Canton Lake Water Temperature
Canton Lake in Fulton County, Illinois typically sits around 82°F at the surface in August — warmest in Aug (~82°F) and coldest in Oct (~62°F). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Typical water temperature by month
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 227 field readings (2011–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.
Is Canton Lake warm enough to swim?
Pleasant for swimming — the range most people find enjoyable without a wetsuit.
Want more than temperature? Canton Lake scored F on water quality — clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and swimming safety, all on one report card.
Water temperatures at nearby Illinois lakes
Summer average ~81°F
Summer average ~79°F
Summer average ~76°F
Summer average ~73°F
Summer average ~75°F
Summer average ~62°F
Explore water temperatures
Where to stay near Canton Lake
Planning a swim or lake trip? Compare cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals near Canton Lake — live availability and prices. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Canton Lake
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Frequently asked questions
What is the water temperature of Canton Lake?
Canton Lake typically sits around 82°F at the surface in August, from 227 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
When is Canton Lake warmest?
Surface water at Canton Lake is typically warmest in August, reaching about 82°F. Lake surface temperature lags air temperature by several weeks, so the warmest water usually arrives in mid-to-late summer even though the hottest air can come earlier.
Is Canton Lake warm enough to swim?
At its typical summer peak of about 78°F, Canton Lake rates as "comfortable" for swimming. Pleasant for swimming — the range most people find enjoyable without a wetsuit.
Where does this Canton Lake water temperature data come from?
Every temperature on this page is a typical (climatological) value computed from real surface-water field readings collected by state and federal agencies and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal — 227 readings from 4 monitoring stations between 2011 and 2022. They describe what is typical for each month, not the temperature right now.
About this data
Water temperatures are a climatology — the typical value for each month, averaged from real surface-water field readings collected by state and federal agencies and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. They tell you what to expect, not the temperature at this moment. Actual conditions vary with recent weather, depth, and time of day.