AlaskaNatural lake, 1,173 acres, Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Red Shirt Lake wind forecast
7-day outlook
Daylight hours, 8am to 7pm local time. Wind in knots.
-
MonOct 26
1-9kt
SSE, gusts 19
High 44°F, rain 26%
Use caution -
TueOct 27
4-5kt
NNW, gusts 7
High 39°F, rain 2%
Good -
WedOct 28
1-3kt
NNW, gusts 4
High 37°F, rain 57%
Light wind -
ThuOct 29
2kt
NNW, gusts 6
High 37°F, rain 52%
Light wind -
FriOct 30
3-4kt
SE, gusts 12
High 40°F, rain 89%
Light wind -
SatOct 31
3kt
NE, gusts 9
High 38°F, rain 43%
Light wind -
SunNov 1
2kt
NNW, gusts 7
High 35°F, rain 26%
Light wind
Hour by hour, next 3 days
This week on Red Shirt
Over the next 7 days on Red Shirt Lake, the windiest stretch looks like Monday, with gusts to about 19 kt. Thursday is the calmest day in the outlook, topping out near 2 kt.
Tuesday 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.
On a lake the size of Red Shirt, 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.
Red Shirt Lake forecast questions
What is the wind forecast for Red Shirt Lake this weekend?
In the National Weather Service forecast from October 25: Saturday: NE wind 3 kt, gusts to 9 kt, high near 38°F. Sunday: NNW wind 2 kt, gusts to 7 kt, high near 35°F. The live cards above always show the latest update.
When is the best day to sail on Red Shirt Lake this week?
Based on the National Weather Service forecast from October 25, Tuesday looks best, with NNW wind around 4 to 5 kt and gusts near 7 kt. Forecasts beyond three days shift, so check the live day cards above and look again the night before.
Where does the Red Shirt 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 Red Shirt is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their wind forecasts.