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Lake Waccamaw is a lake in North Carolina. At around 8,938 acres (about 14 square miles), it is a mid-sized waterbody. Fish documented in the area include White Catfish, Warmouth, Yellow Perch, and Largemouth Bass. The deepest point reaches about 11 feet, and the surface sits near 43 feet above sea level. 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. A nearby water gauge supplies level and temperature readings where available. Current weather, wind, and activity conditions for Lake Waccamaw are updated throughout the day.
Updated
No active alerts for this lake as of the last check (Oct 9, 2:43 AM EDT). Alerts are re-checked automatically; see the official source for updates.
Best excellent fishing window, averaging 92/100 across these hours. Wind 3 mph from the north. Dawn hours (07:00 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) | 66° | 66° | 65° | 65° | 65° | 64° | 64° | 66° | 69° | 71° | 74° | 75° | 77° | 77° | 77° | 77° | 76° | 75° | 74° | 73° | 72° | 72° | 72° | 72° |
| Wind (kts) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| Direction | NW | NW | N | N | N | N | N | N | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE |
| Gusts (kts) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 8% |
| Time | Temp | Wind | Gusts | Precip | Cloud | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 2 AM EDT | 66°F | 1 mph NW (315°) | 1 mph | 0% | 86% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 3 AM EDT | 66°F | 1 mph NW (315°) | 1 mph | 0% | 84% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 4 AM EDT | 65°F | 2 mph N (0°) | 2 mph | 0% | 82% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 5 AM EDT | 65°F | 2 mph N (0°) | 5 mph | 0% | 80% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 6 AM EDT | 65°F | 2 mph N (0°) | 5 mph | 0% | 79% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 7 AM EDT | 64°F | 3 mph N (0°) | 7 mph | 0% | 77% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 8 AM EDT | 64°F | 3 mph N (0°) | 7 mph | 0% | 76% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 9 AM EDT | 66°F | 5 mph N (0°) | 7 mph | 0% | 84% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 10 AM EDT | 69°F | 5 mph NE (45°) | 8 mph | 0% | 92% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 11 AM EDT | 71°F | 5 mph NE (45°) | 8 mph | 0% | 100% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 12 PM EDT | 74°F | 5 mph NE (45°) | 9 mph | 0% | 100% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 1 PM EDT | 75°F | 5 mph NE (45°) | 9 mph | 0% | 100% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 2 PM EDT | 77°F | 5 mph NE (45°) | 9 mph | 0% | 100% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 3 PM EDT | 77°F | 5 mph NE (45°) | 9 mph | 0% | 100% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 4 PM EDT | 77°F | 5 mph NE (45°) | 8 mph | 0% | 100% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 5 PM EDT | 77°F | 5 mph NE (45°) | 7 mph | 0% | 100% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 6 PM EDT | 76°F | 5 mph NE (45°) | 7 mph | 0% | 100% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 7 PM EDT | 75°F | 5 mph NE (45°) | 8 mph | 0% | 100% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 8 PM EDT | 74°F | 6 mph NE (45°) | 8 mph | 1% | 100% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 9 PM EDT | 73°F | 6 mph NE (45°) | 9 mph | 3% | 100% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 10 PM EDT | 72°F | 7 mph NE (45°) | 9 mph | 4% | 100% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 11 PM EDT | 72°F | 7 mph NE (45°) | 10 mph | 5% | 100% | Cloudy |
| Sat, 12 AM EDT | 72°F | 8 mph NE (45°) | 12 mph | 6% | 100% | Cloudy |
| Sat, 1 AM EDT | 72°F | 8 mph NE (45°) | 13 mph | 8% | 100% | Cloudy |
| Sat, 2 AM EDT | 71°F | 9 mph NE (45°) | 13 mph | 9% | 100% | 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 | 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) | 62° | 78° | 68° | 74° | 71° | 78° | 70° | 79° | 66° | 82° | 65° | 79° | 61° | 77° |
| Wind | NW 2 mph | NE 5 mph | NE 5 to 10 mph | E 14 mph | E 14 mph | SE 12 mph | SW 10 mph | W 9 mph | NW 6 mph | NW 5 mph | W 5 mph | NW 5 mph | NE 5 mph | NE 5 mph |
| Gusts | 5 mph | 9 mph | 16 mph | 24 mph | 24 mph | 20 mph | 17 mph | 13 mph | 8 mph | 7 mph | 7 mph | 7 mph | 8 mph | 8 mph |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 10% | 58% | 100% | 100% | 82% | 43% | 10% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 5% |
| Forecast |
No active USGS or USACE telemetry gauge is currently mapped to Lake Waccamaw. Not available from a verified source for this lake.
Nearby river temperature: 71.2°F at WACCAMAW RIVER NEAR LONGS, SC (29.4 mi away) · Oct 9, 5:45 AM UTC
Excellent for fishing (95/100), from 6 available inputs. Supporting this: Measured water temperature 71°F from a representative gauge 29.4 mi away. Provisional data. Wind 1 mph from the northwest. Not available from a verified source for this lake: pressure trend. Confidence is moderate (72%) because some inputs are unavailable or older than ideal.
Excellent for boating (99/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 1 mph from the northwest. 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.
Fair for sailing (68/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Gusts are within 0 mph of sustained wind, so the breeze is steady. No active official alerts for this lake. Working against it: Wind 1 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 1 mph from the northwest. Gusts to 1 mph. Confidence is high (90%).
No verified water temperature source exists for this lake, so a swimming comfort score is not shown.
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Individual boat ramp GPS coordinates are maintained under the jurisdiction of NC Parks & Wildlife Authority. Public boaters should verify seasonal launch water levels, gate hours, and daily vehicle/vessel fees before traveling.
Recognized as a popular outdoor hub in NC, Lake Waccamaw delivers abundant space for sailing, motorboating, and shoreline relaxation. Natural structure and depth contours create prime habitat for regional gamefish species. Safe boating operations and aquatic invasive species protocols are actively encouraged for all launched craft.
Valid freshwater sport fishing license issued by North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) 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 White Catfish, Warmouth, Yellow Perch, 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 Waccamaw 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, 2:43 AM EDT