Lake Monona water level · WI
Wind forecast, gusts, and gage height for small-craft sailing at Lake Monona (Lake Monona At Madison).
Gage height recorded at USGS gauge 05429000, refreshed every 15 minutes to 1 hour depending on the sensor.
4.82ft
recorded Nov 4, 7:00 AM
+0.01ft
rising
−0.03ft
falling
4.77–4.92ft
lowest to highest
59.9°F
USGS sensor
Recent daily readings
| Date | Level (ft) | Δ day |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 4● | 4.82 | ↓ 0.02 |
| Nov 3 | 4.84 | ↑ 0.05 |
| Nov 2 | 4.79 | ↑ 0.02 |
| Nov 1 | 4.77 | ↓ 0.01 |
| Oct 31 | 4.78 | 0 |
| Oct 30 | 4.78 | 0 |
| Oct 29 | 4.78 | ↓ 0.07 |
| Oct 28 | 4.85 | ↑ 0.01 |
| Oct 27 | 4.84 | ↓ 0.03 |
| Oct 26 | 4.87 | ↓ 0.01 |
| Oct 25 | 4.88 | 0 |
| Oct 24 | 4.88 | ↓ 0.03 |
| Oct 23 | 4.91 | ↓ 0.01 |
| Oct 22 | 4.92 | — |
Readings fetched Nov 4, 7:12 AM; the chart above loads the latest data live from USGS.
Lake Monona water level questions
- What is the water level at Lake Monona today?
- 4.82 ft, recorded Nov 4, 7:00 AM at USGS gauge 05429000. The chart above refreshes live from the same gauge.
- Is Lake Monona rising or falling?
- steady — 0.03 ft over the last 7 days.
- How does this compare to normal for Lake Monona?
- Over the last 14 days the gauge has ranged from 4.77 ft to 4.92 ft; today's reading sits in the middle of that range.
- Where does the water level data for Lake Monona come from?
- USGS gauge 05429000 (Lake Monona At Madison), which reports every 15 minutes to 1 hour. Readings are provisional until reviewed by the USGS.
- What is the water temperature at Lake Monona?
- 59.9°F at the latest gauge reading.
Gage height history
Gage height · USGS gauge 05429000
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
- 43.0633°, -89.3971°
- Gauge datum
- 840 ft
- USGS gauge
- 05429000
- 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.
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