Loading page content…
Loading page content…
Loading lake conditions…
Norton Reservoir is one of the reservoirs LakeRadar tracks in Kansas. Fish documented in the area include Largemouth Bass. The water surface spans about 2,200 acres, making it a mid-sized body of water. Water data on this page comes from a mapped monitoring station near the lake. The page brings together an hourly and 7-day forecast, wind and gust outlook, water readings, fishing conditions, and activity scores for boating, paddling, and swimming. If you are planning a trip, Keith Sebelius Lake, Harlan County Reservoir, and Harry Strunk Lake are also nearby. Current weather, wind, and activity conditions for Norton Reservoir are updated throughout the day.
Updated
Latest source update is older than expected. Use caution and check the official source.
The last automated check (Oct 9, 8:36 AM CDT) 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 4 activities. Best right now: Boating (94/100).
How the score is calculated →Best good fishing window, averaging 82/100 across these hours. Dusk hours (19:00 local). 0% chance of precipitation. Derived from the hourly forecast; official alerts are not forecast and are checked separately.
| Metric | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | 8p | 9p | 10p | 11p | 12a | 1a | 2a | 3a | 4a | 5a | 6a | 7a | 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 51° | 55° | 59° | 67° | 78° | 84° | 86° | 87° | 89° | 88° | 87° | 83° | 77° | 74° | 73° | 72° | 71° | 70° | 69° | 68° | 67° | 66° | 66° | 65° |
| Wind (kts) | 4 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 17 |
| Direction | SW | SW | SW | SW | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
| Gusts (kts) | 11 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 30 |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Time | Temp | Wind | Gusts | Precip | Cloud | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 8 AM CDT | 51°F | 5 mph SW (225°) | 13 mph | 0% | 5% | Sunny |
| Fri, 9 AM CDT | 55°F | 5 mph SW (225°) | 14 mph | 0% | 3% | Sunny |
| Fri, 10 AM CDT | 59°F | 10 mph SW (225°) | 17 mph | 0% | 1% | Sunny |
| Fri, 11 AM CDT | 67°F | 10 mph SW (225°) | 18 mph | 0% | 0% | Sunny |
| Fri, 12 PM CDT | 78°F | 10 mph S (180°) | 20 mph | 0% | 1% | Sunny |
| Fri, 1 PM CDT | 84°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 23 mph | 0% | 1% | Sunny |
| Fri, 2 PM CDT | 86°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 25 mph | 0% | 2% | Sunny |
| Fri, 3 PM CDT | 87°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 28 mph | 0% | 2% | Sunny |
| Fri, 4 PM CDT | 89°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 29 mph | 0% | 1% | Sunny |
| Fri, 5 PM CDT | 88°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 28 mph | 0% | 0% | Sunny |
| Fri, 6 PM CDT | 87°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 28 mph | 0% | 0% | Clear |
| Fri, 7 PM CDT | 83°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 24 mph | 0% | 1% | Clear |
| Fri, 8 PM CDT | 77°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 25 mph | 0% | 6% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 9 PM CDT | 74°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 28 mph | 0% | 5% | Clear |
| Fri, 10 PM CDT | 73°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 28 mph | 0% | 7% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 11 PM CDT | 72°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 29 mph | 0% | 5% | Clear |
| Sat, 12 AM CDT | 71°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 29 mph | 0% | 6% | Mostly Clear |
| Sat, 1 AM CDT | 70°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 29 mph | 0% | 3% | Clear |
| Sat, 2 AM CDT | 69°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 30 mph | 0% | 2% | Clear |
| Sat, 3 AM CDT | 68°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 30 mph | 0% | 4% | Clear |
| Sat, 4 AM CDT | 67°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 30 mph | 0% | 4% | Clear |
| Sat, 5 AM CDT | 66°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 30 mph | 0% | 4% | Clear |
| Sat, 6 AM CDT | 66°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 30 mph | 0% | 3% | Sunny |
| Sat, 7 AM CDT | 65°F | 20 mph S (180°) | 35 mph | 0% | 3% | Sunny |
| Sat, 8 AM CDT | 65°F | 20 mph S (180°) | 36 mph | 0% | 5% | 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 | Today October 9, 2026 | Today October 9, 2026 | Tonight 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) | 90° | 90° | 65° | 90° | 66° | 90° | 65° | 84° | 57° | 75° | 56° | 75° | 52° | 70° |
| Wind | S 5 to 15 mph | S 5 to 15 mph | S 15 mph | S 15 to 20 mph | S 15 to 20 mph | S 15 to 20 mph | S 10 to 15 mph | SW 10 mph | NE 10 to 15 mph | NE 10 mph | E 10 mph | S 10 to 15 mph | SW 10 to 15 mph | NW 10 to 15 mph |
| Gusts | 30 mph | 30 mph | 30 mph | 40 mph | 35 mph | 30 mph | 23 mph | 22 mph | 24 mph | 22 mph | 21 mph | 28 mph | 23 mph | 28 mph |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 2% | 7% | 40% | 40% | 27% | 16% |
| Forecast |
No active USGS or USACE telemetry gauge is currently mapped to Norton Reservoir. Not available from a verified source for this lake.
Excellent for fishing (91/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the southwest. Morning hours (08:00 local). 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 (94/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the southwest. 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.
Good for sailing (80/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: No active official alerts for this lake. Gusts exceed sustained wind by 8 mph, making the breeze puffy. 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 5 mph from the southwest. 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.
Loading interactive map…
Individual boat ramp GPS coordinates are maintained under the jurisdiction of KS Parks & Wildlife Authority. Public boaters should verify seasonal launch water levels, gate hours, and daily vehicle/vessel fees before traveling.
Set against KS's varied geography, Norton Reservoir is a prime destination for outdoor enthusiasts seeking quality fishing and open-water boating. The lake provides access via public ramps and developed parklands around its perimeter. Follow all state watercraft registration and mandatory life jacket laws during your outing.
Valid freshwater sport fishing license issued by Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) 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 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 Norton 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, 8:54 AM CDT