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lakeglance

IowaNatural lake, 5,463 acres

Big Spirit Lake conditions today

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset

Right now on Big Spirit

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Best window

0pm to 0pm

score

Wind

00kt

Gusts 00

Direction

NE

Blowing from

Air temp

00°F

High

Rain

Dry

next 6 hours

Water level

14.21ft

Steady this week

Sailing

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Reading the forecast

Kayak and SUP

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Power boating

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Fishing

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Reading the forecast

Hour by hour

Next 24 hours
Wind and gusts0 to 30+ ktScoreGood, caution, stay ashoreNightBest windowArrows point where the wind blows to.

Outlook. Monday: ENE wind 12 to 14 kt, gusts to 19 kt, high near 51°F, 92% chance of rain. Tuesday: SW wind 7 to 12 kt, gusts to 16 kt, high near 60°F.

7-day wind forecast

Live radar

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LightHeavy

Last hour of NOAA MRMS radar, 1 km resolution. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, OpenMapTiles, OpenFreeMap.

Water level

Full report

14.21ft (gage datum)

0.00 ft in 7 days

0.73 ft above the October normal

Sep 24Oct 9Oct 24

Reading from Oct 26, 2026. Shaded band: range of October averages on record; dashed line is the typical level.

Big Spirit Lake was at 14.21 ft on the gage on October 26, holding steady over the past week (0.00 ft). That is above normal for October: the typical October level is 13.48 ft, so the lake is 0.73 ft above its usual mark. The gauge also reports a water temperature of 77°F.

Lake facts

Type
Natural lake
State
Iowa
Surface area
5,463 acres
Max depth
24 ft
USGS gauge
06604000, Spirit Lake near Orleans, IA
Coordinates
43.4739° N, 95.1018° W

Background reading: Big Spirit Lake on Wikipedia

About Big Spirit Lake

Big Spirit Lake is a 5,463-acre natural lake in Iowa. At its deepest it reaches roughly 24 ft.

Water level on this page comes from USGS gauge 06604000 (Spirit Lake near Orleans, IA), about 1 mi from the middle of the lake. Wind, gusts and rain come from the National Weather Service forecast grid that covers the water.

Mid-sized lakes like this one tend to have shifty, gusty wind near shore and steadier pressure in the middle, which is why gust spread matters as much as average speed.

The go or no-go calls above are a starting point, not a guarantee. Read how we score conditions, and always check local rules and posted warnings before you launch.

Big Spirit Lake questions

Is it windy on Big Spirit Lake today?

The National Weather Service forecast for the lake from October 26: Monday: ENE wind 12 to 14 kt, gusts to 19 kt, high near 51°F, 92% chance of rain. The panel at the top of this page refreshes the current wind, gusts and direction when you open it and turns them into a call for sailing, paddling, power boating and fishing.

What is the water level at Big Spirit Lake right now?

Big Spirit Lake was at 14.21 ft on the gage on October 26, holding steady over the past week (0.00 ft). That is above normal for October: the typical October level is 13.48 ft, so the lake is 0.73 ft above its usual mark. The gauge also reports a water temperature of 77°F.

How big is Big Spirit Lake?

Big Spirit Lake covers about 5,463 acres (8.5 square miles) of surface water.

How deep is Big Spirit Lake?

The deepest point of Big Spirit Lake is roughly 24 ft.

Nearby lakes

If Big Spirit is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their conditions.