MontanaReservoir, 23,596 acres
Hungry Horse Reservoir wind forecast
7-day outlook
Daylight hours, 8am to 7pm local time. Wind in knots.
-
TodayOct 26
0-1kt
NE, gusts 4
High 50°F, rain 30%
Light wind -
TueOct 27
2-4kt
SSW, gusts 10
High 41°F, rain 90%
Light wind -
WedOct 28
0-5kt
S, gusts 11
High 40°F, rain 97%
Stay ashore -
ThuOct 29
0-1kt
NE, gusts 4
High 41°F, rain 27%
Light wind -
FriOct 30
0-5kt
NE, gusts 5
High 42°F, rain 22%
Use caution -
SatOct 31
0-2kt
ENE, gusts 3
High 44°F, rain 15%
Light wind -
SunNov 1
0-1kt
WNW, gusts 3
High 44°F, rain 25%
Light wind
Hour by hour, next 3 days
This week on Hungry Horse
Over the next 7 days on Hungry Horse Reservoir, the windiest stretch looks like Wednesday, with gusts to about 11 kt. Monday is the calmest day in the outlook, topping out near 1 kt.
Saturday 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.
Hungry Horse Reservoir 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.
Hungry Horse Reservoir forecast questions
What is the wind forecast for Hungry Horse Reservoir this weekend?
In the National Weather Service forecast from October 26: Saturday: ENE wind 0 to 2 kt, gusts to 3 kt, high near 44°F. Sunday: WNW wind 0 to 1 kt, gusts to 3 kt, high near 44°F. The live cards above always show the latest update.
When is the best day to sail on Hungry Horse Reservoir this week?
Based on the National Weather Service forecast from October 26, Friday looks best, with NE wind around 0 to 5 kt and gusts near 5 kt. Forecasts beyond three days shift, so check the live day cards above and look again the night before.
Where does the Hungry Horse Reservoir 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 Hungry Horse is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their wind forecasts.