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Lower Otay Lake sits in California and is classified as a reservoir. Fish documented in the area include Bluegill, Common Carp, Brown Trout, and Largemouth Bass. Its recorded surface area is approximately 1,110 acres. A nearby water gauge supplies level and temperature readings where available. Coverage here includes an hourly and 7-day forecast, wind and gust outlook, water readings, fishing conditions, and activity scores for boating, paddling, and swimming. Nearby alternatives include San Vicente Reservoir and Lake Hodges. This page combines the live forecast, wind, and conditions for Lower Otay Lake so you can plan a visit.
Updated
Alerts are published by official agencies and shown verbatim. View the official alert source.
Coastal Flood Advisory issued October 9 at 2:12AM PDT until October 13 at 2:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Overall Good (78/100) across 4 activities. Best right now: Kayaking (86/100).
How the score is calculated →Best excellent fishing window, averaging 93/100 across these hours. Wind 0 mph from the west-northwest. Dawn hours (07:00 local). Derived from the hourly forecast; official alerts are not forecast and are checked separately.
| Metric | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | 8p | 9p | 10p | 11p | 12a | 1a | 2a | 3a | 4a | 5a | 6a | 7a | 8a | 9a |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 71° | 70° | 69° | 69° | 68° | 70° | 74° | 79° | 85° | 87° | 88° | 87° | 86° | 84° | 82° | 78° | 75° | 73° | 72° | 71° | 70° | 69° | 69° | 70° |
| Wind (kts) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Direction | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Gusts (kts) | 5 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Time | Temp | Wind | Gusts | Precip | Cloud | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 3 AM PDT | 71°F | Calm | 6 mph | 0% | 36% | Partly Cloudy |
| Fri, 4 AM PDT | 70°F | Calm | 1 mph | 0% | 36% | Partly Cloudy |
| Fri, 5 AM PDT | 69°F | Calm | 1 mph | 1% | 44% | Partly Cloudy |
| Fri, 6 AM PDT | 69°F | Calm | 6 mph | 1% | 44% | Mostly Sunny |
| Fri, 7 AM PDT | 68°F | Calm | 6 mph | 1% | 44% | Mostly Sunny |
| Fri, 8 AM PDT | 70°F | Calm | 6 mph | 1% | 22% | Sunny |
| Fri, 9 AM PDT | 74°F | Calm | 7 mph | 1% | 22% | Sunny |
| Fri, 10 AM PDT | 79°F | 5 mph W (270°) | 9 mph | 1% | 22% | Sunny |
| Fri, 11 AM PDT | 85°F | 5 mph W (270°) | 12 mph | 2% | 3% | Sunny |
| Fri, 12 PM PDT | 87°F | 10 mph W (270°) | 14 mph | 2% | 3% | Sunny |
| Fri, 1 PM PDT | 88°F | 10 mph W (270°) | 16 mph | 2% | 3% | Sunny |
| Fri, 2 PM PDT | 87°F | 10 mph W (270°) | 17 mph | 2% | 1% | Sunny |
| Fri, 3 PM PDT | 86°F | 10 mph W (270°) | 17 mph | 2% | 1% | Sunny |
| Fri, 4 PM PDT | 84°F | 10 mph W (270°) | 16 mph | 2% | 1% | Sunny |
| Fri, 5 PM PDT | 82°F | 10 mph W (270°) | 15 mph | 1% | 2% | Sunny |
| Fri, 6 PM PDT | 78°F | 5 mph W (270°) | 12 mph | 1% | 2% | Clear |
| Fri, 7 PM PDT | 75°F | 5 mph W (270°) | 9 mph | 1% | 2% | Clear |
| Fri, 8 PM PDT | 73°F | 5 mph W (270°) | 8 mph | 1% | 24% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 9 PM PDT | 72°F | Calm | 7 mph | 1% | 24% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 10 PM PDT | 71°F | Calm | 7 mph | 1% | 24% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 11 PM PDT | 70°F | Calm | 7 mph | 1% | 83% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sat, 12 AM PDT | 69°F | Calm | 7 mph | 1% | 83% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sat, 1 AM PDT | 69°F | Calm | 7 mph | 1% | 83% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sat, 2 AM PDT | 70°F | Calm | 7 mph | 1% | 96% | Cloudy |
| Sat, 3 AM PDT | 69°F | Calm | 7 mph | 1% | 96% | 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) | 68° | 88° | 67° | 80° | 66° | 73° | 59° | 68° | 56° | 71° | 55° | 74° | 59° | 83° |
| Wind | 0 mph | NW 0 to 10 mph | NW 0 to 5 mph | W 0 to 10 mph | NW 5 to 15 mph | W 10 to 15 mph | SW 10 to 15 mph | SW 10 to 15 mph | SW 5 to 10 mph | SW 5 to 10 mph | N 5 to 10 mph | N 5 to 10 mph | N 5 to 10 mph | NW 0 to 10 mph |
| Gusts | 6 mph | 17 mph | 12 mph | 16 mph | 25 mph | 27 mph | 25 mph | 27 mph | 23 mph | 21 mph | 21 mph | 17 mph | 17 mph | 16 mph |
| Precip % | 1% | 2% | 2% | 14% | 72% | 72% | 73% | 66% | 53% | 16% | 4% | 1% | 0% | 0% |
| Forecast |
No active USGS or USACE telemetry gauge is currently mapped to Lower Otay Lake. Not available from a verified source for this lake.
Good for fishing (85/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 0 mph from the west-northwest. 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.
Good for boating (84/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 0 mph from the west-northwest. Gusts to 6 mph. Working against it: Active moderate alert: Beach Hazards Statement. 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.
Poor for sailing (46/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Gusts exceed sustained wind by 6 mph, making the breeze puffy. 0% chance of precipitation. Working against it: Wind 0 mph is light; expect limited sailing. Active moderate alert: Beach Hazards Statement. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility. Confidence is high (88%).
Good for kayaking (86/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 0 mph from the west-northwest. Gusts to 6 mph. Working against it: Active moderate alert: Beach Hazards Statement. 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 CA Parks & Wildlife Authority. Public boaters should verify seasonal launch water levels, gate hours, and daily vehicle/vessel fees before traveling.
Known for its reliable water levels and open navigation, Lower Otay Lake in CA welcomes visitors for boating, paddling, and shoreline recreation. The waterbody supports an active angling community pursuing both native and stocked sportfish. Verifying ramp depth and seasonal regulations helps ensure safe launch operations.
Valid freshwater sport fishing license issued by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is required for anglers age 16+. Digital license on mobile is accepted.
Mandatory Clean, Drain & Dry inspection. Out-of-area craft require on-site Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS Quagga/Zebra) inspection or decontamination before launch. USCG life jackets required for all.
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 Bluegill, Common Carp, Brown Trout, 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 Lower Otay Lake 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, 3:39 AM PDT