Clear Lake water level · IA
Wind forecast, gusts, and gage height for small-craft sailing at Clear Lake (Clear Lake At Clear Lake).
Gage height recorded at USGS gauge 05460000, refreshed every 15 minutes to 1 hour depending on the sensor.
4.81ft
recorded Nov 4, 7:00 AM
+0.09ft
rising
+0.18ft
rising
4.60–4.81ft
lowest to highest
Recent daily readings
| Date | Level (ft) | Δ day |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 4● | 4.81 | ↑ 0.08 |
| Nov 3 | 4.73 | ↑ 0.09 |
| Nov 2 | 4.64 | ↑ 0.02 |
| Nov 1 | 4.62 | ↑ 0.01 |
| Oct 31 | 4.61 | ↑ 0.01 |
| Oct 30 | 4.60 | ↓ 0.03 |
| Oct 29 | 4.63 | 0 |
| Oct 28 | 4.63 | ↑ 0.01 |
| Oct 27 | 4.62 | ↑ 0.02 |
| Oct 26 | 4.60 | ↓ 0.01 |
| Oct 25 | 4.61 | ↓ 0.04 |
| Oct 24 | 4.65 | ↑ 0.02 |
| Oct 23 | 4.63 | ↓ 0.02 |
| Oct 22 | 4.65 | — |
Readings fetched Nov 4, 7:12 AM; the chart above loads the latest data live from USGS.
Clear Lake water level questions
- What is the water level at Clear Lake today?
- 4.81 ft, recorded Nov 4, 7:00 AM at USGS gauge 05460000. The chart above refreshes live from the same gauge.
- Is Clear Lake rising or falling?
- rising — 0.18 ft over the last 7 days.
- How does this compare to normal for Clear Lake?
- Over the last 14 days the gauge has ranged from 4.60 ft to 4.81 ft; today's reading sits near the top of that range.
- Where does the water level data for Clear Lake come from?
- USGS gauge 05460000 (Clear Lake At Clear Lake), which reports every 15 minutes to 1 hour. Readings are provisional until reviewed by the USGS.
- What is the water temperature at Clear Lake?
- This gauge has no live water-temperature sensor — the fishing tab shows a seasonal estimate based on air temperature.
Gage height history
Gage height · USGS gauge 05460000
Reading the chart. This gauge reports gage height — the depth of water above the sensor reference point, not absolute elevation. Trends matter more than the absolute number: a falling trend means shrinking launch depth.
Water levels respond to dam operations, irrigation drawdown, snowmelt, and recent rainfall. For launch decisions, combine the trend here with the wind forecast — low water plus strong wind makes steep, tired ramps.
About this lake
- Location
- 43.1243°, -93.3840°
- Gauge datum
- 1,222 ft
- USGS gauge
- 05460000
- Water temp sensor
- Yes
Water level data comes from the USGS gauge above; wind is modeled for the lake’s coordinates by Open-Meteo. Always confirm conditions locally before launching — shorelines, ramps, and trees can all change what you feel on the water. Midwest lakes are dominated by pre-frontal south winds that build through the day, then swing northwest sharply behind a cold front — the shift can arrive in minutes and double the gusts, especially on east–west basins.
Report an issue with lake data