New HampshireNatural lake, 1,829 acres
Great East Lake wind forecast

7-day outlook
Daylight hours, 8am to 7pm local time. Wind in knots.
-
TodayOct 26
4-7kt
W, gusts 14
High 66°F, rain 5%
Good -
TueOct 27
2-3kt
NW, gusts 6
High 51°F, rain 0%
Light wind -
WedOct 28
0-4kt
SW, gusts 8
High 53°F, rain 0%
Light wind -
ThuOct 29
4-7kt
SW, gusts 14
High 64°F, rain 0%
Good -
FriOct 30
4-10kt
W, gusts 19
High 66°F, rain 2%
Good -
SatOct 31
1-4kt
WNW, gusts 8
High 59°F, rain 3%
Light wind -
SunNov 1
2-5kt
SW, gusts 10
High 60°F, rain 10%
Use caution
Hour by hour, next 3 days
This week on Great East
Over the next 7 days on Great East Lake, the windiest stretch looks like Friday, with gusts to about 19 kt. Tuesday is the calmest day in the outlook, topping out near 3 kt.
Friday 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 Great East, 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.
Great East Lake forecast questions
What is the wind forecast for Great East Lake this weekend?
In the National Weather Service forecast from October 26: Saturday: WNW wind 1 to 4 kt, gusts to 8 kt, high near 59°F. Sunday: SW wind 2 to 5 kt, gusts to 10 kt, high near 60°F. The live cards above always show the latest update.
When is the best day to sail on Great East Lake this week?
Based on the National Weather Service forecast from October 26, Friday looks best, with W wind around 4 to 10 kt and gusts near 19 kt. Forecasts beyond three days shift, so check the live day cards above and look again the night before.
Where does the Great East 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 Great East is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their wind forecasts.
- Lake WentworthNatural lake, 3,097 ac, New Hampshire8 mi
- Merrymeeting LakeNatural lake, 1,233 ac, New Hampshire12 mi
- Ossipee LakeNatural lake, 3,257 ac, New Hampshire16 mi
- Lake WinnipesaukeeNatural lake, 45,714 ac, New Hampshire17 mi
- Bow LakeNatural lake, 1,140 ac, New Hampshire25 mi
- Conway LakeNatural lake, 1,316 ac, New Hampshire26 mi