Little Carnelian Lake Water Temperature
Little Carnelian Lake in Washington County, Minnesota typically sits around 51°F at the surface in October — warmest in Jul (~56°F) and coldest in Apr (~43°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 (43°F) to its warmest (56°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 308 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.
Is Little Carnelian Lake warm enough to swim?
Wetsuit territory. Brief exposure is tolerable but prolonged swimming without protection risks hypothermia.
Want more than temperature? Little Carnelian Lake water quality: clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and current advisories, all on one page.
Water temperatures at nearby Minnesota lakes
Summer average ~73°F
Summer average ~62°F
Summer average ~58°F
Summer average ~73°F
Summer average ~60°F
Summer average ~57°F
Explore water temperatures
Where to stay near Little Carnelian Lake
Planning a swim or lake trip? Compare cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals near Little Carnelian 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 Little Carnelian Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the water temperature of Little Carnelian Lake?
Little Carnelian Lake typically sits around 51°F at the surface in October, from 308 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
When is Little Carnelian Lake warmest?
Surface water at Little Carnelian Lake is typically warmest in July, reaching about 56°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 Little Carnelian Lake warm enough to swim?
At its typical summer peak of about 55°F, Little Carnelian Lake rates as "cold" for swimming. Wetsuit territory. Brief exposure is tolerable but prolonged swimming without protection risks hypothermia.
Where does this Little Carnelian 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 — 308 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.