Little River Lake Water Temperature
Little River Lake in Decatur County, Iowa averages about 78°F at the surface in summer — warmest in Jul (~79°F) and coldest in May (~65°F). These are typical values by month, not a live reading.
Typical water temperature by month
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 31 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.
Is Little River Lake warm enough to swim?
Pleasant for swimming — the range most people find enjoyable without a wetsuit.
Want more than temperature? Little River Lake 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 ~81°F
Summer average ~79°F
Summer average ~78°F
Summer average ~79°F
Summer average ~79°F
Explore water temperatures
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Frequently asked questions
What is the water temperature of Little River Lake?
Little River Lake has a typical summer surface temperature of about 78°F. It is usually warmest in July (around 79°F) and coldest in May (around 65°F). These are typical values by month from 31 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023), not a live reading.
When is Little River Lake warmest?
Surface water at Little River Lake is typically warmest in July, reaching about 79°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 River Lake warm enough to swim?
At its typical summer peak of about 78°F, Little River Lake rates as "comfortable" for swimming. Pleasant for swimming — the range most people find enjoyable without a wetsuit.
Where does this Little River 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 — 31 readings from 1 monitoring station 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.