ConnecticutReservoir, 1,091 acres, South Central Connecticut Planning Region
Lake Gaillard wind forecast
7-day outlook
Daylight hours, 8am to 7pm local time. Wind in knots.
-
TodayOct 26
2-6kt
W, gusts 11
High 66°F, rain 0%
Use caution -
TueOct 27
1-8kt
N, gusts 15
High 57°F, rain 0%
Use caution -
WedOct 28
2-4kt
SE, gusts 8
High 58°F, rain 0%
Light wind -
ThuOct 29
2-8kt
SW, gusts 14
High 65°F, rain 0%
Good -
FriOct 30
2-7kt
W, gusts 11
High 71°F, rain 0%
Good -
SatOct 31
2-4kt
NNW, gusts 8
High 66°F, rain 0%
Light wind -
SunNov 1
3-6kt
S, gusts 10
High 63°F, rain 19%
Good
Hour by hour, next 3 days
This week on Gaillard
Over the next 7 days on Lake Gaillard, the windiest stretch looks like Tuesday, with gusts to about 15 kt. Wednesday is the calmest day in the outlook, topping out near 4 kt.
Thursday 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 Gaillard, 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.
Lake Gaillard forecast questions
What is the wind forecast for Lake Gaillard this weekend?
In the National Weather Service forecast from October 26: Saturday: NNW wind 2 to 4 kt, gusts to 8 kt, high near 66°F. Sunday: S wind 3 to 6 kt, gusts to 10 kt, high near 63°F. The live cards above always show the latest update.
When is the best day to sail on Lake Gaillard this week?
Based on the National Weather Service forecast from October 26, Thursday looks best, with SW wind around 2 to 8 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 Lake Gaillard 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 Gaillard is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their wind forecasts.
- Lake QuassapaugReservoir, 290 ac, Connecticut23 mi
- Lake LillinonahReservoir, 1,531 ac, Connecticut28 mi
- Bantam LakeNatural lake, 939 ac, Connecticut34 mi
- Candlewood LakeNatural lake, 5,127 ac, Connecticut37 mi
- Coventry LakeNatural lake, 374 ac, Connecticut38 mi
- Lake WaramaugNatural lake, 692 ac, Connecticut39 mi