Shields Lake Water Temperature
Shields Lake in Washington County, Minnesota typically sits around 50°F at the surface in October — warmest in Aug (~61°F) and coldest in May (~50°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 (50°F) to its warmest (61°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 137 field readings (2019–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.
Is Shields Lake warm enough to swim?
Wetsuit territory. Brief exposure is tolerable but prolonged swimming without protection risks hypothermia.
Want more than temperature? Shields Lake water quality: clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and current advisories, all on one page.
Water temperatures at nearby Minnesota lakes
Summer average ~69°F
Summer average ~60°F
Summer average ~69°F
Summer average ~76°F
Summer average ~54°F
Summer average ~62°F
Explore water temperatures
Where to stay near Shields Lake
Planning a swim or lake trip? Compare cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals near Shields 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 Shields 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 Shields Lake?
Shields Lake typically sits around 50°F at the surface in October, from 137 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
When is Shields Lake warmest?
Surface water at Shields Lake is typically warmest in August, reaching about 61°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 Shields Lake warm enough to swim?
At its typical summer peak of about 59°F, Shields Lake rates as "cold" for swimming. Wetsuit territory. Brief exposure is tolerable but prolonged swimming without protection risks hypothermia.
Where does this Shields 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 — 137 readings from 1 monitoring station between 2019 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.