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How warm are lakes in Colorado?

The lakes' water temperature averages 75 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. Boat, OHV and snowmobile registrations are available at the Lathrop Visitor Center.



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No matter where you're swimming, avoiding water below 70 degrees Fahrenheit is a good rule of thumb for the average swimmer. The truth of the matter, though, is that 70 degrees is still pretty chilly. You'll probably have a better time if you wait for warmer water. In fact, you'll be safer, too.

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In summer, the top of the lake becomes warmer than the lower layers. You've probably noticed this when swimming in a lake in summer - your shoulders feel like they're in a warm bath while your feet are chilled. Since warm water is less dense that colder water, it stays on top of the lake surface.

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The water flows through and turns the turbines and then flows out into the Colorado River. Because the water intake is significantly below the surface of Lake Powell, the water coming out of the outflow is significantly colder than surface temperatures.

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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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According to the National Center for Cold Water Safety, water temperatures below 70 degrees Fahrenheit should be treated with caution. Water temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit makes it difficult to control your breathing, and anything lower than 40 degrees is painfully cold.

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