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Lake Kampeska is a glacial lake in South Dakota. Its recorded surface area is approximately 5,250 acres. It reaches a maximum depth of roughly 15 feet at an elevation of about 1,718 feet. Fish documented in the area include Green Sunfish, Walleye, Common Carp, and Yellow Perch. A nearby water gauge supplies level and temperature readings where available. If you are planning a trip, Lake Poinsett and Big Stone Lake are also nearby. The page brings together an hourly and 7-day forecast, wind and gust outlook, water readings, fishing conditions, and activity scores for boating, paddling, and swimming. Current weather, wind, and activity conditions for Lake Kampeska are updated throughout the day.
Updated
No active alerts for this lake as of the last check (Oct 10, 10:55 PM CDT). Alerts are re-checked automatically; see the official source for updates.
Overall Excellent (91/100) across 4 activities. Best right now: Boating (95/100).
How the score is calculated →Best excellent fishing window, averaging 92/100 across these hours. Wind 10 mph from the east-southeast. Dawn hours (07:00 local). Derived from the hourly forecast; official alerts are not forecast and are checked separately.
| Metric | 3a | 4a | 5a | 6a | 7a | 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | 8p | 9p | 10p | 11p | 12a | 1a | 2a |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 69° | 68° | 67° | 66° | 67° | 68° | 68° | 66° | 64° | 63° | 62° | 64° | 67° | 70° | 73° | 76° | 76° | 77° | 78° | 76° | 75° | 72° | 66° | 64° |
| Wind (kts) | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Direction | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | SE | SE | E | E | E | E | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE |
| Gusts (kts) | 10 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 0% | 2% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Time | Temp | Wind | Gusts | Precip | Cloud | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, 10 PM CDT | 69°F | 5 mph S (180°) | 12 mph | 0% | 2% | Clear |
| Sat, 11 PM CDT | 68°F | 5 mph S (180°) | 12 mph | 0% | 3% | Clear |
| Sun, 12 AM CDT | 67°F | 3 mph S (180°) | 9 mph | 0% | 4% | Clear |
| Sun, 1 AM CDT | 66°F | 2 mph S (180°) | 8 mph | 1% | 11% | Mostly Clear |
| Sun, 2 AM CDT | 67°F | 6 mph S (180°) | 13 mph | 1% | 4% | Clear |
| Sun, 3 AM CDT | 68°F | 12 mph SSE (158°) | 20 mph | 1% | 8% | Mostly Clear |
| Sun, 4 AM CDT | 68°F | 12 mph SSE (158°) | 20 mph | 1% | 13% | Mostly Clear |
| Sun, 5 AM CDT | 66°F | 12 mph SSE (158°) | 18 mph | 1% | 18% | Mostly Clear |
| Sun, 6 AM CDT | 64°F | 10 mph SSE (158°) | 17 mph | 1% | 12% | Sunny |
| Sun, 7 AM CDT | 63°F | 10 mph ESE (113°) | 17 mph | 1% | 33% | Mostly Sunny |
| Sun, 8 AM CDT | 62°F | 9 mph ESE (113°) | 16 mph | 1% | 31% | Mostly Sunny |
| Sun, 9 AM CDT | 64°F | 8 mph E (90°) | 14 mph | 1% | 30% | Mostly Sunny |
| Sun, 10 AM CDT | 67°F | 7 mph E (90°) | 14 mph | 1% | 38% | Mostly Sunny |
| Sun, 11 AM CDT | 70°F | 8 mph E (90°) | 16 mph | 1% | 38% | Mostly Sunny |
| Sun, 12 PM CDT | 73°F | 8 mph ENE (68°) | 16 mph | 1% | 47% | Mostly Sunny |
| Sun, 1 PM CDT | 76°F | 9 mph NE (45°) | 17 mph | 1% | 54% | Partly Sunny |
| Sun, 2 PM CDT | 76°F | 9 mph NE (45°) | 17 mph | 1% | 68% | Partly Sunny |
| Sun, 3 PM CDT | 77°F | 9 mph NE (45°) | 17 mph | 2% | 73% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sun, 4 PM CDT | 78°F | 10 mph NE (45°) | 17 mph | 2% | 68% | Partly Sunny |
| Sun, 5 PM CDT | 76°F | 10 mph NE (45°) | 17 mph | 0% | 82% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sun, 6 PM CDT | 75°F | 10 mph NNE (23°) | 17 mph | 2% | 83% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sun, 7 PM CDT | 72°F | 12 mph NNE (23°) | 18 mph | 0% | 81% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sun, 8 PM CDT | 66°F | 12 mph NNE (23°) | 20 mph | 0% | 85% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sun, 9 PM CDT | 64°F | 12 mph NNE (23°) | 20 mph | 0% | 88% | Cloudy |
| Sun, 10 PM CDT | 62°F | 13 mph N (0°) | 20 mph | 0% | 88% | 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 | Tonight 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 | Friday October 16, 2026 | Friday Night October 16, 2026 | Saturday October 17, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 62° | 79° | 51° | 67° | 45° | 59° | 42° | 59° | 43° | 58° | 41° | 54° | 35° | 56° |
| Wind | S 2 to 12 mph | E 7 to 10 mph | NNE 13 mph | NNE 13 mph | N 13 mph | NNW 12 mph | NNE 5 to 8 mph | NE 7 to 12 mph | E 10 mph | NNE 9 to 13 mph | NW 12 to 17 mph | NW 15 to 22 mph | NNW 7 to 14 mph | W 8 to 14 mph |
| Gusts | 20 mph | 17 mph | 20 mph | 21 mph | 20 mph | 17 mph | 15 mph | 21 mph | 18 mph | 23 mph | 27 mph | 33 mph | 23 mph | 18 mph |
| Precip % | 1% | 2% | 2% | 44% | 44% | 3% | 5% | 15% | 37% | 51% | 44% | 24% | 9% | 4% |
| Forecast |
Good for fishing (89/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the south. 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 (95/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the south. No active official alerts for this lake. 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 (82/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: No active official alerts for this lake. Gusts exceed sustained wind by 7 mph, making the breeze puffy. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility. Confidence is high (88%).
Excellent for kayaking (95/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the south. Gusts to 12 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 SD Parks & Wildlife Authority. Public boaters should verify seasonal launch water levels, gate hours, and daily vehicle/vessel fees before traveling.
With its sweeping shoreline and open waters, Lake Kampeska in SD is a favorite getaway for anglers, watersports fans, and campers. The lake provides access via several public ramps, offering easy entry for trailered boats and kayaks. Follow state boating education standards and carry required safety equipment onboard.
Valid freshwater sport fishing license issued by South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (SDGFP) 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 Green Sunfish, Walleye, Common Carp, Yellow Perch. 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.
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 Kampeska 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 10, 10:55 PM CDT