Live Weather, Water Temperature & Webcam

Watauga Lake Weather

Real-time conditions from our weather station on Watauga Lake — the only live water temperature and dock-level weather data for the lake. Updated every 15 minutes.

Right Now at Watauga Lake

57°F

Updated 10/5 8:23 AM

Regional data while the dock station is offline (last dock upload 10/3 10:44 AM).

Today

72°

57°

Tue

71°

55°

Wed

72°

58°

Thu

75°

61°

Fri

77°

57°

Sat

54°

Wind

mph

From N

Gusts n/a

Peak n/a

Lake Level

1,948.5 ft

10.5 ft below full pool

Pressure

30.2 inHg

Normal — stable

Feels Like

57°F

Near actual temp

Humidity

94%

High moisture

Comfort

0°

Actual and feels-like match

Watauga Lake Water Level

Below Full Pool

Watauga Lake is currently at 1,948.5 ft, 10.5 ft below full pool of 1,959 ft. Reading updated 10/5 7:00 AM.

Winter low 1,948 ft 3% of range Full pool 1,959 ft

That is below TVA's expected range for October 5 (1,948.6–1,958.5 ft).

Watauga Lake is a Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) reservoir, and these figures come from TVA's operating guide and hourly dam readings. Full summer pool is 1,959 ft. TVA's winter flood-guide level is 1,952 ft (January through mid-March), and the guide curve bottoms out near 1,948 ft in February — so the lake normally swings about 11 ft between summer and winter. TVA lowers the lake through fall and winter for flood storage and hydroelectric generation, then refills toward full pool by early June — and levels can run lower than usual during dry stretches. See the lake level history chart below for the recent trend.

Historical Data

Weather Trends

Live Camera

Watauga Lake Webcam

Live stream from Cove Ridge Marina on Watauga Lake

Live from Cove Ridge Marina

Seasonal Weather

57°F

Spring

Mar–May

45° 70°

Summer

Jun–Aug

62° 84°

Fall Now

Sep–Nov

40° 72°

Winter

Dec–Feb

24° 44°

Mountain Elevation

Weather at 2,000 Feet

Watauga Lake sits at nearly 2,000 feet above sea level in the Blue Ridge Mountains, keeping summers 10-15 degrees cooler than lower-elevation Tennessee cities. The higher elevation brings true four-season weather with vibrant fall colors and occasional snow in winter.

Our weather station provides the only real-time water temperature and hyper-local weather data for Watauga Lake. Data refreshes every 15 minutes so you always know current conditions before heading to the lake.

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Common Questions

Watauga Lake Weather FAQ

What is the water temperature at Watauga Lake?

We measure live water temperature from our weather station on Watauga Lake. Water temps typically range from the mid-40s°F in winter to the low-80s°F in peak summer. This is the only real-time water temperature data available for Watauga Lake — check the dashboard above for the current reading.

What are the current weather conditions at Watauga Lake?

Our weather station on Watauga Lake reports real-time air temperature, water temperature, wind speed and direction, UV index, barometric pressure, rainfall, humidity, and dew point. Data updates every 15 minutes. See the live dashboard above for current conditions.

What is the best time to visit Watauga Lake?

Summer (June through August) is peak season for swimming, boating, and water sports with air temps in the 60s-80s°F and water temps in the 70s-80s°F. Fall (September through November) brings stunning foliage and comfortable 40-72°F temps. Spring offers mild weather and wildflowers. Even winter has its charm with quieter shores and occasional snow in the mountains.

Does Watauga Lake freeze in winter?

Watauga Lake rarely freezes completely due to its depth (265 feet at its deepest). During severe cold snaps, thin ice may form in shallow coves and along the shoreline, but the main body of the lake stays open. Winter water temperatures typically drop to the mid-40s°F.

What is the lake level at Watauga Lake?

Watauga Lake is currently at 1,948.5 ft, 10.5 ft below full pool (1,959 ft). Watauga Lake is managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and these figures come from TVA's operating guide and hourly dam readings. Full summer pool is 1,959 feet above sea level. TVA's winter flood-guide level is 1,952 feet (January through mid-March) and the guide curve bottoms out near 1,948 feet in February, so the lake normally swings about 11 feet between summer and winter. TVA draws the lake down through fall and winter for flood storage and hydroelectric generation, then refills toward full pool by early June; levels can also run lower than usual during dry stretches.

Can I share my weather station data on this page?

Yes! If you have an Ambient Weather station (or compatible weather station) located around Watauga Lake, we'd love to include your hyper-local data on our weather page. More stations around the lake means better coverage for everyone. Contact us with your station details and we'll work on getting your data integrated.

Do you have a live webcam or livestream you'd like to share?

We're always looking for more live views of Watauga Lake! If you have a webcam or livestream pointed at the lake, a marina, or anywhere around the Watauga Lake area, we'd love to feature it on our weather page. Contact us with your stream details.

Living on Watauga Lake

Checking the water temp because you're dreaming about life at the lake? Browse Watauga Lake homes for sale, land for sale, and what's actually selling in the lake market report — all straight from the local MLS, across 22 communities in Carter and Johnson County.

Homes for Sale Market Report Explore Communities About Watauga Lake