Current and updated records of the lake’s levels and fluctuations. The level of Lake Cumberland usually varies greatly during the year, as it is a deep reservoir used for flood control of the sometimes wild Cumberland River. In recent years the level is being maintained around 680 feet above sea level for safety while work progresses on upgrading Wolf Creek Dam.

  • Current lake level is 711.77 feet above mean sea level
  • Lake level change (approximate): 0.36 in 24 hrs
  • Current surface water temperature: 78.8 °F measured at State Dock, live sensor reading courtesy forum member lake4fun.
  • Latest Corps of Engineers water temperature: 49 ° F degrees at the surface, 48 degrees from 5 to 20 feet and 47 degrees from 20 to 30 feet. (measured at Lees Ford Marina on March 14.)
  • To control the lake to around 680 feet above sea level for safety issues at Wolf Creek Dam, after recent rains release of water was increased to a continous very high output. As a result, the river below the dam is high and fast. The lake is about 39-41 feet below the tree line which historically is about 725′ above sea level. However, there is still a massive volume of water in the huge and deep lake, and the surface area remains one of the largest in the eastern U.S.

Above data is updated daily around daybreak, and may be considered current. For latest readings click the following clinks to reporting sites…

Lake level records (click to view)—

The high water mark for the past decade— 

  • 2010: 703.54* – May 6
  • 2009: 688.61* – Jan 11 (12 a.m.)
  • 2008: 695.30* – Apr 13 (10 p.m.)
  • 2007: 693.27* – Jan 11
  • 2006: 724.02 – May 20 (1 p.m.)
  • 2005: 726.29 – May 3 (1 a.m.)
  • 2004: 729.01 – February 10 (9 p.m.)
  • 2003: 736.54 – February 26 (2 p.m.)
  • 2002: 730.14 – April 3
  • 2001: 724.33 – April 8
  • 2000: 725.51 – April 28
  • 1999: 724.42 – May 10
  • 1998: 742.44 – April 25
    * Level was officially being held at 680 due to seepage and work on Wolf Creek Dam.

The low water mark for the past few years—

 

  • 2010:
  • 2009: 679.89 – Mar 13 (12 a.m. – so far)
  • 2008: 678.98* – November 10 (7 p.m.)
  • 2007: 678.61* – October 22 (9 a.m.)
  • 2006: 686.81 – January 16 (6 p.m.)
  • 2005: 688.36 – December 31 (11 p.m.)
    * Level fell below 680 due to extensive summer-fall drought.

The highest recorded water levels—

 

  • 751.70 May 13, 1984 – Recorded at 2 a.m.
  • 747.12 April 15, 1962 – Recorded at 4 p.m.

The lowest recorded water levels—

 

  • 673.01 January 1, 1954 – All-time lowest since lake filled
  • 677.80 February 9, 1977 – Lowest level during repair work on dam to fill a leak

Lake Cumberland general statistics—

  • The normal summer pool is around 723 feet above mean sea level (during normal periods when there is no construction work on Wolf Creek Dam).
  • The tree line is about 725 feet.
  • The maximum pool is 760 feet (top of dam floodgates)
  • The top of Wolf Creek Dam is 773 feet above sea level.
  • Wolf Creek Dam ranks 22nd of the one hundred largest dams in the U.S. and required 11,568,900 cubic yards of material in original construction. It is over a mile long at 5,736 feet. (The concrete portion is 1,796 feet long; the earthfill portion, 3,940 feet.) It is 258 feet high at its tallest point.

Lake Cumberland averages (source: USACE)—

AVERAGE MONTHLY
WATER TEMPERATURE

January  48 °F |  9 °C
February  44 °F |  7 °C
March  48 °F |  9 °C
April  55 °F | 13 °C
 May  66 °F | 19 °C
June  76 °F | 24 °C
July  82 °F | 28 °C
August  84 °F | 29 °C
September  79 °F | 26 °C
October  70 °F | 21 °C
November  58 °F | 14 °C
December  51 °F | 11 °C
AIR TEMPERATURE
IN °F — HI | MEAN | LOW

January  42 | 33 | 22
February  47 | 36 | 25
March  58 | 46 | 34
April  67 | 55 | 41
 May  75 | 63 | 50
June  82 | 71 | 59
July  86 | 75 | 63
August  85 | 74 | 62
September  79 | 68 | 56
October  69 | 57 | 43
November  58 | 47 | 35
December  47 | 38 | 27
AVERAGE MONTHLY
PRECIPITATION

January  3.80 inches
February  4.00 inches
March  4.70 inches
April  4.30 inches
 May  4.70 inches
June  4.20 inches
July  4.60 inches
August  3.90 inches
September  4.10 inches
October  2.90 inches
November  4.30 inches
December  4.60 inches

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