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AlabamaReservoir, 21,020 acres

Lewis Smith Lake wind forecast

Lewis Smith Lake, Alabama
Photo: Quintaped, CC BY-SA 4.0

7-day outlook

Daylight hours, 8am to 7pm local time. Wind in knots.

  1. TodayOct 26

    1-3kt

    ENE, gusts 9

    High 74°F, rain 0%

    Light wind
  2. TueOct 27

    0-1kt

    ESE, gusts 5

    High 76°F, rain 0%

    Light wind
  3. WedOct 28

    1-3kt

    ESE, gusts 9

    High 75°F, rain 0%

    Light wind
  4. ThuOct 29

    1-2kt

    E, gusts 8

    High 78°F, rain 0%

    Light wind
  5. FriOct 30

    1-3kt

    E, gusts 9

    High 79°F, rain 2%

    Light wind
  6. SatOct 31

    2-4kt

    ESE, gusts 10

    High 77°F, storms possible

    Stay ashore
  7. SunNov 1

    0-4kt

    SE, gusts 10

    High 78°F, rain 55%

    Light wind

Hour by hour, next 3 days

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

This week on Lewis Smith

Over the next 7 days on Lewis Smith Lake, the windiest stretch looks like Saturday, with gusts to about 10 kt. Tuesday is the calmest day in the outlook, topping out near 1 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 Saturday. 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.

Lewis Smith 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.

Lewis Smith Lake forecast questions

What is the wind forecast for Lewis Smith Lake this weekend?

In the National Weather Service forecast from October 26: Saturday: ESE wind 2 to 4 kt, gusts to 10 kt, high near 77°F, thunderstorms possible. Sunday: SE wind 0 to 4 kt, gusts to 10 kt, high near 78°F, 55% chance of rain. The live cards above always show the latest update.

When is the best day to sail on Lewis Smith 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 Lewis Smith 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 Lewis Smith is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their wind forecasts.