Lake Manawa Water Temperature
Lake Manawa in Pottawattamie County, Iowa averages about 81°F at the surface in summer — warmest in Jul (~84°F) and coldest in May (~71°F). These are typical values by month, not a live reading.
Typical water temperature by month
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 Lake Manawa warm enough to swim?
Very comfortable for swimming. Warm surface water can also favor blue-green algae in nutrient-rich lakes, so check for advisories before you go in.
Want more than temperature? Lake Manawa scored F on water quality — clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and swimming safety, all on one report card.
Water temperatures at nearby Iowa lakes
Summer average ~79°F
Summer average ~80°F
Summer average ~78°F
Summer average ~80°F
Summer average ~78°F
Summer average ~76°F
Explore water temperatures
Where to stay near Lake Manawa
Planning a swim or lake trip? Compare cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals near Lake Manawa — live availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Manawa
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 Lake Manawa?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Lake Manawa — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked questions
What is the water temperature of Lake Manawa?
Lake Manawa has a typical summer surface temperature of about 81°F. It is usually warmest in July (around 84°F) and coldest in May (around 71°F). These are typical values by month from 105 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023), not a live reading.
When is Lake Manawa warmest?
Surface water at Lake Manawa is typically warmest in July, reaching about 84°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 Lake Manawa warm enough to swim?
At its typical summer peak of about 81°F, Lake Manawa rates as "warm" for swimming. Very comfortable for swimming. Warm surface water can also favor blue-green algae in nutrient-rich lakes, so check for advisories before you go in.
Where does this Lake Manawa 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 2 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.