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Lake Russell is a reservoir located in South Carolina. At around 26,650 acres (about 42 square miles), it is a large 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 Greenwood and Lake Keowee. Check the hourly forecast and activity outlook below before heading out to Lake Russell.
Updated
Latest source update is older than expected. Use caution and check the official source.
The last automated check (Oct 9, 4:30 AM EDT) found no active alerts for this lake, but that check is older than LakeRadar's alert freshness window, so the current alert status could not be confirmed.
Confirm before heading out: official alerts for this area or weather.gov/alerts. LakeRadar scores summarize available conditions and are not a substitute for official warnings, local rules, or on-water judgment.
Overall Excellent (90/100) across 5 activities. Best right now: Boating (98/100).
How the score is calculated →Best excellent fishing window, averaging 92/100 across these hours. Measured water temperature 76°F. Provisional data. Wind 6 mph from the northeast. Derived from the hourly forecast; official alerts are not forecast and are checked separately.
| Metric | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | 8p | 9p | 10p | 11p | 12a | 1a | 2a | 3a | 4a | 5a | 6a | 7a | 8a |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 64° | 64° | 63° | 64° | 65° | 68° | 70° | 71° | 73° | 75° | 75° | 76° | 75° | 74° | 72° | 69° | 68° | 68° | 67° | 66° | 65° | 64° | 64° | 63° |
| Wind (kts) | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| Direction | NE | NE | NE | NE | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E |
| Gusts (kts) | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 6% | 8% | 9% | 20% | 32% | 35% | 37% | 61% | 71% |
| Time | Temp | Wind | Gusts | Precip | Cloud | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 5 AM EDT | 64°F | 5 mph NE (45°) | 9 mph | 0% | 77% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 6 AM EDT | 64°F | 6 mph NE (45°) | 12 mph | 0% | 83% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 7 AM EDT | 63°F | 7 mph NE (45°) | 14 mph | 0% | 82% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 8 AM EDT | 64°F | 8 mph NE (45°) | 16 mph | 1% | 81% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 9 AM EDT | 65°F | 9 mph ENE (68°) | 17 mph | 1% | 76% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 10 AM EDT | 68°F | 10 mph ENE (68°) | 18 mph | 2% | 79% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 11 AM EDT | 70°F | 10 mph ENE (68°) | 18 mph | 2% | 81% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 12 PM EDT | 71°F | 12 mph ENE (68°) | 20 mph | 2% | 81% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 1 PM EDT | 73°F | 12 mph ENE (68°) | 21 mph | 1% | 87% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 2 PM EDT | 75°F | 10 mph ENE (68°) | 20 mph | 1% | 87% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 3 PM EDT | 75°F | 10 mph ENE (68°) | 18 mph | 1% | 85% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 4 PM EDT | 76°F | 9 mph ENE (68°) | 18 mph | 1% | 86% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 5 PM EDT | 75°F | 9 mph ENE (68°) | 17 mph | 2% | 86% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 6 PM EDT | 74°F | 10 mph ENE (68°) | 20 mph | 2% | 92% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 7 PM EDT | 72°F | 10 mph ENE (68°) | 21 mph | 3% | 91% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 8 PM EDT | 69°F | 10 mph ENE (68°) | 21 mph | 6% | 91% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 9 PM EDT | 68°F | 12 mph ENE (68°) | 22 mph | 8% | 92% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 10 PM EDT | 68°F | 12 mph ENE (68°) | 22 mph | 9% | 95% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 11 PM EDT | 67°F | 12 mph ENE (68°) | 21 mph | 20% | 95% | Slight Chance Rain Showers |
| Sat, 12 AM EDT | 66°F | 12 mph ENE (68°) | 22 mph | 32% | 93% | Chance Rain Showers |
| Sat, 1 AM EDT | 65°F | 12 mph ENE (68°) | 23 mph | 35% | 93% | Chance Rain Showers |
| Sat, 2 AM EDT | 64°F | 13 mph ENE (68°) | 24 mph | 37% | 94% | Chance Rain Showers |
| Sat, 3 AM EDT | 64°F | 14 mph ENE (68°) | 25 mph | 61% | 92% | Rain Showers Likely |
| Sat, 4 AM EDT | 63°F | 15 mph ENE (68°) | 27 mph | 71% | 93% | Rain Showers Likely |
| Sat, 5 AM EDT | 62°F | 16 mph ENE (68°) | 28 mph | 82% | 94% | Rain Showers |
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 9, 2026 | Friday October 9, 2026 | Friday Night 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 63° | 76° | 61° | 71° | 65° | 77° | 62° | 83° | 60° | 86° | 62° | 86° | 61° | 82° |
| Wind | NE 5 mph | NE 6 to 12 mph | ENE 10 to 16 mph | ENE 18 mph | ESE 10 to 20 mph | SSW 8 to 14 mph | W 7 to 12 mph | WNW 10 mph | WNW 2 to 7 mph | WNW 3 mph | WSW 2 mph | NNE 3 mph | ESE 3 mph | E 2 to 6 mph |
| Gusts | 9 mph | 21 mph | 28 mph | 32 mph | 31 mph | 22 mph | 21 mph | 17 mph | 14 mph | 8 mph | 7 mph | 7 mph | 7 mph | 10 mph |
| Precip % | 0% | 2% | 82% | 98% | 100% | 58% | 7% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 5% |
| Forecast |
RUSSELL LAKE ABOVE CALHOUN FALLS, SC · Oct 9, 6:00 AM UTC
Excellent for fishing (90/100), from 6 available inputs. Supporting this: Measured water temperature 76°F. Provisional data. Wind 2 mph from the north-northeast. Not available from a verified source for this lake: pressure trend. Confidence is moderate (73%) because some inputs are unavailable or older than ideal.
Excellent for boating (98/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 2 mph from the north-northeast. Gusts to 7 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.
Fair for sailing (69/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: No active official alerts for this lake. Gusts are within 5 mph of sustained wind, so the breeze is steady. Working against it: Wind 2 mph is light; expect limited sailing. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility. Confidence is high (88%).
Excellent for kayaking (98/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 2 mph from the north-northeast. Gusts to 7 mph. Confidence is high (90%).
Surface water measured at 76°F. Air and water contrast evaluate recreational immersion comfort.
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Individual boat ramp GPS coordinates are maintained under the jurisdiction of SC Parks & Wildlife Authority. Public boaters should verify seasonal launch water levels, gate hours, and daily vehicle/vessel fees before traveling.
Renowned among outdoor enthusiasts in SC, Lake Russell provides reliable access for boating, angling, and peaceful paddling. The surrounding natural areas feature public launches and seasonal campgrounds that enhance the visitor experience. Observe safe navigation speeds and always wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
Valid freshwater sport fishing license issued by South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) 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 Striped Bass, Common Carp, White Bass, Bluegill. 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 Russell 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, 5:30 AM EDT