First Lake Water Temperature
First Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota typically sits around 58°F at the surface in September — warmest in Jul (~61°F) and coldest in May (~50°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 93 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.
Is First Lake warm enough to swim?
Brisk but swimmable for short dips — most people acclimate after the first few minutes.
Want more than temperature? First Lake scored C on water quality — clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and swimming safety, all on one report card.
Water temperatures at nearby Minnesota lakes
Explore water temperatures
Where to stay near First Lake
Planning a swim or lake trip? Compare cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals near First 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 First Lake
Prices for Sep 4–6, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to First Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near First Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked questions
What is the water temperature of First Lake?
First Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in September, from 93 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
When is First Lake warmest?
Surface water at First Lake is typically warmest in July, reaching about 61°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 First Lake warm enough to swim?
At its typical summer peak of about 60°F, First Lake rates as "cool" for swimming. Brisk but swimmable for short dips — most people acclimate after the first few minutes.
Where does this First 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 — 93 readings from 1 monitoring station between 2024 and 2025. 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.