CaliforniaReservoir, 11,482 acres, Butte County
Lake Oroville wind forecast
7-day outlook
Daylight hours, 8am to 7pm local time. Wind in knots.
-
TodayOct 26
2-6kt
SSW, gusts 13
High 63°F, rain 0%
Use caution -
TueOct 27
2-4kt
SW, gusts 9
High 62°F, rain 0%
Light wind -
WedOct 28
2-4kt
W, gusts 9
High 65°F, rain 0%
Light wind -
ThuOct 29
2-4kt
SSW, gusts 10
High 63°F, rain 1%
Light wind -
FriOct 30
2-5kt
S, gusts 12
High 58°F, rain 7%
Use caution -
SatOct 31
2-4kt
SSW, gusts 10
High 55°F, rain 26%
Light wind -
SunNov 1
2-4kt
NW, gusts 9
High 58°F, rain 19%
Light wind
Hour by hour, next 3 days
This week on Oroville
Over the next 7 days on Lake Oroville, the windiest stretch looks like Monday, with gusts to about 13 kt. Tuesday is the calmest day in the outlook, topping out near 4 kt.
Monday is the pick for sailing, and Tuesday 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.
Lake Oroville 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.
Lake Oroville forecast questions
What is the wind forecast for Lake Oroville this weekend?
In the National Weather Service forecast from October 26: Saturday: SSW wind 2 to 4 kt, gusts to 10 kt, high near 55°F. Sunday: NW wind 2 to 4 kt, gusts to 9 kt, high near 58°F. The live cards above always show the latest update.
When is the best day to sail on Lake Oroville this week?
Based on the National Weather Service forecast from October 26, Monday looks best, with SSW wind around 2 to 6 kt and gusts near 13 kt. Forecasts beyond three days shift, so check the live day cards above and look again the night before.
Where does the Lake Oroville 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 Oroville is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their wind forecasts.
- Thermalito ForebayReservoir, 576 ac, California8 mi
- Thermalito AfterbayReservoir, 4,075 ac, California13 mi
- Sly Creek ReservoirReservoir, 618 ac, California18 mi
- New Bullards Bar ReservoirReservoir, 4,084 ac, California20 mi
- Englebright LakeReservoir, 130 ac, California24 mi
- Bucks LakeReservoir, 1,731 ac, California27 mi