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Lake Hopatcong is one of the reservoirs LakeRadar tracks in New Jersey. The deepest point reaches about 58 feet, and the surface sits near 924 feet above sea level. The water surface spans about 2,685 acres, making it a mid-sized body of water. Research-grade observations nearby include Chain Pickerel, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Black Crappie, and Largemouth Bass. Other waters in the region include Lake Hopatcong, Lake Mohawk, and Boonton Reservoir. LakeRadar pulls readings from a mapped water gauge, so current water data is shown when the station reports. Below you will find an hourly and 7-day forecast, wind and gust outlook, water readings, fishing conditions, and activity scores for boating, paddling, and swimming. This page combines the live forecast, wind, and conditions for Lake Hopatcong so you can plan a visit.
Updated
No active alerts for this lake as of the last check (Oct 11, 2:42 AM EDT). Alerts are re-checked automatically; see the official source for updates.
Overall Fair (65/100) across 4 activities. Best right now: Boating (72/100).
How the score is calculated →Best good fishing window, averaging 88/100 across these hours. Wind 5 mph from the east. Dawn hours (06:00 local). Derived from the hourly forecast; official alerts are not forecast and are checked separately.
| Metric | 6a | 7a | 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | 8p | 9p | 10p | 11p | 12a | 1a | 2a | 3a | 4a | 5a |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 50° | 51° | 51° | 51° | 51° | 52° | 53° | 55° | 56° | 58° | 59° | 59° | 60° | 60° | 60° | 61° | 60° | 59° | 59° | 59° | 59° | 59° | 59° | 58° |
| Wind (kts) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Direction | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | NE | NE | NE |
| Gusts (kts) | 7 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 30% | 43% | 55% | 62% | 84% | 81% | 99% | 98% | 93% | 94% | 96% | 93% | 90% | 74% | 59% | 43% | 20% | 54% |
| Time | Temp | Wind | Gusts | Precip | Cloud | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, 2 AM EDT | 50°F | 5 mph E (90°) | 8 mph | 0% | 68% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sun, 3 AM EDT | 51°F | 5 mph E (90°) | 10 mph | 0% | 76% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sun, 4 AM EDT | 51°F | 5 mph E (90°) | 10 mph | 0% | 83% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sun, 5 AM EDT | 51°F | 5 mph E (90°) | 12 mph | 0% | 91% | Cloudy |
| Sun, 6 AM EDT | 51°F | 5 mph E (90°) | 13 mph | 0% | 94% | Cloudy |
| Sun, 7 AM EDT | 52°F | 5 mph E (90°) | 14 mph | 1% | 97% | Cloudy |
| Sun, 8 AM EDT | 53°F | 5 mph E (90°) | 15 mph | 30% | 100% | Chance Light Rain |
| Sun, 9 AM EDT | 55°F | 5 mph E (90°) | 17 mph | 43% | 100% | Chance Light Rain |
| Sun, 10 AM EDT | 56°F | 10 mph E (90°) | 18 mph | 55% | 100% | Light Rain Likely |
| Sun, 11 AM EDT | 58°F | 10 mph E (90°) | 20 mph | 62% | 100% | Rain Likely |
| Sun, 12 PM EDT | 59°F | 10 mph E (90°) | 21 mph | 84% | 100% | Rain |
| Sun, 1 PM EDT | 59°F | 10 mph E (90°) | 22 mph | 81% | 100% | Rain |
| Sun, 2 PM EDT | 60°F | 10 mph E (90°) | 23 mph | 99% | 100% | Rain |
| Sun, 3 PM EDT | 60°F | 10 mph E (90°) | 22 mph | 98% | 100% | Rain |
| Sun, 4 PM EDT | 60°F | 10 mph E (90°) | 22 mph | 93% | 100% | Rain |
| Sun, 5 PM EDT | 61°F | 10 mph E (90°) | 23 mph | 94% | 100% | Rain |
| Sun, 6 PM EDT | 60°F | 10 mph E (90°) | 23 mph | 96% | 100% | Rain |
| Sun, 7 PM EDT | 59°F | 10 mph E (90°) | 24 mph | 93% | 99% | Rain |
| Sun, 8 PM EDT | 59°F | 10 mph E (90°) | 23 mph | 90% | 99% | Rain |
| Sun, 9 PM EDT | 59°F | 10 mph E (90°) | 22 mph | 74% | 98% | Showers And Thunderstorms Likely |
| Sun, 10 PM EDT | 59°F | 5 mph E (90°) | 18 mph | 59% | 98% | Showers And Thunderstorms Likely |
| Sun, 11 PM EDT | 59°F | 5 mph NE (45°) | 17 mph | 43% | 97% | Chance Showers And Thunderstorms |
| Mon, 12 AM EDT | 59°F | 5 mph NE (45°) | 17 mph | 20% | 95% | Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms |
| Mon, 1 AM EDT | 58°F | 5 mph NE (45°) | 15 mph | 54% | 92% | Chance Showers And Thunderstorms |
| Mon, 2 AM EDT | 58°F | 5 mph NE (45°) | 15 mph | 23% | 90% | Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms |
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 11, 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 | Friday October 16, 2026 | Friday Night October 16, 2026 | Saturday October 17, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 50° | 61° | 55° | 70° | 54° | 69° | 58° | 70° | 50° | 63° | 48° | 61° | 48° | 56° |
| Wind | E 5 mph | E 5 to 10 mph | NE 5 to 10 mph | N 5 mph | 0 mph | S 0 to 5 mph | SW 5 mph | W 5 to 10 mph | NW 5 mph | NW 0 to 5 mph | 0 mph | S 0 to 5 mph | SW 5 to 10 mph | NW 10 mph |
| Gusts | 12 mph | 25 mph | 25 mph | 18 mph | 10 mph | 15 mph | 17 mph | 20 mph | 17 mph | 16 mph | 12 mph | 20 mph | 24 mph | 29 mph |
| Precip % | 0% | 99% | 96% | 4% | 1% | 10% | 19% | 10% | 12% | 9% | 18% | 44% | 44% | 18% |
| Forecast |
Fair for fishing (59/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the east. 0% chance of precipitation. The forecast mentions thunderstorms, which carries a risk penalty. 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.
Fair for boating (72/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the east. Gusts to 8 mph. The forecast mentions thunderstorms, which carries a risk penalty. 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 (60/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Gusts are within 3 mph of sustained wind, so the breeze is steady. No active official alerts for this lake. The forecast mentions thunderstorms, which carries a risk penalty. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility. Confidence is high (88%).
Fair for kayaking (70/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the east. Gusts to 8 mph. The forecast mentions thunderstorms, which carries a risk penalty. 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 NJ Parks & Wildlife Authority. Public boaters should verify seasonal launch water levels, gate hours, and daily vehicle/vessel fees before traveling.
Lake Hopatcong is a well-known freshwater reservoir in NJ, providing refreshing open water and abundant outdoor recreation. Anglers value its seasonal bite while recreational boaters enjoy expansive open water corridors. Checking active weather advisories and water temperatures ensures a rewarding visit.
Valid freshwater sport fishing license issued by New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife 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 Chain Pickerel, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Black Crappie, 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 Lake Hopatcong 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, 2:42 AM EDT