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Pactola Reservoir is one of the reservoirs LakeRadar tracks in South Dakota. At around 1,232 acres (about 2 square miles), it is a mid-sized waterbody. Below you will find an hourly and 7-day forecast, wind and gust outlook, and activity scores for boating, paddling, and swimming. Other waters in the region include Pactola Lake, Sylvan Lake, and Belle Fourche Reservoir. Check the hourly forecast and activity outlook below before heading out to Pactola Reservoir.
Updated
No active alerts for this lake as of the last check (Oct 11, 10:04 AM CDT). Alerts are re-checked automatically; see the official source for updates.
Overall Good (83/100) across 5 activities. Best right now: Boating (96/100). Includes an estimated (not verified) swimming outlook.
How the score is calculated →Best excellent fishing window, averaging 91/100 across these hours. Wind 6 mph from the northeast. Dusk hours (18:00 local). Derived from the hourly forecast; official alerts are not forecast and are checked separately.
| Metric | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | 8p | 9p | 10p | 11p | 12a | 1a | 2a | 3a | 4a | 5a | 6a | 7a | 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 51° | 56° | 59° | 60° | 60° | 59° | 60° | 59° | 56° | 52° | 49° | 47° | 47° | 47° | 47° | 46° | 46° | 46° | 45° | 45° | 44° | 43° | 42° | 44° |
| Wind (kts) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Direction | NE | NE | NE | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | SE | SE | SE | S | SE | E | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE |
| Gusts (kts) | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Precip % | 12% | 12% | 12% | 12% | 12% | 12% | 12% | 12% | 12% | 41% | 41% | 41% | 41% | 41% | 41% | 37% | 37% | 37% | 37% | 37% | 37% | 8% | 8% | 8% |
| Time | Temp | Wind | Gusts | Precip | Cloud | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, 10 AM CDT | 51°F | 1 mph NE (45°) | 10 mph | 12% | 76% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sun, 11 AM CDT | 56°F | 1 mph NE (45°) | 10 mph | 12% | 75% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sun, 12 PM CDT | 59°F | 1 mph NE (45°) | 12 mph | 12% | 79% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sun, 1 PM CDT | 60°F | 1 mph E (90°) | 13 mph | 12% | 78% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sun, 2 PM CDT | 60°F | 2 mph E (90°) | 14 mph | 12% | 75% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sun, 3 PM CDT | 59°F | 3 mph E (90°) | 15 mph | 12% | 66% | Partly Sunny |
| Sun, 4 PM CDT | 60°F | 5 mph E (90°) | 16 mph | 12% | 63% | Partly Sunny |
| Sun, 5 PM CDT | 59°F | 5 mph E (90°) | 16 mph | 12% | 55% | Partly Sunny |
| Sun, 6 PM CDT | 56°F | 5 mph E (90°) | 16 mph | 12% | 58% | Partly Sunny |
| Sun, 7 PM CDT | 52°F | 3 mph E (90°) | 14 mph | 41% | 61% | Chance Rain Showers |
| Sun, 8 PM CDT | 49°F | 3 mph E (90°) | 13 mph | 41% | 67% | Chance Rain Showers |
| Sun, 9 PM CDT | 47°F | 2 mph E (90°) | 12 mph | 41% | 68% | Chance Rain Showers |
| Sun, 10 PM CDT | 47°F | 2 mph E (90°) | 12 mph | 41% | 72% | Chance Rain Showers |
| Sun, 11 PM CDT | 47°F | 2 mph SE (135°) | 12 mph | 41% | 71% | Chance Rain Showers |
| Mon, 12 AM CDT | 47°F | 1 mph SE (135°) | 10 mph | 41% | 77% | Chance Rain Showers |
| Mon, 1 AM CDT | 46°F | 1 mph SE (135°) | 12 mph | 37% | 78% | Chance Rain Showers |
| Mon, 2 AM CDT | 46°F | 1 mph S (180°) | 10 mph | 37% | 76% | Chance Rain Showers |
| Mon, 3 AM CDT | 46°F | 1 mph SE (135°) | 10 mph | 37% | 69% | Chance Rain Showers |
| Mon, 4 AM CDT | 45°F | 1 mph E (90°) | 10 mph | 37% | 75% | Chance Rain Showers |
| Mon, 5 AM CDT | 45°F | 1 mph SE (135°) | 10 mph | 37% | 71% | Chance Rain Showers |
| Mon, 6 AM CDT | 44°F | 1 mph SE (135°) | 10 mph | 37% | 70% | Chance Rain Showers |
| Mon, 7 AM CDT | 43°F | 2 mph SE (135°) | 12 mph | 8% | 69% | Patchy Fog |
| Mon, 8 AM CDT | 42°F | 2 mph SE (135°) | 13 mph | 8% | 66% | Patchy Fog |
| Mon, 9 AM CDT | 44°F | 2 mph SE (135°) | 14 mph | 8% | 65% | Patchy Fog |
| Mon, 10 AM CDT | 49°F | 2 mph S (180°) | 15 mph | 8% | 68% | Partly 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 11, 2026 | Tonight 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 | Thursday Night October 15, 2026 | Friday October 16, 2026 | Friday Night October 16, 2026 | Saturday October 17, 2026 | Saturday Night October 17, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 60° | 42° | 57° | 34° | 54° | 35° | 52° | 35° | 54° | 30° | 53° | 32° | 66° | 42° |
| Wind | NE 1 to 5 mph | SE 3 mph | SE 2 to 8 mph | NE 0 to 7 mph | SE 0 to 3 mph | N 2 mph | SE 0 to 3 mph | SW 2 mph | NW 3 to 16 mph | NW 5 to 15 mph | NW 6 mph | W 5 mph | SW 6 mph | W 3 to 7 mph |
| Gusts | 16 mph | 14 mph | 21 mph | 18 mph | 15 mph | 12 mph | 17 mph | 16 mph | 45 mph | 45 mph | 22 mph | 21 mph | 21 mph | 21 mph |
| Precip % | 12% | 41% | 8% | 42% | 48% | 47% | 59% | 70% | 34% | 16% | 5% | 5% | 3% | 2% |
| Forecast |
Good for fishing (83/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 1 mph from the northeast. 12% 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 1 mph from the northeast. Gusts to 10 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 (59/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: No active official alerts for this lake. 12% chance of precipitation. 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 (94/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 1 mph from the northeast. Gusts to 10 mph. Confidence is high (90%).
This swimming outlook uses a MODELLED water temperature, not a verified sensor reading. Treat it as a rough guide, not a measurement, especially for cold-shock risk.
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Individual boat ramp GPS coordinates are maintained under the jurisdiction of SD 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 SD, Pactola Reservoir 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 South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (SDGFP) 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 Rainbow Trout, Rock Bass, Bluegill, Brook Trout. 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.
High-altitude mountain winter climate (elevation 4,580 ft MSL). Freezing temperatures, potential snowpack or ice cover, and reduced seasonal amenities. Winter safety caution advised.
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 Pactola 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 11, 10:04 AM CDT