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ArkansasReservoir, 44,979 acres

Bull Shoals Lake conditions today

Bull Shoals Lake, Arkansas
Photo: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain

Right now on Bull Shoals

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Best window

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score

Wind

00kt

Gusts 00

Direction

NE

Blowing from

Air temp

00°F

High

Rain

Dry

next 6 hours

Water level

652.90ft

Down 0.37 ft 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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Hour by hour

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

Outlook. Monday: SE wind 0 to 3 kt, gusts to 9 kt, high near 75°F. Tuesday: SSE wind 0 to 3 kt, gusts to 9 kt, high near 75°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

652.90ft NGVD29

-0.37 ft in 7 days

3.02 ft below the October normal

Sep 26Oct 11Oct 26

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

Bull Shoals Lake was at 652.90 ft on October 26, falling 0.37 ft over the past week. That is below normal for October: the typical October level is 655.92 ft, so the lake is 3.02 ft below its usual mark.

Lake facts

Type
Reservoir
State
Arkansas
Surface area
44,979 acres
Dam completed
1947
Level source
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bull Shoals Dam - Headwater
Coordinates
36.3653° N, 92.5750° W

Background reading: Bull Shoals Lake on Wikipedia

About Bull Shoals Lake

Set in Arkansas, Bull Shoals Lake is a 44,979-acre reservoir. The reservoir dates to 1947.

Water level on this page comes from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reading at Bull Shoals Dam Headwater, published through the Corps' CWMS data service. Wind, gusts and rain come from the National Weather Service forecast grid that covers the water.

With this much open water, waves build quickly when the wind lines up with the long axis of the lake. Pick a launch on the upwind shore on breezy days and the ride home is easier. Reservoir levels move with releases and inflow, so ramps and beaches can change week to week. The water level page tracks that day by day.

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.

Bull Shoals Lake questions

Is it windy on Bull Shoals Lake today?

The National Weather Service forecast for the lake from October 26: Monday: SE wind 0 to 3 kt, gusts to 9 kt, high near 75°F. 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 Bull Shoals Lake right now?

Bull Shoals Lake was at 652.90 ft on October 26, falling 0.37 ft over the past week. That is below normal for October: the typical October level is 655.92 ft, so the lake is 3.02 ft below its usual mark.

How big is Bull Shoals Lake?

Bull Shoals Lake covers about 44,979 acres (70 square miles) of surface water.

When was Bull Shoals Lake built?

The dam that forms Bull Shoals Lake was completed in 1947.

Nearby lakes

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