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South DakotaReservoir, 58,420 acres, Buffalo County, Hughes County, Hyde County, Lyman County, Stanley County

Lake Sharpe conditions today

Lake Sharpe, South Dakota
Photo: Harry Weddington, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Public domain

Right now on Sharpe

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Best window

0pm to 0pm

score

Wind

00kt

Gusts 00

Direction

NE

Blowing from

Air temp

00°F

High

Rain

Dry

next 6 hours

Water level

1,421.02ft

Up 0.22 ft this week

Sailing

Checking

Reading the forecast

Kayak and SUP

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Power boating

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Fishing

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Reading the forecast

Hour by hour

Next 24 hours
Wind and gusts0 to 30+ ktScoreGood, caution, stay ashoreNightBest windowArrows point where the wind blows to.

Outlook. Monday: NE wind 10 to 13 kt, gusts to 22 kt, high near 43°F, 100% chance of rain. Tuesday: SSE wind 3 to 13 kt, gusts to 22 kt, high near 58°F.

7-day wind forecast

Live radar

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LightHeavy

Last hour of NOAA MRMS radar, 1 km resolution. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, OpenMapTiles, OpenFreeMap.

Water level

1,421.02ft NGVD29

+0.22 ft in 7 days

0.34 ft above the October normal

Sep 26Oct 11Oct 26

Reading from Oct 26, 2026. Shaded band: range of October averages on record; dashed line is the typical level.

Lake Sharpe was at 1,421.02 ft on October 26, rising 0.22 ft over the past week. That is well above normal for October: the typical October level is 1,420.68 ft, so the lake is 0.34 ft above its usual mark.

Lake facts

Type
Reservoir
State
South Dakota
County
Buffalo County, Hughes County, Hyde County, Lyman County, Stanley County
Surface area
58,420 acres
Dam completed
1959
Operator
United States Army Corps of Engineers
Level source
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Big Bend Dam & Reservoir
Coordinates
44.0517° N, 99.4522° W

Background reading: Lake Sharpe on Wikipedia

About Lake Sharpe

Set in Buffalo County, Hughes County, Hyde County, Lyman County, Stanley County, South Dakota, Lake Sharpe is a 58,420-acre reservoir. Its dam was completed in 1959, and the lake is operated by United States Army Corps of Engineers.

Water level on this page comes from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reading at Big Bend Dam & Reservoir, published through the Corps' CWMS data service. Wind, gusts and rain come from the National Weather Service forecast grid that covers the water.

On a lake this size the wind has miles of open water to work with, so a 15 kt breeze can stack up a steep chop in the main basin while sheltered coves stay flat. Reservoir levels move with releases and inflow, so ramps and beaches can change week to week. The water level page tracks that day by day.

The go or no-go calls above are a starting point, not a guarantee. Read how we score conditions, and always check local rules and posted warnings before you launch.

Lake Sharpe questions

Is it windy on Lake Sharpe today?

The National Weather Service forecast for the lake from October 26: Monday: NE wind 10 to 13 kt, gusts to 22 kt, high near 43°F, 100% chance of rain. The panel at the top of this page refreshes the current wind, gusts and direction when you open it and turns them into a call for sailing, paddling, power boating and fishing.

What is the water level at Lake Sharpe right now?

Lake Sharpe was at 1,421.02 ft on October 26, rising 0.22 ft over the past week. That is well above normal for October: the typical October level is 1,420.68 ft, so the lake is 0.34 ft above its usual mark.

How big is Lake Sharpe?

Lake Sharpe covers about 58,420 acres (91 square miles) of surface water.

Who manages Lake Sharpe?

Lake Sharpe is operated by United States Army Corps of Engineers. Boating rules, closures and ramp hours come from the operator and the state wildlife agency.

When was Lake Sharpe built?

The dam that forms Lake Sharpe was completed in 1959.

Nearby lakes

If Sharpe is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their conditions.