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Official National Weather Service (NWS) point forecast and real-time wind conditions for Lake Mendocino (California). 24-hour hour-by-hour wind timelines, peak gusts, watercraft recreation safety thresholds, and 7-day marine outlook.
Today: High 72°F · Low 48°F
Peak gusts: 6 mph · Lake surface chop expected
Humidity: 43% · Barometer: 29.87 inHg
Live hydrological sensor reading for Lake Mendocino.
Excellent for boating (99/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 1 mph from the north. Gusts to 1 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 fishing (84/100), from 6 available inputs. Supporting this: Measured water temperature 58°F from a representative gauge 3.9 mi away. Provisional data. Wind 1 mph from the north. Not available from a verified source for this lake: pressure trend. Confidence is moderate (82%) because some inputs are unavailable or older than ideal.
Good for kayaking (83/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 1 mph from the north. Gusts to 1 mph. Combined air and water temperature is 110°F (below the 120°F safety guideline). Thermal protection recommended for paddle craft. Confidence is high (90%).
Poor for swimming (48/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: No active official alerts for this lake. 0% chance of precipitation. Working against it: Measured water temperature 58°F from a representative gauge 3.9 mi away. Provisional data. Cold water hazard: thermal protection recommended below 60°F. Air temperature 52°F. Water temperature is 58°F (below 60°F). Immersion requires thermal protection. Confidence is high (87%).
| Time | Air Temp | Wind (mph) | Direction | Peak Gusts | Rain Chance | Sky & Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 AM | 52°F | 1 mph | N | ⚡ 1 mph | 0% | Patchy Fog |
| 11 AM | 58°F | 3 mph | W | ⚡ 5 mph | 0% | Sunny |
| 12 PM | 62°F | 3 mph | W | ⚡ 5 mph | 0% | Sunny |
| 1 PM | 67°F | 3 mph | W | ⚡ 5 mph | 0% | Sunny |
| 2 PM | 71°F | 10 mph | W | ⚡ 15 mph | 0% | Sunny |
| 3 PM | 72°F | 10 mph | W | ⚡ 15 mph | 0% | Sunny |
| 4 PM | 72°F | 10 mph | W | ⚡ 15 mph | 0% | Sunny |
| 5 PM | 72°F | 5 mph | W | ⚡ 7 mph | 2% | Sunny |
| 6 PM | 68°F | 5 mph | W | ⚡ 7 mph | 2% | Mostly Clear |
| 7 PM | 66°F | 5 mph | W | ⚡ 7 mph | 2% | Mostly Clear |
| 8 PM | 64°F | 3 mph | S | ⚡ 5 mph | 0% | Mostly Clear |
| 9 PM | 60°F | 3 mph | S | ⚡ 5 mph | 0% | Mostly Clear |
| 10 PM | 58°F | 3 mph | S | ⚡ 5 mph | 0% | Mostly Clear |
| 11 PM | 56°F | 2 mph | N | ⚡ 4 mph | 0% | Mostly Clear |
| 12 AM | 54°F | 2 mph | N | ⚡ 4 mph | 0% | Mostly Clear |
| 1 AM | 52°F | 2 mph | N | ⚡ 4 mph | 0% | Mostly Clear |
| 2 AM | 50°F | 1 mph | N | ⚡ 2 mph | 0% | Clear |
| 3 AM | 48°F | 1 mph | N | ⚡ 2 mph | 0% | Clear |
| 4 AM | 47°F | 1 mph | N | ⚡ 2 mph | 0% | Clear |
| 5 AM | 44°F | 2 mph | S | ⚡ 4 mph | 0% | Clear |
| 6 AM | 43°F | 2 mph | S | ⚡ 4 mph | 0% | Sunny |
| 7 AM | 41°F | 2 mph | S | ⚡ 4 mph | 0% | Sunny |
| 8 AM | 41°F | 1 mph | W | ⚡ 1 mph | 0% | Sunny |
| 9 AM | 46°F | 1 mph | W | ⚡ 1 mph | 0% | Sunny |
Mirror-like to gentle rippled water. Optimal conditions for paddleboarding, kayaking, swimming, and beginner water skiing or wakeboarding.
Pleasant breeze with small wavelets. Great for sailing, pleasure cruising, pontoon boats, and trolling for trout and bass.
Moderate waves with whitecaps likely. Requires skilled boat handling; kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards should stay close to sheltered bays.
Steep waves, cold spray, and hazardous open water. Avoid small craft voyages. Always check official National Weather Service lake wind advisories.
Patchy fog before 11am. Sunny, with a high near 73. West northwest wind 1 to 10 mph.
Mostly clear, with a low around 41. West wind 1 to 5 mph.
Sunny, with a high near 72. West southwest wind 1 to 6 mph.
Patchy frost after 5am. Mostly clear, with a low around 36. North northeast wind 0 to 6 mph.
Patchy frost before 8am. Sunny, with a high near 76. West southwest wind 0 to 8 mph.
Mostly clear, with a low around 44. North northeast wind 0 to 8 mph.
Sunny, with a high near 82.
Mostly clear, with a low around 48.
Sunny, with a high near 89.
Clear, with a low around 50.
Sunny, with a high near 90.
Clear, with a low around 51.
Sunny, with a high near 86.
Mostly clear, with a low around 50.
Lake Mendocino currently reports 59°F with wind velocity near 0 mph from the W. Atmospheric forecasts and 24-hour hour-by-hour wind timelines are updated hourly from the National Weather Service gridpoint matching the lake's coordinates.
At Lake Mendocino and surrounding mountain valleys, diurnal heating of the surrounding terrain causes strong thermal pressure differentials known locally as afternoon breezes (such as the Washoe Zephyr at Lake Tahoe). Wind speeds typically peak between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM before calming near sunset.
For stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), canoeing, and light kayaks, winds under 7 mph (light breeze) offer the safest, glassiest surface conditions. Between 8–14 mph, small wavelets develop, suitable for sailboats and powerboats. Winds exceeding 15 mph create steep whitecaps and rapid drift; winds over 21 mph warrant small craft warnings.
All weather and wind telemetry is fetched directly from the National Weather Service (NOAA - WFO EKA) high-resolution numerical point-forecast API. LakeRadar uses the official gridpoint for Lake Mendocino without artificial smoothing or third-party estimates.
Yes. Live hydrological sensor readings, 30-day elevation histories, full-pool benchmarks, and USGS station provenance are available on our dedicated Lake Mendocino Water Level & Temperature page.
View Lake Mendocino Water Level & Temperature →