New MexicoReservoir, 3,108 acres, Rio Arriba County
El Vado Lake wind forecast
7-day outlook
Daylight hours, 8am to 7pm local time. Wind in knots.
-
TodayOct 26
0-1kt
N, gusts 1
High 57°F, rain 0%
Light wind -
TueOct 27
0-6kt
W, gusts 8
High 60°F, rain 2%
Use caution -
WedOct 28
0-6kt
WSW, gusts 8
High 61°F, rain 0%
Use caution -
ThuOct 29
0-2kt
S, gusts 4
High 63°F, rain 13%
Light wind -
FriOct 30
1-3kt
WSW, gusts 9
High 60°F, rain 49%
Light wind -
SatOct 31
0-4kt
W, gusts 10
High 56°F, rain 43%
Light wind -
SunNov 1
3-9kt
SW, gusts 19
High 54°F, rain 79%
Use caution
Hour by hour, next 3 days
This week on El Vado
Over the next 7 days on El Vado Lake, the windiest stretch looks like Sunday, with gusts to about 19 kt. Monday is the calmest day in the outlook, topping out near 1 kt.
Tuesday 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 El Vado, 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.
El Vado Lake forecast questions
What is the wind forecast for El Vado Lake this weekend?
In the National Weather Service forecast from October 26: Saturday: W wind 0 to 4 kt, gusts to 10 kt, high near 56°F. Sunday: SW wind 3 to 9 kt, gusts to 19 kt, high near 54°F, 79% chance of rain. The live cards above always show the latest update.
When is the best day to sail on El Vado Lake this week?
Based on the National Weather Service forecast from October 26, Tuesday looks best, with W wind around 0 to 6 kt and gusts near 8 kt. Forecasts beyond three days shift, so check the live day cards above and look again the night before.
Where does the El Vado 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 El Vado is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their wind forecasts.