Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake Water Temperature
Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake in Ward County, North Dakota typically sits around 51°F at the surface in October — warmest in Jul (~66°F) and coldest in Oct (~51°F). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Typical water temperature by month
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 15 field readings (2011–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.
Is Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake warm enough to swim?
Brisk but swimmable for short dips — most people acclimate after the first few minutes.
Want more than temperature? Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake scored NR 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 ~60°F
Summer average ~60°F
Summer average ~60°F
Summer average ~66°F
Summer average ~45°F
Summer average ~61°F
Explore water temperatures
Where to stay near Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake
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Top-rated places to stay near Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake
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Frequently asked questions
What is the water temperature of Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake?
Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake typically sits around 51°F at the surface in October, from 15 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
When is Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake warmest?
Surface water at Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake is typically warmest in July, reaching about 66°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 Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake warm enough to swim?
At its typical summer peak of about 60°F, Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake rates as "cool" for swimming. Brisk but swimmable for short dips — most people acclimate after the first few minutes.
Where does this Velva Sportsmans 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 — 15 readings from 1 monitoring station between 2011 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.