Overview

Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in the western United States, spanning 49,000 hectares at 881m altitude. Major Montana kitesurf spot with exceptional fetch and powerful valley winds channeled between the Mission and Swan Mountains. Remarkably clear water with views of snow-capped peaks. Close to Glacier National Park.

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Spot forecast for Flathead Lake

Sunrise 08:03 · Sunset 18:38

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Flathead Lake: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

240h

in May · 27 rideable days

The season runs from March to July, peaking in May: 24 rideable days a month and 240 hours of usable wind, at 18 °C. The low point is January, at 12 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 72%13-20 knots · 27%21-30 knots · 1%31+ knots · under 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 72% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at -1 °C. The wettest month is November, with 29 mm.

Monthly averages: Flathead Lake

Monthly averages — Flathead Lake — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	12.0	76 h	-1 °C	20 mm
February	14.0	117 h	1 °C	11 mm
March	22.0	169 h	8 °C	11 mm
April	25.0	217 h	12 °C	14 mm
May	27.0	240 h	18 °C	26 mm
June	21.0	161 h	22 °C	20 mm
July	22.5	137 h	29 °C	20 mm
August	19.5	119 h	27 °C	16 mm
September	19.5	139 h	23 °C	18 mm
October	21.0	149 h	13 °C	10 mm
November	17.0	122 h	6 °C	29 mm
December	17.0	125 h	4 °C	27 mm

Photo gallery of Flathead Lake

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Technical details of Flathead Lake spot

The spot works with winds from N, S, SSW, SW, W.

Rideable Not rideable

Spot opening date · Required level

Spot opening date: Open all year round
Required level: Intermediate

On the water

Immense freshwater lake with exceptional fetch. Remarkably clear and cold water — can produce significant waves in strong winds. Varied shorelines — sandy, rocky, and gravelly. Currents possible in narrow sections.

Hazards

Grizzly bears frequent around the lake (Glacier corridor). Very cold water — thick wetsuit mandatory. Afternoon thunderstorms with lightning. Large body of water — dangerous waves in strong winds. Boat traffic in summer. Valley winds can build rapidly without warning.

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FW3045 Bigfork7.9 kmsource noaa

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Additional stations

SWAN LAKE FIRE QD1.7 km

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source noaa
SWAN LAKE FIRE QD MT US57.9 km

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source madis - NOAA

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Webcams near Flathead Lake

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Nearby spots

All spots: Montana

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Flathead Lake kitesurf and wingfoil spot