Fordville Dam Lake Water Temperature
Fordville Dam Lake in Grand Forks County, North Dakota typically sits around 43°F at the surface in October — warmest in Aug (~73°F) and coldest in Feb (~38°F). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Typical water temperature by month
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (38°F) to its warmest (73°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 105 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.
Is Fordville Dam Lake warm enough to swim?
Brisk but swimmable for short dips — most people acclimate after the first few minutes.
Want more than temperature? Fordville Dam Lake water quality: clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and current advisories, all on one page.
Water temperatures at nearby North Dakota lakes
Summer average ~71°F
Summer average ~71°F
Summer average ~59°F
Summer average ~68°F
Summer average ~65°F
Summer average ~67°F
Explore water temperatures
Where to stay near Fordville Dam Lake
Planning a swim or lake trip? Compare cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals near Fordville Dam 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 Fordville Dam Lake
Prices for Oct 23–25, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the water temperature of Fordville Dam Lake?
Fordville Dam Lake typically sits around 43°F at the surface in October, from 105 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
When is Fordville Dam Lake warmest?
Surface water at Fordville Dam Lake is typically warmest in August, reaching about 73°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 Fordville Dam Lake warm enough to swim?
At its typical summer peak of about 67°F, Fordville Dam Lake rates as "cool" for swimming. Brisk but swimmable for short dips — most people acclimate after the first few minutes.
Where does this Fordville Dam 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 — 105 readings from 3 monitoring stations between 2010 and 2023. 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.