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LakeQuality

South Center Lake Water Temperature

South Center Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota averages about 55°F at the surface in summer — warmest in Jul (~57°F) and coldest in Apr (~41°F). These are typical values by month, not a live reading.

Typical in July
57°F
Cold
Summer average
55°F
Warmest (Jul)
57°F
Coldest (Apr)
41°F

Typical water temperature by month

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
41°
May
48°
Jun
52°
Jul
57°
Aug
55°
Sep
52°
Oct
51°
Nov
47°
Dec

Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,165 field readings (20102025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.

Is South Center Lake warm enough to swim?

At its summer peak (~55°F): Cold

Wetsuit territory. Brief exposure is tolerable but prolonged swimming without protection risks hypothermia.

Want more than temperature? South Center Lake scored C on water quality — clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and swimming safety, all on one report card.

Where to stay near South Center Lake

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Frequently asked questions

What is the water temperature of South Center Lake?

South Center Lake has a typical summer surface temperature of about 55°F. It is usually warmest in July (around 57°F) and coldest in April (around 41°F). These are typical values by month from 1,165 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025), not a live reading.

When is South Center Lake warmest?

Surface water at South Center Lake is typically warmest in July, reaching about 57°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 South Center Lake warm enough to swim?

At its typical summer peak of about 55°F, South Center Lake rates as "cold" for swimming. Wetsuit territory. Brief exposure is tolerable but prolonged swimming without protection risks hypothermia.

Where does this South Center 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 — 1,165 readings from 2 monitoring stations between 2010 and 2025. 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.