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

West Leaf Lake Water Temperature

West Leaf Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota typically sits around 62°F at the surface in September — warmest in Jul (~67°F) and coldest in May (~50°F). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.

Typical in September
62°F
Cool
Summer average
64°F
Warmest (Jul)
67°F
Coldest (May)
50°F

Typical water temperature by month

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
50°
May
60°
Jun
67°
Jul
64°
Aug
62°
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (50°F) to its warmest (67°F).

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?

At its summer peak (~64°F): Cool

Brisk but swimmable for short dips — most people acclimate after the first few minutes.

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

Where to stay near West Leaf Lake

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

West Leaf Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in September, from 136 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2022). That is a typical value for the month, 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.