| Fri, 6 PM EDT | 57°F | 5 mph W (270°) | 17 mph | 0% | 2% | Clear |
| Fri, 7 PM EDT | 52°F | 5 mph W (270°) | 14 mph | 1% | 2% | Clear |
| Fri, 8 PM EDT | 52°F | 5 mph W (270°) | 17 mph | 0% | 16% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 9 PM EDT | 50°F | 5 mph NW (315°) | 13 mph | 0% | 0% | Clear |
| Fri, 10 PM EDT | 49°F | Calm | 14 mph | 0% | 8% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 11 PM EDT | 48°F | Calm | 12 mph | 0% | 1% | Clear |
| Sat, 12 AM EDT | 47°F | Calm | 9 mph | 0% | 9% | Mostly Clear |
| Sat, 1 AM EDT | 46°F | 5 mph W (270°) | 9 mph | 0% | 16% | Mostly Clear |
| Sat, 2 AM EDT | 45°F | 5 mph W (270°) | 9 mph | 0% | 19% | Mostly Clear |
| Sat, 3 AM EDT | 43°F | 5 mph W (270°) | 7 mph | 0% | 11% | Mostly Clear |
| Sat, 4 AM EDT | 42°F | 5 mph NW (315°) | 7 mph | 0% | 5% | Clear |
| Sat, 5 AM EDT | 41°F | 5 mph NW (315°) | 6 mph | 0% | 4% | Clear |
| Sat, 6 AM EDT | 40°F | 5 mph NW (315°) | 6 mph | 0% | 5% | Sunny |
| Sat, 7 AM EDT | 39°F | 5 mph NW (315°) | 6 mph | 0% | 1% | Sunny |
| Sat, 8 AM EDT | 41°F | 5 mph NW (315°) | 8 mph | 0% | 1% | 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 9, 2026 | Tonight 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 | Thursday Night October 15, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 62° | 39° | 61° | 41° | 63° | 48° | 65° | 48° | 62° | 44° | 59° | 40° | 59° | 41° |
| Wind | W 5 to 15 mph | NW 0 to 5 mph | NW 0 to 5 mph | 0 mph | S 0 to 5 mph | 0 mph | N 0 to 5 mph | 0 mph | SW 0 to 5 mph | W 5 to 10 mph | NW 10 mph | NW 0 to 10 mph | NW 0 to 5 mph | SW 0 to 5 mph |
| Gusts | 30 mph | 17 mph | 9 mph | — | 12 mph | 5 mph | 7 mph | 2 mph | 14 mph | 17 mph | 20 mph | 16 mph | 9 mph | 5 mph |
| Precip % | 0% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 13% | 91% | 69% | 13% | 44% | 44% | 39% | 5% | 7% | 15% |
| Forecast |
No active USGS or USACE telemetry gauge is currently mapped to Edward MacDowell Lake. Not available from a verified source for this lake.
Nearby river temperature: 53.2°F at SOUHEGAN RIVER (SITE WLR-1) NEAR MILFORD, NH (18.9 mi away) · Oct 9, 11:45 AM UTC
Excellent for fishing (90/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the southwest. Morning hours (08:00 local). 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 (96/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the southwest. Gusts to 9 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.
Good for sailing (84/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Gusts are within 4 mph of sustained wind, so the breeze is steady. No active official alerts for this lake. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility. Confidence is high (88%).
Excellent for kayaking (94/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the southwest. Gusts to 9 mph. Confidence is high (90%).
Water temperature is not available from a verified source for this lake. No swimming score is shown without it.
Loading interactive map…
Individual boat ramp GPS coordinates are maintained under the jurisdiction of NH Parks & Wildlife Authority. Public boaters should verify seasonal launch water levels, gate hours, and daily vehicle/vessel fees before traveling.
Offering scenic water views and diverse outdoor activities, Edward MacDowell Lake is a premier destination in NH for boaters, anglers, and nature enthusiasts. Its waters support healthy gamefish populations alongside seasonal paddlecraft exploration. Review local launch regulations and safety guidelines before putting in for the day.
Valid freshwater sport fishing license issued by New Hampshire Fish and Game Department 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.
Low-wake cruising, electric-troll fishing craft, and quiet-water exploration. Target gamefish include Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, Brook Trout. 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.
Northern cold winter conditions with freezing air temperatures and potential surface ice formation. Ramps and water systems may be winterized. Confirm open status before visiting.
NWS API Web Service · License: U.S. Government work · Attribution: Data provided by the National Weather Service (api.weather.gov)
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 Edward MacDowell 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, 8:30 AM EDT