West Leaf Lake Water Temperature
West Leaf Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota averages about 64°F at the surface in summer — warmest in Jul (~67°F) and coldest in May (~50°F). These are typical values by month, not a live reading.
Typical water temperature by month
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 136 field readings (2011–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.
Is West Leaf Lake warm enough to swim?
Brisk but swimmable for short dips — most people acclimate after the first few minutes.
Want more than temperature? West Leaf Lake scored B on water quality — clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and swimming safety, all on one report card.
Water temperatures at nearby Minnesota lakes
Summer average ~62°F
Summer average ~66°F
Summer average ~73°F
Summer average ~74°F
Summer average ~75°F
Summer average ~72°F
Explore water temperatures
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Frequently asked questions
What is the water temperature of West Leaf Lake?
West Leaf Lake has a typical summer surface temperature of about 64°F. It is usually warmest in July (around 67°F) and coldest in May (around 50°F). These are typical values by month from 136 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2022), not a live reading.
When is West Leaf Lake warmest?
Surface water at West Leaf Lake is typically warmest in July, reaching about 67°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 West Leaf Lake warm enough to swim?
At its typical summer peak of about 64°F, West Leaf Lake rates as "cool" for swimming. Brisk but swimmable for short dips — most people acclimate after the first few minutes.
Where does this West Leaf 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 — 136 readings from 1 monitoring station between 2011 and 2022. 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.