ArizonaReservoir, 13,059 acres, Gila County, Graham County, Pinal County
San Carlos Lake wind forecast
7-day outlook
Daylight hours, 8am to 7pm local time. Wind in knots.
-
TodayOct 26
1-3kt
ENE, gusts 9
High 80°F, rain 0%
Light wind -
TueOct 27
1-3kt
SSE, gusts 8
High 81°F, rain 0%
Light wind -
WedOct 28
0-3kt
E, gusts 9
High 82°F, rain 0%
Light wind -
ThuOct 29
0-3kt
SE, gusts 9
High 82°F, rain 13%
Light wind -
FriOct 30
2-3kt
S, gusts 9
High 74°F, storms possible
Stay ashore -
SatOct 31
1-2kt
SSW, gusts 7
High 73°F, rain 31%
Light wind -
SunNov 1
2-4kt
SSE, gusts 11
High 69°F, storms possible
Stay ashore
Hour by hour, next 3 days
This week on San Carlos
Over the next 7 days on San Carlos Lake, the windiest stretch looks like Sunday, with gusts to about 11 kt. Saturday is the calmest day in the outlook, topping out near 2 kt.
Monday looks best for kayaks and paddleboards. Mornings are usually calmer than afternoons, so check the hourly strip for the exact window.
Thunderstorms are in the forecast for Friday, Sunday. Plan to be off the water before the first rumble; lightning can strike miles ahead of a storm.
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.
San Carlos Lake 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.
San Carlos Lake forecast questions
What is the wind forecast for San Carlos Lake this weekend?
In the National Weather Service forecast from October 26: Saturday: SSW wind 1 to 2 kt, gusts to 7 kt, high near 73°F. Sunday: SSE wind 2 to 4 kt, gusts to 11 kt, high near 69°F, thunderstorms possible. The live cards above always show the latest update.
When is the best day to sail on San Carlos Lake this week?
Based on the National Weather Service forecast from October 26, Monday looks best, with ENE wind around 1 to 3 kt and gusts near 9 kt. Forecasts beyond three days shift, so check the live day cards above and look again the night before.
Where does the San Carlos 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 San Carlos is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their wind forecasts.