Iowa Lake Water Temperatures
Typical surface water temperatures for 141 Iowa lakes — about 71°F in September. Blue Heron Lake runs warmest (~86°F in summer); the statewide summer average is about 78°F. Values are typical by month, not live readings.
141
Lakes with a temperature record
71°F
Typical in September
78°F
Typical summer average
86°F
Warmest: Blue Heron Lake
Iowa lakes by typical summer water temperature (warmest first)
| Lake | County | Typical in September | Summer avg | Warmest | Coldest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Heron Lake | Polk | 75°F | 86°F | 86°F (Jul) | 72°F (May) |
| Ellis Lake | Lucas | 77°F | 84°F | 84°F (Jul) | 71°F (May) |
| Morris Lake | Lucas | 78°F | 83°F | 83°F (Jul) | 71°F (May) |
| Loch Ayr Lake | Ringgold | 70°F | 82°F | 82°F (Jul) | 68°F (May) |
| Lake Manawa | Pottawattamie | 72°F | 81°F | 84°F (Jul) | 71°F (May) |
| Red Haw Lake | Lucas | 73°F | 81°F | 84°F (Jul) | 71°F (May) |
| Lacey Keosauqua Lake | Van Buren | 78°F | 81°F | 83°F (Jul) | 73°F (May) |
| Indian Lake | Van Buren | 78°F | 81°F | 85°F (Jul) | 75°F (May) |
| Ottumwa Lagoon Max Depth Lake | Wapello | 77°F | 81°F | 84°F (Jul) | 77°F (Sep) |
| Sands Timber Lake | Taylor | — | 81°F | 82°F (Jul) | 67°F (May) |
| Lake Macbride | Johnson | 70°F | 80°F | 82°F (Jul) | 61°F (Oct) |
| Lake Anita | Cass | 70°F | 80°F | 83°F (Jul) | 70°F (May) |
| Viking Lake | Montgomery | 72°F | 80°F | 83°F (Jul) | 70°F (May) |
| Blue Lake | Monona | — | 80°F | 83°F (Jul) | 68°F (May) |
| Badger Creek Max Depth Lake | Madison | 75°F | 80°F | 84°F (Jul) | 68°F (May) |
| Windmill Lake | Taylor | 73°F | 80°F | 83°F (Jul) | 73°F (Sep) |
| Kent Park Lake | Johnson | 68°F | 80°F | 81°F (Jul) | 68°F (Sep) |
| Cold Springs Lake | Cass | 71°F | 80°F | 83°F (Jul) | 71°F (Sep) |
| Desoto Bend Lake | Harrison | 72°F | 80°F | 80°F (Jun) | 65°F (May) |
| Pierce Creek Lake | Page | 72°F | 80°F | 83°F (Jul) | 72°F (Sep) |
| Wilson Lake | Taylor | 72°F | 80°F | 83°F (Jul) | 72°F (Sep) |
| Pleasant Creek Lake | Linn | 69°F | 79°F | 82°F (Jul) | 69°F (May) |
| Lake of Three Fires Max Depth | Taylor | 71°F | 79°F | 83°F (Jul) | 71°F (May) |
| Pine Lake South Beach | Hardin | — | 79°F | 82°F (Jul) | 70°F (May) |
| Rock Creek Beach Lake | Jasper | — | 79°F | 82°F (Jul) | 68°F (May) |
| Hawthorn Lake | Mahaska | 71°F | 79°F | 82°F (Jul) | 55°F (Apr) |
| Bob White Lake | Wayne | 77°F | 79°F | 81°F (Jul) | 70°F (May) |
| East Lake Osceola | Clarke | 74°F | 79°F | 81°F (Jul) | 68°F (May) |
| Thayer Lake | Union | 73°F | 79°F | 82°F (Jul) | 70°F (May) |
| Green Belt Lake | Black Hawk | 75°F | 79°F | 81°F (Jul) | 75°F (Sep) |
| Hooper Pond Lake | Warren | 75°F | 79°F | 82°F (Jul) | 69°F (May) |
| Meadow Lake | Adair | 71°F | 79°F | 82°F (Jul) | 71°F (Sep) |
| Lake Miami Max Depth | Monroe | 75°F | 79°F | 84°F (Jul) | 72°F (May) |
| Lake Icaria | Adams | 70°F | 79°F | 82°F (Jul) | 70°F (Sep) |
| Arrowhead Lake | Pottawattamie | 70°F | 79°F | 83°F (Jul) | 70°F (Sep) |
| Spring Lake Max Depth | Greene | — | 79°F | 81°F (Jul) | 64°F (May) |
| Fogle Lake | Ringgold | 71°F | 79°F | 83°F (Jul) | 71°F (Sep) |
| Little Sioux Park Lake | Woodbury | — | 79°F | 79°F (Jun) | 65°F (May) |
| Slipbluff Lake | Decatur | 78°F | 79°F | 83°F (Jul) | 71°F (May) |
| Lake of the Hills | Scott | 69°F | 79°F | 79°F (Jul) | 69°F (Sep) |
| Grays Lake | Polk | 73°F | 79°F | 82°F (Jul) | 73°F (Sep) |
| Fort des Moines Park Pond | Polk | 76°F | 79°F | 82°F (Jul) | 75°F (Jun) |
| Springbrook Lake | Guthrie | 68°F | 78°F | 81°F (Jul) | 68°F (Sep) |
| Green Valley Lake | Union | 70°F | 78°F | 81°F (Jul) | 68°F (May) |
| Fisher Lake | Black Hawk | — | 78°F | 81°F (Jul) | 68°F (May) |
| Lake Iowa | Iowa | 69°F | 78°F | 80°F (Jul) | 69°F (Sep) |
| Prairie Rose Lake | Shelby | 71°F | 78°F | 82°F (Jul) | 57°F (Oct) |
| Casey Lake | Tama | 72°F | 78°F | 81°F (Jul) | 64°F (May) |
| Browns Lake | Woodbury | 69°F | 78°F | 80°F (Jul) | 64°F (May) |
| Little River Lake | Decatur | 76°F | 78°F | 79°F (Jul) | 65°F (May) |
| Arrowhead Lake | Sac | — | 78°F | 80°F (Jul) | 64°F (May) |
| White Oak Lake | Mahaska | 68°F | 78°F | 80°F (Aug) | 68°F (Sep) |
| Nelson Lake | Crawford | — | 78°F | 78°F (Jul) | 63°F (May) |
| Littlefield Lake | Audubon | 70°F | 78°F | 81°F (Jul) | 70°F (Sep) |
| Greenfield Lake | Adair | 71°F | 78°F | 81°F (Jul) | 71°F (Sep) |
| Crawford Creek Lake | Ida | — | 78°F | 80°F (Jul) | 63°F (May) |
| Yellow Smoke Lake | Crawford | — | 78°F | 79°F (Jul) | 64°F (May) |
| Lake Orient | Adair | 70°F | 78°F | 80°F (Jul) | 70°F (Sep) |
| Roberts Creek Lake | Marion | 69°F | 78°F | 80°F (Jul) | 69°F (Sep) |
| Mormon Trail Lake | Adair | 71°F | 78°F | 82°F (Jul) | 71°F (Sep) |
| West Lake Osceola | Clarke | 72°F | 78°F | 81°F (Jul) | 69°F (May) |
| Meyers Lake | Black Hawk | 71°F | 78°F | 83°F (Jul) | 71°F (Sep) |
| Central Park Lake | Jones | 68°F | 78°F | 79°F (Jun) | 67°F (May) |
| Nodaway Lake | Adair | 71°F | 78°F | 80°F (Jul) | 71°F (Sep) |
| Summit Lake | Union | 70°F | 78°F | 80°F (Jul) | 70°F (Sep) |
| Moorehead Lake | Ida | — | 78°F | 79°F (Jul) | 63°F (May) |
| Willow Lake | Harrison | — | 78°F | 79°F (Jul) | 65°F (May) |
| Williamson Pond Max Depth | Lucas | 77°F | 78°F | 82°F (Jul) | 71°F (May) |
| Lake Sugema | Van Buren | 73°F | 78°F | 82°F (Jul) | 71°F (May) |
| Poll Miller Park Lake | Lee | 76°F | 78°F | 82°F (Jul) | 73°F (May) |
| Mariposa Lake | Jasper | 66°F | 78°F | 78°F (Aug) | 66°F (Sep) |
| Big Hollow Lake | Des Moines | 71°F | 78°F | 81°F (Jul) | 71°F (Sep) |
| Lake Geode | Des Moines | 73°F | 78°F | 81°F (Jul) | 71°F (May) |
| Lake Darling Max Depth | Washington | 69°F | 78°F | 79°F (Jun) | 69°F (Sep) |
| Mckinley Lake | Union | 76°F | 78°F | 79°F (Jul) | 76°F (Jun) |
| Dale Maffitt Reservoir | Dallas | 76°F | 78°F | 83°F (Jul) | 72°F (Jun) |
| Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake | Story | 70°F | 78°F | 78°F (Jun) | 70°F (Sep) |
| Union Grove Lake | Tama | 67°F | 77°F | 80°F (Jul) | 67°F (Sep) |
| Big Creek Lake | Polk | 74°F | 77°F | 80°F (Jul) | 63°F (May) |
| Beaver Lake | Dallas | 71°F | 77°F | 81°F (Jul) | 70°F (May) |
| Briggs Woods Lake | Hamilton | 73°F | 77°F | 82°F (Jul) | 61°F (May) |
| Avenue of the Saints Lake | Bremer | 72°F | 77°F | 80°F (Jul) | 62°F (May) |
| Diamond Lake | Poweshiek | 68°F | 77°F | 79°F (Aug) | 68°F (Sep) |
| Lake Belva Deer | Keokuk | 68°F | 77°F | 79°F (Jul) | 68°F (Sep) |
| Twelve Mile Lake | Union | 70°F | 77°F | 80°F (Jul) | 70°F (Sep) |
| Little Wall Lake | Hamilton | 72°F | 77°F | 82°F (Jul) | 59°F (May) |
| Mitchell Lake | Black Hawk | 71°F | 77°F | 81°F (Jul) | 71°F (Sep) |
| Rodgers Lake | Benton | 72°F | 77°F | 82°F (Jul) | 72°F (Sep) |
| South Prairie Lake | Black Hawk | 71°F | 77°F | 81°F (Jul) | 71°F (Sep) |
| Three Mile Lake | Union | 70°F | 77°F | 81°F (Jul) | 70°F (Sep) |
| Arbor Lake Max Depth | Poweshiek | 67°F | 77°F | 77°F (Jul) | 67°F (Sep) |
| Oldham Lake | Monona | — | 77°F | 77°F (Jun) | 64°F (May) |
| Lake Hendricks | Howard | 71°F | 77°F | 81°F (Jul) | 71°F (Sep) |
| Hickory Grove Lake | Story | 66°F | 77°F | 77°F (Jun) | 66°F (Sep) |
| Rudd Lake | Floyd | 72°F | 77°F | 81°F (Jul) | 72°F (Sep) |
| Easter Lake | Polk | 72°F | 77°F | 83°F (Jul) | 69°F (May) |
| Cedar Lake | Madison | 75°F | 77°F | 82°F (Jul) | 71°F (Jun) |
| Binder Lake | Adams | 69°F | 77°F | 81°F (Jul) | 69°F (Sep) |
| Spring Lake | Cherokee | — | 77°F | 80°F (Jul) | 74°F (Jun) |
| Newell Pit Lake | Buena Vista | — | 77°F | 80°F (Jul) | 73°F (Jun) |
| Brushy Creek Lake | Webster | 69°F | 76°F | 80°F (Jul) | 62°F (May) |
| Otter Creek Lake | Tama | 68°F | 76°F | 78°F (Aug) | 68°F (May) |
| Upper Pine Lake | Hardin | 72°F | 76°F | 80°F (Jul) | 62°F (May) |
| Volga Lake | Fayette | 70°F | 76°F | 78°F (Jul) | 62°F (May) |
| Crystal Lake Max Depth | Hancock | 70°F | 76°F | 80°F (Jul) | 59°F (May) |
| Hannen Lake | Benton | 68°F | 76°F | 78°F (Aug) | 68°F (Sep) |
| Swan Lake Max Depth | Carroll | — | 76°F | 79°F (Jul) | 64°F (May) |
| Lake Cornelia | Wright | 71°F | 76°F | 81°F (Jul) | 61°F (May) |
| Manteno Lake | Shelby | — | 76°F | 77°F (Jul) | 64°F (May) |
| Silver Lake Max Depth | Delaware | 71°F | 76°F | 80°F (Jul) | 71°F (Sep) |
| Rathbun Lake | Appanoose | 77°F | 76°F | 79°F (Jul) | 64°F (May) |
| Green Castle Lake | Marshall | 66°F | 76°F | 78°F (Aug) | 66°F (Sep) |
| Lost Grove Lake | Scott | 71°F | 76°F | 77°F (Jul) | 64°F (May) |
| Snyder Bend Lake | Woodbury | — | 76°F | 77°F (Jun) | 63°F (May) |
| Blue Pit Lake | Cerro Gordo | 68°F | 76°F | 80°F (Jul) | 68°F (Sep) |
| Gustafson Lake | Buena Vista | — | 76°F | 79°F (Jul) | 71°F (Jun) |
| Fin And Feather Lake | Cerro Gordo | — | 76°F | 78°F (Jul) | 72°F (Jun) |
| Lake Pahoja | Lyon | 69°F | 75°F | 80°F (Jul) | 67°F (May) |
| Storm Lake Max Depth | Buena Vista | 69°F | 75°F | 78°F (Jul) | 58°F (May) |
| Clear Lake | Cerro Gordo | 70°F | 75°F | 80°F (Jul) | 59°F (May) |
| Lake Minnewashta | Dickinson | 72°F | 75°F | 80°F (Jul) | 70°F (Jun) |
| Lower Gar Lake | Dickinson | 71°F | 75°F | 81°F (Jul) | 70°F (May) |
| Upper Gar Lake | Dickinson | 72°F | 75°F | 80°F (Jul) | 69°F (Jun) |
| Silver Lake | Palo Alto | 70°F | 75°F | 80°F (Jul) | 70°F (Jun) |
| East Okoboji Lake | Dickinson | 72°F | 75°F | 80°F (Jul) | 69°F (Jun) |
| Center Lake | Dickinson | 72°F | 75°F | 81°F (Jul) | 70°F (May) |
| Five Island Lake | Palo Alto | 69°F | 75°F | 80°F (Jul) | 69°F (Sep) |
| Ingham Lake | Emmet | 69°F | 75°F | 81°F (Jul) | 69°F (Sep) |
| Smith Lake | Kossuth | 69°F | 75°F | 81°F (Jul) | 69°F (Sep) |
| Mill Creek Lake | O'Brien | 73°F | 75°F | 81°F (Jul) | 70°F (Jun) |
| West Okoboji Lake | Dickinson | 71°F | 74°F | 78°F (Jul) | 61°F (May) |
| Lost Island Lake | Palo Alto | 71°F | 74°F | 80°F (Jul) | 70°F (May) |
| Don Williams Lake | Boone | — | 74°F | 76°F (Aug) | 62°F (May) |
| Badger Lake | Webster | — | 74°F | 76°F (Aug) | 59°F (May) |
| Lake Meyer | Winneshiek | 70°F | 74°F | 79°F (Jul) | 70°F (Sep) |
| Okamanpeedan Lake | Emmet | 63°F | 74°F | 77°F (Jul) | 55°F (May) |
| Big Spirit Lake | Dickinson | 71°F | 73°F | 79°F (Jul) | 67°F (May) |
| Silver Lake Max Depth | Dickinson | 71°F | 73°F | 80°F (Jul) | 68°F (Jun) |
| Dog Creek Lake | O'Brien | 71°F | 73°F | 80°F (Jul) | 69°F (Jun) |
| Black Pit Lake | Cerro Gordo | — | 73°F | 76°F (Jul) | 66°F (Jun) |
| Eldred Sherwood Lake | Hancock | 71°F | 72°F | 76°F (Jul) | 60°F (May) |
More Iowa lake data
Frequently asked questions
Which Iowa lake has the warmest water?
Of the 141 Iowa lakes with a temperature record, Blue Heron Lake in Polk County runs warmest, averaging about 86°F at the surface in summer. Colder lakes like Eldred Sherwood Lake sit closer to 72°F.
What is a typical September water temperature in Iowa?
Across the Iowa lakes we track, typical September surface temperature averages about 71°F. That is a climatological value from EPA field readings, not the temperature right now. Summer averages about 78°F.
Where does this Iowa water temperature data come from?
Each temperature 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. 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 published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. They tell you what to expect, not the temperature right now.