NebraskaReservoir, 1,958 acres, Scotts Bluff County
Lake Minatare wind forecast
7-day outlook
Daylight hours, 8am to 7pm local time. Wind in knots.
-
TodayOct 26
5-8kt
NE, gusts 12
High 45°F, rain 68%
Good -
TueOct 27
9-15kt
WSW, gusts 24
High 64°F, rain 0%
Use caution -
WedOct 28
4-9kt
WNW, gusts 14
High 66°F, rain 3%
Good -
ThuOct 29
3-7kt
SSE, gusts 11
High 68°F, rain 0%
Good -
FriOct 30
4-7kt
SE, gusts 15
High 65°F, rain 17%
Good -
SatOct 31
4-5kt
SW, gusts 13
High 63°F, rain 13%
Good -
SunNov 1
4-9kt
SE, gusts 18
High 62°F, rain 45%
Good
Hour by hour, next 3 days
This week on Minatare
Over the next 7 days on Lake Minatare, the windiest stretch looks like Tuesday, with gusts to about 24 kt. Saturday is the calmest day in the outlook, topping out near 5 kt.
Wednesday is the pick for sailing, and Thursday 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 Minatare, 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.
Lake Minatare forecast questions
What is the wind forecast for Lake Minatare this weekend?
In the National Weather Service forecast from October 26: Saturday: SW wind 4 to 5 kt, gusts to 13 kt, high near 63°F. Sunday: SE wind 4 to 9 kt, gusts to 18 kt, high near 62°F. The live cards above always show the latest update.
When is the best day to sail on Lake Minatare this week?
Based on the National Weather Service forecast from October 26, Wednesday looks best, with WNW wind around 4 to 9 kt and gusts near 14 kt. Forecasts beyond three days shift, so check the live day cards above and look again the night before.
Where does the Lake Minatare 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 Minatare is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their wind forecasts.
- Winters Creek LakeNatural lake, 234 ac, Nebraska2 mi
- Box Butte ReservoirReservoir, 1,263 ac, Nebraska41 mi
- Crescent LakeReservoir, 1,008 ac, Nebraska58 mi
- Twin LakesNatural lake, 1,307 ac, Nebraska59 mi
- Grayrocks ReservoirReservoir, 3,600 ac, Wyoming64 mi
- Guernsey ReservoirReservoir, 1,938 ac, Wyoming73 mi