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Nelson Reservoir is a reservoir in Montana. At around 4,500 acres (about 7 square miles), it is a mid-sized waterbody. LakeRadar pulls readings from a mapped water gauge, so current water data is shown when the station reports. Below you will find an hourly and 7-day forecast, wind and gust outlook, water readings, and activity scores for boating, paddling, and swimming. Check the hourly forecast and activity outlook below before heading out to Nelson Reservoir.
Updated
No active alerts for this lake as of the last check (Oct 9, 4:38 AM MDT). Alerts are re-checked automatically; see the official source for updates.
Overall Excellent (90/100) across 4 activities. Best right now: Boating (96/100).
How the score is calculated →Best excellent fishing window, averaging 93/100 across these hours. Wind 5 mph from the west-southwest. Dusk hours (19:00 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) | 44° | 43° | 42° | 43° | 43° | 48° | 57° | 64° | 71° | 77° | 81° | 82° | 83° | 82° | 78° | 73° | 64° | 61° | 59° | 57° | 56° | 55° | 54° | 52° |
| Wind (kts) | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Direction | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | S | S | SW | SW | SW | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | NW | NW | NW | W | W | W |
| Gusts (kts) | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 1% |
| Time | Temp | Wind | Gusts | Precip | Cloud | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 4 AM MDT | 44°F | 5 mph ESE (113°) | 9 mph | 0% | 58% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 5 AM MDT | 43°F | 5 mph ESE (113°) | 7 mph | 0% | 66% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 6 AM MDT | 42°F | 3 mph ESE (113°) | 7 mph | 0% | 71% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 7 AM MDT | 43°F | 3 mph ESE (113°) | 6 mph | 0% | 74% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 8 AM MDT | 43°F | 2 mph ESE (113°) | 6 mph | 0% | 69% | Partly Sunny |
| Fri, 9 AM MDT | 48°F | 3 mph ESE (113°) | 7 mph | 0% | 79% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 10 AM MDT | 57°F | 5 mph SSE (158°) | 9 mph | 0% | 50% | Mostly Sunny |
| Fri, 11 AM MDT | 64°F | 5 mph S (180°) | 12 mph | 0% | 60% | Partly Sunny |
| Fri, 12 PM MDT | 71°F | 7 mph SSW (203°) | 14 mph | 0% | 52% | Partly Sunny |
| Fri, 1 PM MDT | 77°F | 8 mph SW (225°) | 15 mph | 0% | 27% | Mostly Sunny |
| Fri, 2 PM MDT | 81°F | 10 mph SW (225°) | 18 mph | 0% | 23% | Sunny |
| Fri, 3 PM MDT | 82°F | 13 mph WSW (248°) | 22 mph | 0% | 11% | Sunny |
| Fri, 4 PM MDT | 83°F | 12 mph WSW (248°) | 21 mph | 0% | 10% | Sunny |
| Fri, 5 PM MDT | 82°F | 8 mph WSW (248°) | 15 mph | 0% | 5% | Sunny |
| Fri, 6 PM MDT | 78°F | 5 mph WSW (248°) | 10 mph | 0% | 7% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 7 PM MDT | 73°F | 5 mph WSW (248°) | 8 mph | 1% | 11% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 8 PM MDT | 64°F | 3 mph W (270°) | 7 mph | 1% | 11% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 9 PM MDT | 61°F | 5 mph W (270°) | 8 mph | 1% | 12% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 10 PM MDT | 59°F | 5 mph WNW (293°) | 10 mph | 1% | 32% | Partly Cloudy |
| Fri, 11 PM MDT | 57°F | 6 mph WNW (293°) | 10 mph | 2% | 49% | Partly Cloudy |
| Sat, 12 AM MDT | 56°F | 7 mph WNW (293°) | 13 mph | 1% | 46% | Partly Cloudy |
| Sat, 1 AM MDT | 55°F | 7 mph W (270°) | 13 mph | 2% | 52% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sat, 2 AM MDT | 54°F | 7 mph W (270°) | 13 mph | 2% | 56% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sat, 3 AM MDT | 52°F | 7 mph W (270°) | 14 mph | 1% | 63% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sat, 4 AM MDT | 50°F | 7 mph WNW (293°) | 13 mph | 1% | 60% | Mostly 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) | 42° | 84° | 43° | 59° | 30° | 44° | 27° | 46° | 28° | 55° | 31° | 59° | 32° | 55° |
| Wind | ESE 6 mph | S 2 to 13 mph | W 3 to 8 mph | NW 8 to 15 mph | N 13 to 16 mph | NNE 13 mph | NE 7 to 10 mph | E 6 mph | SE 5 mph | SSE 2 to 7 mph | SE 5 mph | WSW 2 to 8 mph | NW 8 to 15 mph | NW 20 to 23 mph |
| Gusts | 9 mph | 22 mph | 14 mph | 23 mph | 23 mph | 20 mph | 17 mph | 12 mph | 9 mph | 13 mph | 8 mph | 15 mph | 20 mph | 32 mph |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 2% | 9% | 80% | 89% | 70% | 57% | 13% | 7% | 11% | 15% | 31% | 24% |
| Forecast |
No active USGS or USACE telemetry gauge is currently mapped to Nelson Reservoir. Not available from a verified source for this lake.
Good for fishing (87/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the east-southeast. 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 (96/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the east-southeast. Gusts to 9 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 sailing (84/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Gusts are within 4 mph of sustained wind, so the breeze is steady. No active official alerts for this lake. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility. Confidence is high (88%).
Excellent for kayaking (94/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the east-southeast. Gusts to 9 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 MT Parks & Wildlife Authority. Public boaters should verify seasonal launch water levels, gate hours, and daily vehicle/vessel fees before traveling.
Celebrated for its accessible waters and scenic surroundings, Nelson Reservoir is a standout freshwater reservoir in MT for weekend recreation. Boaters, anglers, and paddlers share its waters while enjoying well-maintained public amenities around the perimeter. Always check local launch ramp conditions and weather windows before arrival.
Valid freshwater sport fishing license issued by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is required for anglers age 12+. 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. Active freshwater angling for native and stocked gamefish. 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 Nelson Reservoir 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, 4:38 AM MDT