What is the average water temperature in Arkansas?

The current average water temperature across Arkansas's monitored water bodies is 73.2°F.

🌡️

Arkansas Water Temperatures

Q: What is the warmest lake in Arkansas today?

Red River At Index, Ar at 90.7°F.

Current lake & river temperatures in Arkansas — updated daily from USGS sensors.

With Data

73.2°F

State Avg

90.7°F

Warmest

90.7°F

Warmest

Red River At Index, Ar

73.2°F

State Average

100 water bodies

48.6°F

Coldest

White River At Beaver Dam Near Eureka Springs

🏊

Swimming Conditions

✅ Good for swimming

Based on avg 73.2°F

🎣

Fishing Conditions

🎣 Peak — bass, crappie, catfish

Based on avg 73.2°F

Arkansas — Ranked by Temperature

22 with data

#	Water Body	°F	°C	Condition	🏊	Date
1	Red River At Index, Ar River	90.7°	32.6°	🔥 Hot	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
2	Lake Maumelle At State Hwy 10 Near Wye, Ar Lake	90.3°	32.4°	🔥 Hot	🏊 Excellent	Jul 13
3	Lk Maumelle Raw Water Intake Nr Natural Steps,Ar Lake	88.9°	31.6°	🔥 Hot	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
4	Lake Winona Raw Water Intake Pipe Near Reform, Ar Lake	87.6°	30.9°	🔥 Hot	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
5	Deep Bayou Near Star City, Ar Lake	86.7°	30.4°	🔥 Hot	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
6	West Fork White River East Of Fayetteville, Ar River	85.5°	29.7°	🔥 Hot	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
7	White River Near Fayetteville, Ar River	85.3°	29.6°	🔥 Hot	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
8	Maumelle River Near Wye, Ar River	84.7°	29.3°	☀️ Warm	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
9	Town Br. At S Morningside At Fayetteville, Ar Lake	83.8°	28.8°	☀️ Warm	🏊 Excellent	Jul 26
10	Illinois Bayou Near Scottsville, Ar Lake	82.4°	28°	☀️ Warm	🏊 Excellent	Oct 22
11	South Fork Of Little Red River Near Scotland, Ar River	82.4°	28°	☀️ Warm	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
12	Mud Creek Near Johnson, Ar River	82°	27.8°	☀️ Warm	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
13	Bayou Bartholomew At Garrett Bridge, Ar Lake	78.3°	25.7°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Jun 18
14	Osage Creek Near Cave Springs, Ar River	71.4°	21.9°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Jun 21
15	White River At Calico Rock, Ar River	66.4°	19.1°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Jul 27
16	White River Below Bull Shoals Dam Near Fairview River	56.5°	13.6°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jul 27
17	Bear Creek Near Silver Hill, Ar River	53.6°	12°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Dec 8
18	White River At Bull Shoals Dam Near Flippin River	53.1°	11.7°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jul 27
19	North Fork Riv Us Of Dry Ck Bl Norfork Dam, Ar Reservoir	52.5°	11.4°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jul 27
20	Little Red River Near Heber Springs River	50.4°	10.2°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jul 27
21	Cypress Creek Nr Birdtown, Ar River	49.8°	9.9°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Feb 3
22	White River At Beaver Dam Near Eureka Springs River	48.6°	9.2°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jul 27
23	Maumelle River At Maumelle Dam At Natural Steps,Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
24	Richland Creek Near Witts Spring, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
25	Bayou Meto Nr Stuttgart, Ar Lake	—	—	—	—	—
26	Seven-Mile Ditch At Big Lake Wma Near Manila, Ar Lake	—	—	—	—	—
27	Black River Near Corning, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
28	Ouachita River Near Mount Ida, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
29	Fourche River Above Pocahontas, Ark. River	—	—	—	—	—
30	Eleven Point River Near Ravenden Springs, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
31	Ouachita River At Camden, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
32	White River At Devalls Bluff, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
33	Spavinaw Creek Near Maysville, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
34	Hurricane Creek Below Sheridan, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
35	Arkansas River At Pine Bluff, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
36	Flint Creek At Springtown, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
37	Columbia Hollow Ck Nr Decatur, Ar Lake	—	—	—	—	—
38	Upper Vallier Hw/Tw Near Lodge Corner, Ar Lake	—	—	—	—	—
39	Jones Creek At Winfrey, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
40	Bayou Meto Near Lonoke, Ar Lake	—	—	—	—	—
41	Petit Jean River At Danville, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
42	Languille River Near Colt, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
43	Fourche La Fave River Near Houston, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
44	Yount Creek Near Martindale, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
45	Buffalo River Near Boxley, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
46	Rock Creek At 36Th Street At Little Rock, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
47	Saline River Near Lockesburg, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
48	White River At Allison, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
49	South Fork Spring River At Saddle, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
50	Caddo River Near Caddo Gap, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
51	Cutoff Creek Near Rio Vista, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
52	Saline River At Benton, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
53	Big Piney Creek At Highway 164 Near Dover, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
54	Osage Creek Near Elm Springs, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
55	Bayou Bartholomew Near Portland, Ar Lake	—	—	—	—	—
56	Bear Bayou Near Humphrey, Ar Lake	—	—	—	—	—
57	Lee Creek At Lee Creek Reservoir Near Van Buren,Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
58	Buckingham Flats Hw/Tw Near Bayou Meto, Ar Lake	—	—	—	—	—
59	Ouachita River At Remmel Dam Above Jones Mill, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
60	Fourche Lafave River Near Gravelly, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
61	Hydroplant @ Murray Dam @ Little Rock, Ar Reservoir	—	—	—	—	—
62	Little River Near Horatio, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
63	White River Near Busch, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
64	Little River Near Peach Orchard, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
65	Whittington Cr At Tunnel Ent At Hot Springs, Ar Lake	—	—	—	—	—
66	White River At Newport, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
67	Middle Fork Of Little Red River At Shirley, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
68	South Alum Creek Nr Jessieville, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
69	Cache River Near Cotton Plant, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
70	Illinois River At Savoy, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
71	Wabbaseka Bayou At Wabbaseka, Ark. Lake	—	—	—	—	—
72	Poteau River At Cauthron, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
73	Lwr Vallier(Fivefrksbayou)Hw/Tw Ne New Gascony, Ar Lake	—	—	—	—	—
74	Jack Creek Near Winfrey, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
75	Hurricane Creek Near Humphrey, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
76	Arkansas River Near Morrilton, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
77	Mississippi River At Helena, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
78	War Eagle Creek Near Hindsville, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
79	Buffalo River At Pruitt, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
80	Bayou Two Prairie At Carlisle, Ark. Lake	—	—	—	—	—
81	Alum Fork Saline River At Winona Dam At Reform, Ar Lake	—	—	—	—	—
82	North Sylamore Creek Near Fifty Six, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
83	Gap Cr Nr Wolf Pen Gap Rec Area Nr Nunley, Ar Lake	—	—	—	—	—
84	Current River Near Reyno, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
85	Spring River At Imboden, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
86	Antoine River At Antoine, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
87	Little Red River At Judsonia, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
88	Cache River At Patterson, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
89	Saline River Near Sheridan, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
90	Illinois River South Of Siloam Springs, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
91	Bayou Macon At Eudora, Ar Lake	—	—	—	—	—
92	Fish Lake Ditch Near Altheimer, Ar Lake	—	—	—	—	—
93	Ark River Hydroplant At Trimble L&D Nr Van Buren, River	—	—	—	—	—
94	Canon Brake Hw/Tw Near Bayou Meto, Ar Lake	—	—	—	—	—
95	Dutch Creek Near Waltreak, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
96	L'Anguille R Nr Whitehall, Ar Lake	—	—	—	—	—
97	Fourche Lafave River Near Aplin, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
98	Maumelle River Below Bringle Creek Nr Wye, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
99	Crooked Creek At Kelly Crossing At Yellville, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—
100	Fourche Creek At Univ. Avenue At Little Rock, Ar River	—	—	—	—	—

Red River At Index, Ar River

90.7°F

🔥 Hot

Lake Maumelle At State Hwy 10 Near Wye, Ar Lake

90.3°F

🔥 Hot

Lk Maumelle Raw Water Intake Nr Natural Steps,Ar Lake

88.9°F

🔥 Hot

Lake Winona Raw Water Intake Pipe Near Reform, Ar Lake

87.6°F

🔥 Hot

Deep Bayou Near Star City, Ar Lake

86.7°F

🔥 Hot

West Fork White River East Of Fayetteville, Ar River

85.5°F

🔥 Hot

White River Near Fayetteville, Ar River

85.3°F

🔥 Hot

Maumelle River Near Wye, Ar River

84.7°F

☀️ Warm

Town Br. At S Morningside At Fayetteville, Ar Lake

83.8°F

☀️ Warm

Illinois Bayou Near Scottsville, Ar Lake

82.4°F

☀️ Warm

South Fork Of Little Red River Near Scotland, Ar River

82.4°F

☀️ Warm

Mud Creek Near Johnson, Ar River

82°F

☀️ Warm

Bayou Bartholomew At Garrett Bridge, Ar Lake

78.3°F

☀️ Warm

Osage Creek Near Cave Springs, Ar River

71.4°F

🌤️ Comfortable

White River At Calico Rock, Ar River

66.4°F

🌤️ Comfortable

White River Below Bull Shoals Dam Near Fairview River

56.5°F

🌊 Cool

Bear Creek Near Silver Hill, Ar River

53.6°F

❄️ Cold

White River At Bull Shoals Dam Near Flippin River

53.1°F

❄️ Cold

North Fork Riv Us Of Dry Ck Bl Norfork Dam, Ar Reservoir

52.5°F

❄️ Cold

Little Red River Near Heber Springs River

50.4°F

❄️ Cold

More Arkansas Resources

🗺️ Arkansas Water Levels 🎣 Weekly Fishing Report ⛵ Boat Ramp Status 🌵 Drought Conditions 🌡️ All States

❓ Arkansas Water Temperature FAQ

What is the warmest lake in Arkansas today?

Based on our latest USGS data, Red River At Index, Ar is currently the warmest water body in Arkansas at 90.7°F.

Which Arkansas lakes are good for swimming right now?

Lakes with water temperatures above 72°F are generally comfortable for swimming. Arkansas averages 73.2°F, making most water bodies suitable for swimming right now.

What is the best water temperature for fishing in Arkansas?

The optimal temperature range depends on your target species. For bass fishing, look for water bodies between 65–75°F. For trout, target the coldest water bodies in Arkansas — typically 50–65°F. Use the table above to identify which lakes are in the ideal range for your target species.

🔬 Data Methodology & Sources

Water temperature readings on this site are collected from USGS (United States Geological Survey) monitoring stations installed at lakes, rivers, and reservoirs across the country. Sensors measure water surface temperature in Celsius, which is converted to Fahrenheit for display. Data is retrieved and stored daily. Temperatures shown reflect the most recent available sensor reading for each water body, typically from the past 1–30 days depending on station reporting frequency.

⚠️ Water temperatures can vary significantly across a water body due to depth, currents, and time of day. Sensor readings represent conditions at the monitoring station location. Always exercise caution when swimming and consult local authorities for official safety advisories.