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LakeQuality
A wave breaking on the cobble beach of Lake Superior at Duluth, Minnesota, with a wooded headland beyond

Half Moon Lake Water Temperature

Half Moon Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota typically sits around 55°F at the surface in October — warmest in Jul (~60°F) and coldest in Jan (~36°F). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.

Typical in October
55°F
Cold
Summer average
59°F
Warmest (Jul)
60°F
Coldest (Jan)
36°F

Typical water temperature by month

36°
Jan
36°
Feb
Mar
45°
Apr
52°
May
57°
Jun
60°
Jul
60°
Aug
59°
Sep
55°
Oct
Nov
Dec

Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (36°F) to its warmest (60°F).

Typical surface water temperature by month, from 973 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.

Is Half Moon Lake warm enough to swim?

At its summer peak (~59°F): Cold

Wetsuit territory. Brief exposure is tolerable but prolonged swimming without protection risks hypothermia.

Want more than temperature? Half Moon Lake water quality: clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and current advisories, all on one page.

Where to stay near Half Moon Lake

Planning a swim or lake trip? Compare cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals near Half Moon 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 Half Moon Lake

Prices for Oct 23–25, 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.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the water temperature of Half Moon Lake?

Half Moon Lake typically sits around 55°F at the surface in October, from 973 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.

When is Half Moon Lake warmest?

Surface water at Half Moon Lake is typically warmest in July, reaching about 60°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 Half Moon Lake warm enough to swim?

At its typical summer peak of about 59°F, Half Moon Lake rates as "cold" for swimming. Wetsuit territory. Brief exposure is tolerable but prolonged swimming without protection risks hypothermia.

Where does this Half Moon 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 — 973 readings from 1 monitoring station between 2010 and 2024. 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.