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UtahNatural lake, 1,087,264 acres, Box Elder County, Davis County, Salt Lake County, Tooele County, Weber County

Great Salt Lake wind forecast

Great Salt Lake, Utah
Photo: Hermann Luyken, CC0

7-day outlook

Daylight hours, 8am to 7pm local time. Wind in knots.

  1. TodayOct 26

    6-16kt

    SSE, gusts 21

    High 60°F, rain 17%

    Use caution
  2. TueOct 27

    5-9kt

    N, gusts 10

    High 53°F, rain 13%

    Good
  3. WedOct 28

    4-8kt

    N, gusts 9

    High 54°F, rain 1%

    Good
  4. ThuOct 29

    4-8kt

    SSE, gusts 9

    High 58°F, rain 5%

    Good
  5. FriOct 30

    7-11kt

    S, gusts 14

    High 57°F, rain 42%

    Good
  6. SatOct 31

    7-11kt

    SSE, gusts 14

    High 55°F, storms possible

    Stay ashore
  7. SunNov 1

    12-18kt

    N, gusts 26

    High 54°F, rain 64%

    Stay ashore

Hour by hour, next 3 days

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

This week on Great Salt

Over the next 7 days on Great Salt Lake, the windiest stretch looks like Sunday, with gusts to about 26 kt. Wednesday is the calmest day in the outlook, topping out near 8 kt.

Friday is the pick for sailing, and Wednesday looks best for kayaks and paddleboards. Mornings are usually calmer than afternoons, so check the hourly strip for the exact window.

Thunderstorms are in the forecast for Saturday. Plan to be off the water before the first rumble; lightning can strike miles ahead of a storm.

Reading a lake wind forecast

Sustained wind is the average over a couple of minutes; gusts are the short peaks. On inland water the gap between the two matters as much as the average. A steady 12 kt is a pleasant sail, while 8 kt gusting 20 kt knocks small boats flat and tires out paddlers.

Great Salt Lake is large enough for wind to build real waves. When the forecast direction lines up with the long open stretches of the lake, expect bigger chop than the wind speed alone suggests, and plan routes that keep you near a sheltered shore on the way back.

The National Weather Service forecast covers a 2.5 km grid, so local effects like a sea breeze off a big lake, a cold front or afternoon thunderstorms can arrive earlier or stronger than shown. Check the forecast again on the morning you go, and keep an eye on small craft advisories.

Great Salt Lake forecast questions

What is the wind forecast for Great Salt Lake this weekend?

In the National Weather Service forecast from October 26: Saturday: SSE wind 7 to 11 kt, gusts to 14 kt, high near 55°F, thunderstorms possible. Sunday: N wind 12 to 18 kt, gusts to 26 kt, high near 54°F, 64% chance of rain. The live cards above always show the latest update.

When is the best day to sail on Great Salt Lake this week?

Based on the National Weather Service forecast from October 26, Friday looks best, with S wind around 7 to 11 kt and gusts near 14 kt. Forecasts beyond three days shift, so check the live day cards above and look again the night before.

Where does the Great Salt Lake wind forecast come from?

From the National Weather Service gridded forecast for the 2.5 km cell over the lake. It is the same forecast local NWS offices use, updated several times a day. We convert wind to knots and add our own go or no-go call for each activity.

What wind is too strong for a kayak or paddleboard?

We flag paddling as risky once sustained wind passes about 8 kt or gusts pass 12 kt, and advise staying ashore above 12 kt sustained or 18 kt gusts. Offshore wind is the most dangerous because it pushes you away from the launch.

Nearby lakes

If Great Salt is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their wind forecasts.