Water level
849.75ft NGVD29
-0.10 ft in 7 daysOct 11Oct 18Oct 25
Sep 25Oct 10Oct 25
Reading from Oct 26, 2026.
Lake Mendota was at 849.75 ft on October 26, falling 0.10 ft over the past week.
WisconsinNatural lake, 9,736 acres, Dane County
Lake Mendota conditions today
Right now on Mendota
loading
Best window
0pm to 0pm
score
Wind
00kt
Gusts 00
Direction
NE
Blowing from
Air temp
00°F
High
Rain
Dry%
next 6 hours
Water level
849.75ft
Down 0.10 ft this week
Sailing
CheckingReading the forecast
Kayak and SUP
CheckingReading the forecast
Power boating
CheckingReading the forecast
Fishing
CheckingReading the forecast
Hour by hour
Next 24 hours
Wind and gusts0 to 30+ ktScoreGood, caution, stay ashoreNightBest windowArrows point where the wind blows to.
Outlook. Monday: ENE wind 7 to 11 kt, gusts to 16 kt, high near 59°F. Tuesday: SSE wind 8 to 10 kt, gusts to 15 kt, high near 68°F.
7-day wind forecastLive radar
Loads when you scroll here
Radar will load here
LightHeavy
Last hour of NOAA MRMS radar, 1 km resolution. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, OpenMapTiles, OpenFreeMap.
Lake facts
- Type
- Natural lake
- State
- Wisconsin
- County
- Dane County
- Surface area
- 9,736 acres
- Elevation
- 850 ft
- USGS gauge
- 05428000, Lake Mendota at Madison, WI
- Coordinates
- 43.1067° N, 89.4247° W
Background reading: Lake Mendota on Wikipedia
About Lake Mendota
Set in Dane County, Wisconsin, Lake Mendota is a 9,736-acre natural lake. The water surface sits about 850 ft above sea level.
Water level on this page comes from USGS gauge 05428000 (Lake Mendota at Madison, WI), about 3 mi from the middle of the lake. Wind, gusts and rain come from the National Weather Service forecast grid that covers the water.
Mid-sized lakes like this one tend to have shifty, gusty wind near shore and steadier pressure in the middle, which is why gust spread matters as much as average speed.
The go or no-go calls above are a starting point, not a guarantee. Read how we score conditions, and always check local rules and posted warnings before you launch.
Lake Mendota questions
Is it windy on Lake Mendota today?
The National Weather Service forecast for the lake from October 26: Monday: ENE wind 7 to 11 kt, gusts to 16 kt, high near 59°F. The panel at the top of this page refreshes the current wind, gusts and direction when you open it and turns them into a call for sailing, paddling, power boating and fishing.
What is the water level at Lake Mendota right now?
Lake Mendota was at 849.75 ft on October 26, falling 0.10 ft over the past week.
How big is Lake Mendota?
Lake Mendota covers about 9,736 acres (15 square miles) of surface water.
Nearby lakes
If Mendota is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their conditions.