North CarolinaReservoir
High Rock Lake wind forecast

7-day outlook
Daylight hours, 8am to 7pm local time. Wind in knots.
-
TodayOct 26
0-2kt
NNE, gusts 4
High 71°F, rain 0%
Light wind -
TueOct 27
0-3kt
NE, gusts 7
High 74°F, rain 0%
Light wind -
WedOct 28
2-4kt
NE, gusts 9
High 71°F, rain 0%
Light wind -
ThuOct 29
0-2kt
NE, gusts 6
High 73°F, rain 0%
Light wind -
FriOct 30
0-1kt
NNE, gusts 4
High 76°F, rain 1%
Light wind -
SatOct 31
0-3kt
ENE, gusts 7
High 75°F, rain 3%
Light wind -
SunNov 1
1-4kt
E, gusts 9
High 72°F, rain 35%
Light wind
Hour by hour, next 3 days
This week on High Rock
Over the next 7 days on High Rock Lake, the windiest stretch looks like Wednesday, with gusts to about 9 kt. Friday is the calmest day in the outlook, topping out near 1 kt.
Wednesday is the pick for sailing, and Monday looks best for kayaks and paddleboards. Mornings are usually calmer than afternoons, so check the hourly strip for the exact window.
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.
On a lake the size of High Rock, waves stay modest, but nearby hills, trees and buildings bend the wind. Expect shifts and puffs, especially close to shore, and treat the forecast speed as an average across open water.
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.
High Rock Lake forecast questions
What is the wind forecast for High Rock Lake this weekend?
In the National Weather Service forecast from October 26: Saturday: ENE wind 0 to 3 kt, gusts to 7 kt, high near 75°F. Sunday: E wind 1 to 4 kt, gusts to 9 kt, high near 72°F. The live cards above always show the latest update.
When is the best day to sail on High Rock Lake this week?
Based on the National Weather Service forecast from October 26, Wednesday looks best, with NE wind around 2 to 4 kt and gusts near 9 kt. Forecasts beyond three days shift, so check the live day cards above and look again the night before.
Where does the High Rock 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 High Rock is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their wind forecasts.
- Tuckertown ReservoirReservoir, 2,238 ac, North Carolina4 mi
- Badin LakeReservoir, 5,362 ac, North Carolina14 mi
- Oak Hollow LakeReservoir, 705 ac, North Carolina30 mi
- Lake TilleryReservoir, 4,847 ac, North Carolina31 mi
- Lake NormanReservoir, 30,798 ac, North Carolina40 mi
- Mountain Island LakeReservoir, 1,962 ac, North Carolina43 mi