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National Weather ServiceLake Wind AdvisoryVTEC LW.YArchive to October 1, 2026

Lake Wind Advisory: what it means and how often it is issued

The National Weather Service issued 172 lake wind advisories in 2025 and 332 a year on average in 2008-2025; Nevada, Montana and South Carolina got the most in 2021-2025. 2026 through September: 165, 35% below the average of 254 for those months in 2008-2025.

What is a lake wind advisory?

A lake wind advisory means winds strong enough to make small boats on inland lakes unsafe. An advisory is issued for a hazard less serious than a warning that can still cause inconvenience or danger if people are not careful.

Warning, watch or advisory: the three levels compared

Source: National Weather Service directives and glossary.

How many lake wind advisories a year?

172 lake wind advisories in 2025
2004006008002008: 72420082009: 55520092010: 47620102011: 51620112012: 43720122013: 34820132014: 36520142015: 23520152016: 28720162017: 30620172018: 23820182019: 24620192020: 30020202021: 24620212022: 20120222023: 15620232024: 17520242025: 17220252026: 16520262008-2025 average 3322026 through September: 1652004006008002008: 72420082009: 5552010: 47620102011: 5162012: 43720122013: 3482014: 36520142015: 2352016: 28720162017: 3062018: 23820182019: 2462020: 30020202021: 2462022: 20120222023: 1562024: 17520242025: 1722026: 16520262008-2025 average 3322026 through September: 1652004006008002008: 72420082009: 5552010: 47620102011: 5162012: 43720122013: 3482014: 36520142015: 2352016: 28720162017: 3062018: 23820182019: 2462020: 30020202021: 2462022: 20120222023: 1562024: 17520242025: 1722026: 16520262008-2025 average 3322026 through September: 1652004006008002008: 72420082009: 5552010: 4762011: 5162012: 4372013: 3482014: 3652015: 23520152016: 2872017: 3062018: 2382019: 2462020: 30020202021: 2462022: 2012023: 1562024: 1752025: 1722026: 16520262008-2025 average 3322026 through September: 165

National count: each lake wind advisory counted once, whatever the number of states it covers. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.

The numbers
YearCount
2026 (through September)165
2025172
2024175
2023156
2022201
2021246
2020300
2019246
2018238
2017306
2016287
2015235
2014365
2013348
2012437
2011516
2010476
2009555
2008724

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.

When in the year?

Lake Wind Advisories by month, 2008-2025
5001kJan: 552JanFeb: 561FebMar: 672MarApr: 767AprMay: 690MayJun: 446JunJul: 236JulAug: 262AugSep: 378SepOct: 484OctNov: 531NovDec: 404Dec7675001kJan: 552JanFeb: 561FebMar: 672MarApr: 767AprMay: 690MayJun: 446JunJul: 236JulAug: 262AugSep: 378SepOct: 484OctNov: 531NovDec: 404Dec7675001kJan: 552JanFeb: 561FebMar: 672MarApr: 767AprMay: 690MayJun: 446JunJul: 236JulAug: 262AugSep: 378SepOct: 484OctNov: 531NovDec: 404Dec7675001kJan: 552JFeb: 561FMar: 672MApr: 767AMay: 690MJun: 446JJul: 236JAug: 262ASep: 378SOct: 484ONov: 531NDec: 404D767

Sum of 2008-2025; the busiest month is labelled.

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.

Which states get the most lake wind advisories?

Nevada gets the most: 59 a year in 2021-2025
NevadaNevada: 5959MontanaMontana: 5656South CarolinaSouth Carolina: 4242CaliforniaCalifornia: 3939GeorgiaGeorgia: 1818IdahoIdaho: 1818ArizonaArizona: 1010TexasTexas: 77KentuckyKentucky: 77LouisianaLouisiana: 66NevadaNevada: 5959MontanaMontana: 5656South CarolinaSouth Carolina: 4242CaliforniaCalifornia: 3939GeorgiaGeorgia: 1818IdahoIdaho: 1818ArizonaArizona: 1010TexasTexas: 77KentuckyKentucky: 77LouisianaLouisiana: 66NevadaNevada: 5959MontanaMontana: 5656South CarolinaSouth Carolina: 4242CaliforniaCalifornia: 3939GeorgiaGeorgia: 1818IdahoIdaho: 1818ArizonaArizona: 1010TexasTexas: 77KentuckyKentucky: 77LouisianaLouisiana: 66NevadaNevada: 5959MontanaMontana: 5656South CarolinaSouth Carolina: 4242CaliforniaCalifornia: 3939GeorgiaGeorgia: 1818IdahoIdaho: 1818ArizonaArizona: 1010TexasTexas: 77KentuckyKentucky: 77LouisianaLouisiana: 66

Yearly average per state, 2021-2025. A lake wind advisory covering two states counts in both.

StateA year, 2021-2025A year, 2008-20252025
Nevada597054
Montana566052
South Carolina425452
California395233
Georgia184225
Idaho18238
Arizona101110
Texas7430
Kentucky7126
Louisiana6370
Arkansas6480
Oklahoma6240
Illinois585
Indiana575
Missouri574
North Carolina080
Florida0370
Mississippi070
Alabama070
Tennessee010
Virginia010

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.