Sara Lake Water Temperature
Sara Lake in Effingham County, Illinois typically sits around 59°F at the surface in October — warmest in Aug (~72°F) and coldest in Apr (~56°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 (56°F) to its warmest (72°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 261 field readings (2011–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.
Is Sara Lake warm enough to swim?
Pleasant for swimming — the range most people find enjoyable without a wetsuit.
Want more than temperature? Sara Lake water quality: clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and current advisories, all on one page.
Water temperatures at nearby Illinois lakes
Summer average ~78°F
Summer average ~80°F
Summer average ~80°F
Summer average ~74°F
Summer average ~77°F
Summer average ~76°F
Explore water temperatures
Where to stay near Sara Lake
Planning a swim or lake trip? Compare cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals near Sara 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 Sara 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 Sara Lake?
Sara Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in October, from 261 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
When is Sara Lake warmest?
Surface water at Sara Lake is typically warmest in August, reaching about 72°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 Sara Lake warm enough to swim?
At its typical summer peak of about 70°F, Sara Lake rates as "comfortable" for swimming. Pleasant for swimming — the range most people find enjoyable without a wetsuit.
Where does this Sara 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 — 261 readings from 1 monitoring station between 2011 and 2022. 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.