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Lake Poinsett is a lake located in South Dakota. Its recorded surface area is approximately 7,903 acres. Coverage here includes an hourly and 7-day forecast, wind and gust outlook, and activity scores for boating, paddling, and swimming. If you are planning a trip, Lake Kampeska are also nearby. This page combines the live forecast, wind, and conditions for Lake Poinsett so you can plan a visit.
Updated
No active alerts for this lake as of the last check (Oct 11, 1:02 PM CDT). Alerts are re-checked automatically; see the official source for updates.
Overall Good (89/100) across 4 activities. Best right now: Boating (92/100).
How the score is calculated →Best excellent fishing window, averaging 91/100 across these hours. Wind 7 mph from the northeast. Dusk hours (18:00 local). Derived from the hourly forecast; official alerts are not forecast and are checked separately.
| Metric | 6p | 7p | 8p | 9p | 10p | 11p | 12a | 1a | 2a | 3a | 4a | 5a | 6a | 7a | 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 72° | 72° | 74° | 77° | 80° | 77° | 75° | 72° | 66° | 64° | 62° | 61° | 59° | 58° | 57° | 56° | 54° | 54° | 53° | 52° | 54° | 57° | 61° | 65° |
| Wind (kts) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
| Direction | S | S | S | SE | SE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE |
| Gusts (kts) | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 6% | 6% | 14% | 16% | 14% |
| Time | Temp | Wind | Gusts | Precip | Cloud | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, 1 PM CDT | 72°F | 8 mph S (180°) | 13 mph | 0% | 9% | Sunny |
| Sun, 2 PM CDT | 72°F | 8 mph SSE (158°) | 13 mph | 0% | 20% | Sunny |
| Sun, 3 PM CDT | 74°F | 8 mph SSE (158°) | 13 mph | 0% | 28% | Mostly Sunny |
| Sun, 4 PM CDT | 77°F | 8 mph SE (135°) | 13 mph | 1% | 62% | Partly Sunny |
| Sun, 5 PM CDT | 80°F | 7 mph ESE (113°) | 13 mph | 1% | 74% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sun, 6 PM CDT | 77°F | 7 mph NE (45°) | 12 mph | 1% | 84% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sun, 7 PM CDT | 75°F | 8 mph NE (45°) | 13 mph | 2% | 90% | Cloudy |
| Sun, 8 PM CDT | 72°F | 9 mph NNE (23°) | 15 mph | 2% | 90% | Cloudy |
| Sun, 9 PM CDT | 66°F | 10 mph NNE (23°) | 16 mph | 3% | 86% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sun, 10 PM CDT | 64°F | 10 mph NNE (23°) | 16 mph | 3% | 83% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sun, 11 PM CDT | 62°F | 9 mph NNE (23°) | 15 mph | 2% | 80% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Mon, 12 AM CDT | 61°F | 8 mph NNE (23°) | 14 mph | 2% | 76% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Mon, 1 AM CDT | 59°F | 8 mph NNE (23°) | 13 mph | 3% | 57% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Mon, 2 AM CDT | 58°F | 8 mph NNE (23°) | 13 mph | 3% | 60% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Mon, 3 AM CDT | 57°F | 9 mph NNE (23°) | 14 mph | 3% | 57% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Mon, 4 AM CDT | 56°F | 9 mph NNE (23°) | 15 mph | 3% | 49% | Partly Cloudy |
| Mon, 5 AM CDT | 54°F | 9 mph NNE (23°) | 16 mph | 3% | 55% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Mon, 6 AM CDT | 54°F | 10 mph NE (45°) | 16 mph | 2% | 62% | Partly Sunny |
| Mon, 7 AM CDT | 53°F | 10 mph NE (45°) | 17 mph | 3% | 70% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Mon, 8 AM CDT | 52°F | 10 mph NE (45°) | 17 mph | 6% | 76% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Mon, 9 AM CDT | 54°F | 12 mph NE (45°) | 18 mph | 6% | 49% | Mostly Sunny |
| Mon, 10 AM CDT | 57°F | 10 mph NE (45°) | 18 mph | 14% | 42% | Mostly Sunny |
| Mon, 11 AM CDT | 61°F | 10 mph NE (45°) | 17 mph | 16% | 49% | Chance Rain Showers |
| Mon, 12 PM CDT | 65°F | 9 mph NE (45°) | 16 mph | 14% | 59% | Partly Sunny |
| Mon, 1 PM CDT | 68°F | 8 mph NNE (23°) | 16 mph | 6% | 38% | Mostly 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 | This Afternoon October 11, 2026 | Tonight 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 | Saturday Night October 17, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 81° | 52° | 73° | 45° | 60° | 41° | 61° | 42° | 58° | 38° | 52° | 32° | 55° | 39° |
| Wind | SSE 8 mph | NE 7 to 10 mph | N 8 to 12 mph | NW 12 to 15 mph | NNW 12 mph | N 5 to 8 mph | NE 6 to 9 mph | E 8 mph | NNE 6 to 14 mph | NW 13 to 20 mph | NW 15 to 22 mph | NW 5 to 13 mph | SW 6 to 15 mph | S 13 to 17 mph |
| Gusts | 13 mph | 16 mph | 20 mph | 23 mph | 18 mph | 14 mph | 17 mph | 15 mph | 24 mph | 28 mph | 33 mph | 22 mph | 27 mph | 28 mph |
| Precip % | 1% | 3% | 16% | 1% | 3% | 3% | 9% | 40% | 45% | 36% | 20% | 4% | 3% | 6% |
| Forecast |
Good for fishing (84/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 8 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 (92/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 8 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.
Excellent for sailing (92/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 8 mph from the S is in the preferred sailing range. No active official alerts for this lake. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility. Confidence is high (88%).
Excellent for kayaking (92/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 8 mph from the south. Gusts to 13 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.
Offering scenic water views and diverse outdoor activities, Lake Poinsett is a premier destination in SD 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 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 Channel Catfish, Walleye, Common Carp, Smallmouth 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.
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 Poinsett 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, 1:02 PM CDT