Short Creek Dam Lake Water Temperature
Short Creek Dam Lake in Burke County, North Dakota averages about 68°F at the surface in summer — warmest in Jul (~71°F) and coldest in Jan (~39°F). These are typical values by month, not a live reading.
Typical water temperature by month
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 68 field readings (2010–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.
Is Short Creek Dam Lake warm enough to swim?
Brisk but swimmable for short dips — most people acclimate after the first few minutes.
Want more than temperature? Short Creek Dam Lake scored C on water quality — clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and swimming safety, all on one report card.
Water temperatures at nearby North Dakota lakes
Summer average ~61°F
Summer average ~63°F
Summer average ~67°F
Summer average ~65°F
Summer average ~62°F
Summer average ~45°F
Explore water temperatures
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Frequently asked questions
What is the water temperature of Short Creek Dam Lake?
Short Creek Dam Lake has a typical summer surface temperature of about 68°F. It is usually warmest in July (around 71°F) and coldest in January (around 39°F). These are typical values by month from 68 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2021), not a live reading.
When is Short Creek Dam Lake warmest?
Surface water at Short Creek Dam Lake is typically warmest in July, reaching about 71°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 Short Creek Dam Lake warm enough to swim?
At its typical summer peak of about 68°F, Short Creek Dam Lake rates as "cool" for swimming. Brisk but swimmable for short dips — most people acclimate after the first few minutes.
Where does this Short Creek Dam 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 — 68 readings from 1 monitoring station between 2010 and 2021. 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.