New HampshireReservoir, Merrimack County
Hopkinton Lake wind forecast

7-day outlook
Daylight hours, 8am to 7pm local time. Wind in knots.
-
TodayOct 26
1-5kt
WNW, gusts 10
High 67°F, rain 3%
Use caution -
TueOct 27
2-4kt
NW, gusts 8
High 53°F, rain 0%
Light wind -
WedOct 28
0-1kt
SSW, gusts 2
High 57°F, rain 0%
Light wind -
ThuOct 29
1-5kt
SW, gusts 10
High 66°F, rain 0%
Use caution -
FriOct 30
3-7kt
W, gusts 14
High 68°F, rain 3%
Good -
SatOct 31
1-3kt
NW, gusts 6
High 62°F, rain 2%
Light wind -
SunNov 1
0-3kt
SW, gusts 6
High 62°F, rain 12%
Light wind
Hour by hour, next 3 days
This week on Hopkinton
Over the next 7 days on Hopkinton Lake, the windiest stretch looks like Friday, with gusts to about 14 kt. Wednesday is the calmest day in the outlook, topping out near 1 kt.
Friday 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 Hopkinton, 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.
Hopkinton Lake forecast questions
What is the wind forecast for Hopkinton Lake this weekend?
In the National Weather Service forecast from October 26: Saturday: NW wind 1 to 3 kt, gusts to 6 kt, high near 62°F. Sunday: SW wind 0 to 3 kt, gusts to 6 kt, high near 62°F. The live cards above always show the latest update.
When is the best day to sail on Hopkinton Lake this week?
Based on the National Weather Service forecast from October 26, Friday looks best, with W wind around 3 to 7 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 Hopkinton 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 Hopkinton is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their wind forecasts.
- Everett LakeReservoir, 148 ac, New Hampshire8 mi
- Highland LakeNatural lake, 697 ac, New Hampshire18 mi
- Lake SunapeeNatural lake, 4,125 ac, New Hampshire20 mi
- Lake MassabesicNatural lake, 2,561 ac, New Hampshire23 mi
- Edward MacDowell LakeReservoir, 104 ac, New Hampshire24 mi
- Northwood LakeNatural lake, 653 ac, New Hampshire24 mi