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LakeQuality
A wave breaking on the cobble beach of Lake Superior at Duluth, Minnesota, with a wooded headland beyond

Terrapin Lake Water Temperature

Terrapin Lake in Washington County, Minnesota typically sits around 52°F at the surface in October — warmest in Aug (~74°F) and coldest in Apr (~49°F). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.

Typical in October
52°F
Cold
Summer average
72°F
Warmest (Aug)
74°F
Coldest (Apr)
49°F

Typical water temperature by month

Jan
Feb
Mar
49°
Apr
58°
May
68°
Jun
73°
Jul
74°
Aug
65°
Sep
52°
Oct
Nov
Dec

Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (49°F) to its warmest (74°F).

Typical surface water temperature by month, from 90 field readings (2011–2019) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.

Is Terrapin Lake warm enough to swim?

At its summer peak (~72°F): Comfortable

Pleasant for swimming — the range most people find enjoyable without a wetsuit.

Want more than temperature? Terrapin Lake water quality: clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and current advisories, all on one page.

Where to stay near Terrapin Lake

Planning a swim or lake trip? Compare cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals near Terrapin 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 Terrapin Lake

Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the water temperature of Terrapin Lake?

Terrapin Lake typically sits around 52°F at the surface in October, from 90 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2019). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.

When is Terrapin Lake warmest?

Surface water at Terrapin Lake is typically warmest in August, reaching about 74°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 Terrapin Lake warm enough to swim?

At its typical summer peak of about 72°F, Terrapin Lake rates as "comfortable" for swimming. Pleasant for swimming — the range most people find enjoyable without a wetsuit.

Where does this Terrapin 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 — 90 readings from 2 monitoring stations between 2011 and 2019. 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.