Overview

Washoe Lake is a high-altitude lake (1,533 m / 5,030 ft) located between Reno and Carson City in Nevada. This spot benefits from the famous "Washoe Zephyr," a powerful thermal wind that develops in the afternoon when hot air from the Carson Valley draws cooler air from California over the Sierra Nevada. This southwest/west wind can reach 25-35 knots on good days. The lake is shallow and can partially dry up during drought years. The setting is spectacular with the Sierra Nevada to the west and the Virginia Range to the east.

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Spot forecast for North Boat Ramp / Washoe Lake

Sunrise 07:14 · Sunset 18:13

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

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North Boat Ramp / Washoe 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

185h

in July · 27 rideable days

The season runs from May to August, peaking in July: 25 rideable days a month and 185 hours of usable wind, at 28 °C. The low point is January, at 10.5 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 52%13-20 knots · 41%21-30 knots · 6%31+ knots · 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 52% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 7 °C. The wettest month is March, with 84 mm.

Monthly averages: North Boat Ramp / Washoe Lake

Monthly averages — North Boat Ramp / Washoe 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	10.5	59 h	7 °C	23 mm
February	14.5	107 h	8 °C	58 mm
March	17.5	155 h	10 °C	84 mm
April	18.5	124 h	16 °C	7 mm
May	21.0	156 h	22 °C	6 mm
June	25.0	200 h	29 °C	0 mm
July	27.0	185 h	32 °C	0 mm
August	25.5	188 h	30 °C	7 mm
September	16.5	121 h	26 °C	5 mm
October	20.0	113 h	19 °C	7 mm
November	16.0	91 h	12 °C	23 mm
December	11.5	69 h	9 °C	42 mm

Photo gallery of North Boat Ramp / Washoe Lake

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Technical details of North Boat Ramp / Washoe Lake spot

The spot works with winds from SSW, SW, WSW, W.

Rideable Not rideable

Spot opening date · Required level

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

On the water

Fresh water with temperature ranging from 8°C/46°F in spring to 22°C/72°F in summer. 4/3mm wetsuit recommended in spring and fall, shorty in summer. The lake is VERY SHALLOW (1-3 m / 3-10 ft average depth) — ideal for beginners but watch your fins. The bottom is muddy and sandy. Chop builds quickly when the Washoe Zephyr kicks in. The lake can be very low or partially dry during drought — check the level before heading out.

Hazards

Very shallow lake — risk of hitting bottom with fins or getting injured in falls. Thermal wind (Washoe Zephyr) can develop rapidly and strongly in the afternoon. Thunderstorms possible in summer. Intense sun at high altitude — sun protection essential. Lake can dry up during drought. Dust and sand blown by wind. High summer desert temperatures (35-40°C/95-104°F) — hydration essential.

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US-395 SB Red Rock off-ramp WWD7.3 kmsource noaa

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Additional stations

I-580 Washoe Valley2.2 km

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source noaa
US-395A South5.7 km

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source noaa

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Webcams near North Boat Ramp / Washoe Lake

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Nearby spots

All spots: Nevada

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North Boat Ramp / Washoe Lake kitesurf and wingfoil spot