What is the average water temperature in North Dakota?

The current average water temperature across North Dakota's monitored water bodies is 54.6°F.

🌡️

North Dakota Water Temperatures

Q: What is the warmest lake in North Dakota today?

James River At Jamestown, Nd at 74.5°F.

Current lake & river temperatures in North Dakota — updated daily from USGS sensors.

With Data

54.6°F

State Avg

74.5°F

Warmest

74.5°F

Warmest

James River At Jamestown, Nd

54.6°F

State Average

100 water bodies

31.6°F

Coldest

Sheyenne River Above Harvey, Nd

🏊

Swimming Conditions

⛔ Cold shock risk

Based on avg 54.6°F

🎣

Fishing Conditions

🎣 Fair — slow presentations

Based on avg 54.6°F

North Dakota — Ranked by Temperature

54 with data

#	Water Body	°F	°C	Condition	🏊	Date
1	James River At Jamestown, Nd River	74.5°	23.6°	🌤️ Comfortable	✅ Good	Aug 9
2	Red River Of The North At Halstad, Mn River	74.3°	23.5°	🌤️ Comfortable	✅ Good	Jun 4
3	Sheyenne R Ab Sheyenne R Diversion Nr Horace, Nd Lake	74.1°	23.4°	🌤️ Comfortable	✅ Good	Jun 4
4	Red River Of The North At Hickson, Nd River	73.9°	23.3°	🌤️ Comfortable	✅ Good	Jun 4
5	James River On Us Hwy 52 Near Manfred, Nd River	73°	22.8°	🌤️ Comfortable	✅ Good	Jun 4
6	Sheyenne R Ab Devils Lk State Outlet Nr Flora, Nd Lake	71.2°	21.8°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Jun 4
7	Sheyenne R Bl Devils Lk State Outlet Nr Bremen, Nd Lake	70.5°	21.4°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Jun 4
8	Sheyenne River Nr Cooperstown, Nd River	69.8°	21°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Jun 4
9	Missouri River Nr Williston, Nd River	68°	20°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Jun 4
10	Turtle River At Turtle R State Park Nr Arvilla, Nd River	67.6°	19.8°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Jun 12
11	Sheyenne River Below Baldhill Dam, Nd River	64.6°	18.1°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
12	Willow Creek Near Willow City, Nd River	61.7°	16.5°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	May 20
13	Souris River Nr Bantry, Nd River	60.8°	16°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	May 27
14	Maple River Bl Mapleton, Nd River	60.1°	15.6°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Sep 29
15	Missouri River Near Hensler, Nd River	59.9°	15.5°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Sep 29
16	Souris River Near Sherwood, Nd River	59.9°	15.5°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Oct 31
17	James River At Lamoure, Nd River	59°	15°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Aug 14
18	James River At Nd-Sd State Line River	59°	15°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Feb 16
19	James River Nr Manfred, Nd River	58.6°	14.8°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	May 13
20	Red River Of The North At Fargo, Nd River	57.9°	14.4°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
21	Tolna Coulee Near Tolna, Nd Lake	57.7°	14.3°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
22	Souris River Nr Foxholm, Nd River	57.2°	14°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jul 9
23	Knife River At Hazen, Nd River	57.2°	14°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Oct 7
24	Missouri River Above Stanton, Nd River	57.2°	14°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Sep 29
25	Missouri River At Bismarck, Nd River	56.7°	13.7°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
26	Red River Of The North At Drayton, Nd River	56.3°	13.5°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Sep 29
27	Red River Of The North At Grand Forks, Nd River	56.3°	13.5°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
28	Bear Den Creek Near Mandaree, Nd River	56.1°	13.4°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Aug 20
29	Cannonball River At Regent, Nd River	55.9°	13.3°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Sep 29
30	Sheyenne River At Lisbon, Nd River	54.5°	12.5°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Oct 31
31	Yellowstone R No. 3 Nr Buford, Nd Lake	54.1°	12.3°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Sep 29
32	Souris River Nr Westhope, Nd River	53.6°	12°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Sep 23
33	Cannonball River At Breien, Nd River	53.6°	12°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Nov 30
34	Heart River Nr Mandan, Nd River	53.6°	12°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Oct 19
35	Little Muddy River Bl Cow Creek Nr Williston, Nd River	51.3°	10.7°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Apr 13
36	Lake Darling Near Foxholm, Nd Lake	51.3°	10.7°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Oct 15
37	Des Lacs River At Foxholm, Nd River	51.3°	10.7°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Oct 7
38	Little Missouri River Nr Watford City, Nd River	50°	10°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Sep 29
39	Souris River Above Minot, Nd River	49.5°	9.7°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Oct 11
40	Sheyenne River Near Warwick, Nd River	48.2°	9°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Oct 17
41	Missouri River Near Stanton, Nd River	47.3°	8.5°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	May 15
42	Knife River Near Golden Valley, Nd River	45°	7.2°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Sep 29
43	Wild Rice River Near Abercrombie, Nd River	44.6°	7°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	Oct 11
44	Pembina River At Walhalla, Nd River	44.6°	7°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	May 2
45	Spring Creek Near Haley, Nd River	41.5°	5.3°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	Oct 30
46	Deep River Near Upham, Nd River	41°	5°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	Oct 31
47	North Fork Grand River Above Bowman-Haley Lake, Nd River	40.8°	4.9°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	Oct 30
48	Knife River Nr Stanton, Nd River	38.7°	3.7°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	Nov 5
49	Little Missouri River At Medora, Nd River	37.9°	3.3°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	Nov 5
50	White Earth River At White Earth, Nd River	35.6°	2°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	Nov 30
51	Souris River Nr Verendrye, Nd River	33.8°	1°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	Oct 14
52	Baldhill Creek Nr Dazey, Nd River	33.3°	0.7°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	Nov 7
53	Heart River At Stark Bridge Near Judson, Nd River	32.2°	0.1°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	Oct 29
54	Sheyenne River Above Harvey, Nd River	31.6°	-0.2°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	Nov 20
55	Maple River At Nd-Sd State Line River	—	—	—	—	—
56	Mauvais Coulee Near Cando, Nd Lake	—	—	—	—	—
57	Deep Creek Near Amidon, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
58	Sheyenne River On Hwy 200 Near Cooperstown, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
59	Crooked Creek Near Emerson, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
60	Sheyenne River Near Kindred, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
61	Missouri River At Washburn, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
62	Heart River Nr Richardton, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
63	Devils Lake Nr Devils Lake, Nd Lake	—	—	—	—	—
64	Apple Creek Nr Menoken, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
65	Lake Lamoure South Of Lamoure, Nd Lake	—	—	—	—	—
66	Pembina River At Neche, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
67	Cannonball River At Solen, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
68	Berthold Wetland 1 Lake	—	—	—	—	—
69	James River Above Arrowwood Lake Nr Kensal, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
70	Berthold Wetland 10 Lake	—	—	—	—	—
71	Wild Rice River Near Rutland, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
72	Missouri R No. 6 Near Buford,Nd Lake	—	—	—	—	—
73	James River Near Manfred, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
74	E. Fork Shell Creek Nr Parshall, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
75	Little Coulee Nr Leeds, Nd Lake	—	—	—	—	—
76	Little Missouri River Above Mouth Near Oakdale, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
77	Sheyenne River At Fort Ransom State Park, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
78	Maple River Nr Enderlin, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
79	Morrison Lake Near Webster, Nd Lake	—	—	—	—	—
80	Goose River At Hillsboro, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
81	Sweetbriar Creek Near Judson, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
82	Cedar Creek Nr Haynes, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
83	Maddock Wetland 1 Lake	—	—	—	—	—
84	Berthold Wetland 5 Lake	—	—	—	—	—
85	Red River Of The North At Wahpeton, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
86	Yellowstone R No. 2 Nr Cartwright, Nd Lake	—	—	—	—	—
87	Sheyenne River Diversion Nr Horace, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
88	Edmore Coulee Trib Nr Webster, Nd Lake	—	—	—	—	—
89	Beaver Creek Nr Trotters, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
90	Spring Creek At Zap, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
91	Sheyenne River Diversion At West Fargo, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
92	Square Butte Creek Below Center, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
93	Rush River At Amenia, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
94	Antelope Creek Nr Carson, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
95	Lake Ashtabula At Baldhill Dam, Nd Lake	—	—	—	—	—
96	Forest River At Minto, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
97	Missouri River Near Schmidt, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
98	Harvey Wetland 2 Lake	—	—	—	—	—
99	Red River Of The North At Pembina, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—
100	Beaver Creek Near Strasburg, Nd River	—	—	—	—	—

James River At Jamestown, Nd River

74.5°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Red River Of The North At Halstad, Mn River

74.3°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Sheyenne R Ab Sheyenne R Diversion Nr Horace, Nd Lake

74.1°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Red River Of The North At Hickson, Nd River

73.9°F

🌤️ Comfortable

James River On Us Hwy 52 Near Manfred, Nd River

73°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Sheyenne R Ab Devils Lk State Outlet Nr Flora, Nd Lake

71.2°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Sheyenne R Bl Devils Lk State Outlet Nr Bremen, Nd Lake

70.5°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Sheyenne River Nr Cooperstown, Nd River

69.8°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Missouri River Nr Williston, Nd River

68°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Turtle River At Turtle R State Park Nr Arvilla, Nd River

67.6°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Sheyenne River Below Baldhill Dam, Nd River

64.6°F

🌊 Cool

Willow Creek Near Willow City, Nd River

61.7°F

🌊 Cool

Souris River Nr Bantry, Nd River

60.8°F

🌊 Cool

Maple River Bl Mapleton, Nd River

60.1°F

🌊 Cool

Missouri River Near Hensler, Nd River

59.9°F

🌊 Cool

Souris River Near Sherwood, Nd River

59.9°F

🌊 Cool

James River At Lamoure, Nd River

59°F

🌊 Cool

James River At Nd-Sd State Line River

59°F

🌊 Cool

James River Nr Manfred, Nd River

58.6°F

🌊 Cool

Red River Of The North At Fargo, Nd River

57.9°F

🌊 Cool

More North Dakota Resources

🗺️ North Dakota Water Levels 🎣 Weekly Fishing Report ⛵ Boat Ramp Status 🌵 Drought Conditions 🌡️ All States

❓ North Dakota Water Temperature FAQ

What is the warmest lake in North Dakota today?

Based on our latest USGS data, James River At Jamestown, Nd is currently the warmest water body in North Dakota at 74.5°F.

Which North Dakota lakes are good for swimming right now?

Lakes with water temperatures above 72°F are generally comfortable for swimming. Currently, North Dakota's average water temperature is 54.6°F — check individual lakes above for specific conditions.

What is the best water temperature for fishing in North Dakota?

The optimal temperature range depends on your target species. For bass fishing, look for water bodies between 65–75°F. For trout, target the coldest water bodies in North Dakota — typically 50–65°F. Use the table above to identify which lakes are in the ideal range for your target species.

🔬 Data Methodology & Sources

Water temperature readings on this site are collected from USGS (United States Geological Survey) monitoring stations installed at lakes, rivers, and reservoirs across the country. Sensors measure water surface temperature in Celsius, which is converted to Fahrenheit for display. Data is retrieved and stored daily. Temperatures shown reflect the most recent available sensor reading for each water body, typically from the past 1–30 days depending on station reporting frequency.

⚠️ Water temperatures can vary significantly across a water body due to depth, currents, and time of day. Sensor readings represent conditions at the monitoring station location. Always exercise caution when swimming and consult local authorities for official safety advisories.