Does rain make the lake colder?

Rain may have a cooling effect on the lake surface by lowering the near-surface air temperature, by the direct rain heat flux into the lake, by mixing the lake surface layer through the flux of kinetic energy and by convective mixing of the lake surface layer.



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Rain may have an effect on the lake surface in four ways: (i) evaporative cooling of the near-surface air during precipitation, which induces an additional upward sensible heat flux from the lake towards the atmosphere; (ii) direct rain heat flux into the lake; (iii) mixing of the lake surface layer through the flux of ...

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Lake temperatures are largely driven by interactions with the atmosphere, so colder air temperatures lead to colder lake temperatures, according to the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL).

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We call it the 48-hour rule, and it goes like this: In order to protect your health against recreational water illnesses, avoid contact with the water for at least 48-hours after a significant rain event. Think that sounds harsh? Some places suggest waiting up to 72 hours.

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Freshwater scientists know that storms can alter physical processes in lakes such as water flows from tributaries, mixing in the water column, sediment disturbance and water temperature.

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