AlabamaFishing Atlas
Paddlers on a canoe trip in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta

Kayak & Small-Boat Conditions Today

Right now 6 of 14 waters read GO for a kayak or small boat by our rule. Checked Fri, Nov 13, 6:40 PM CST.

Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domain

This is a forecast check, not a guarantee.Wind funnels through creek mouths and across open water differently than any forecast point shows, and storms pop up between updates. Look at the water when you get to the ramp, tell someone your float plan, and wear your life jacket — zipped, not stowed.

Lakes

This hour: wind 9 mph from the N, gusts 20 mph, thunder chance 0%. Why: gusts 20 mph.

Next GO window (5 AM–8 PM): Sat 8 AM to 8 PM (12 hours)

  • ⚠ Freeze Warning — Freeze Warning issued November 13 at 1:06PM CST until November 14 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Huntsville AL
  • ⚠ Freeze Warning — Freeze Warning issued November 13 at 1:06PM CST until November 15 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Huntsville AL
Next 12 hours (Central time)
6 PM7 PM8 PM9 PM10 PM11 PM12 AM1 AM2 AM3 AM4 AM5 AM
▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION✓ GO✓ GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO
9/208/187/177/166/156/145/145/145/135/125/125/12

Bottom row: wind / gust in mph.

Wheeler Lake

▲ CAUTION

This hour: wind 9 mph from the NNW, gusts 16 mph, thunder chance 0%. Why: gusts 16 mph.

Next GO window (5 AM–8 PM): Sat 8 AM to 8 PM (12 hours)

  • ⚠ Freeze Warning — Freeze Warning issued November 13 at 1:06PM CST until November 14 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Huntsville AL
  • ⚠ Freeze Warning — Freeze Warning issued November 13 at 1:06PM CST until November 15 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Huntsville AL
Next 12 hours (Central time)
6 PM7 PM8 PM9 PM10 PM11 PM12 AM1 AM2 AM3 AM4 AM5 AM
▲ CAUTION✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO
9/168/157/156/146/145/135/135/135/135/125/125/12

Bottom row: wind / gust in mph.

This hour: wind 6 mph from the NNW, gusts 15 mph, thunder chance 0%.

Next GO window (5 AM–8 PM): Fri 6 PM to 8 PM (2 hours)

  • ⚠ Freeze Warning — Freeze Warning issued November 13 at 1:06PM CST until November 14 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Huntsville AL
  • ⚠ Freeze Warning — Freeze Warning issued November 13 at 1:06PM CST until November 15 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Huntsville AL
Next 12 hours (Central time)
6 PM7 PM8 PM9 PM10 PM11 PM12 AM1 AM2 AM3 AM4 AM5 AM
✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO
6/155/145/135/123/103/92/92/82/82/82/83/9

Bottom row: wind / gust in mph.

This hour: wind 7 mph from the NNW, gusts 14 mph, thunder chance 0%.

Next GO window (5 AM–8 PM): Fri 6 PM to 8 PM (2 hours)

  • ⚠ Freeze Warning — Freeze Warning issued November 13 at 1:06PM CST until November 14 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Huntsville AL
  • ⚠ Freeze Warning — Freeze Warning issued November 13 at 1:06PM CST until November 15 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Huntsville AL
Next 12 hours (Central time)
6 PM7 PM8 PM9 PM10 PM11 PM12 AM1 AM2 AM3 AM4 AM5 AM
✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO
7/147/147/136/126/125/105/95/95/95/95/95/9

Bottom row: wind / gust in mph.

Weiss Lake

▲ CAUTION

This hour: wind 12 mph from the NNW, gusts 20 mph, thunder chance 0%. Why: wind 12 mph, gusts 20 mph.

Next GO window (5 AM–8 PM): Sat 8 AM to 8 PM (12 hours)

  • ⚠ Freeze Warning — Freeze Warning issued November 13 at 9:33AM CST until November 15 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Birmingham AL
  • ⚠ Freeze Warning — Freeze Warning issued November 13 at 9:33AM CST until November 14 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Birmingham AL
Next 12 hours (Central time)
6 PM7 PM8 PM9 PM10 PM11 PM12 AM1 AM2 AM3 AM4 AM5 AM
▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION✓ GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO
12/2010/209/178/168/167/157/147/147/147/137/136/12

Bottom row: wind / gust in mph.

Neely Henry Lake

▲ CAUTION

This hour: wind 9 mph from the NNW, gusts 18 mph, thunder chance 0%. Why: gusts 18 mph.

Next GO window (5 AM–8 PM): Sat 8 AM to 8 PM (12 hours)

  • ⚠ Freeze Warning — Freeze Warning issued November 13 at 9:33AM CST until November 15 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Birmingham AL
  • ⚠ Freeze Warning — Freeze Warning issued November 13 at 9:33AM CST until November 14 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Birmingham AL
Next 12 hours (Central time)
6 PM7 PM8 PM9 PM10 PM11 PM12 AM1 AM2 AM3 AM4 AM5 AM
▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO
9/188/167/146/136/126/126/126/106/105/125/105/10

Bottom row: wind / gust in mph.

This hour: wind 5 mph from the NNW, gusts 14 mph, thunder chance 0%.

Next GO window (5 AM–8 PM): Fri 6 PM to 8 PM (2 hours)

  • ⚠ Freeze Warning — Freeze Warning issued November 13 at 9:33AM CST until November 15 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Birmingham AL
  • ⚠ Freeze Warning — Freeze Warning issued November 13 at 9:33AM CST until November 14 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Birmingham AL
Next 12 hours (Central time)
6 PM7 PM8 PM9 PM10 PM11 PM12 AM1 AM2 AM3 AM4 AM5 AM
✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO
5/143/133/123/102/102/92/92/92/92/92/102/9

Bottom row: wind / gust in mph.

Lay Lake

✓ GO

This hour: wind 5 mph from the NNW, gusts 14 mph, thunder chance 0%.

Next GO window (5 AM–8 PM): Fri 6 PM to 8 PM (2 hours)

  • ⚠ Freeze Warning — Freeze Warning issued November 13 at 9:33AM CST until November 15 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Birmingham AL
  • ⚠ Freeze Warning — Freeze Warning issued November 13 at 9:33AM CST until November 14 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Birmingham AL
Next 12 hours (Central time)
6 PM7 PM8 PM9 PM10 PM11 PM12 AM1 AM2 AM3 AM4 AM5 AM
✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO
5/143/143/122/102/91/91/81/81/81/91/91/9

Bottom row: wind / gust in mph.

This hour: wind 3 mph from the NNW, gusts 14 mph, thunder chance 0%.

Next GO window (5 AM–8 PM): Fri 6 PM to 8 PM (2 hours)

  • ⚠ Freeze Warning — Freeze Warning issued November 13 at 9:33AM CST until November 15 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Birmingham AL
  • ⚠ Freeze Warning — Freeze Warning issued November 13 at 9:33AM CST until November 14 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Birmingham AL
Next 12 hours (Central time)
6 PM7 PM8 PM9 PM10 PM11 PM12 AM1 AM2 AM3 AM4 AM5 AM
✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO
3/143/132/122/101/91/81/71/71/81/81/81/8

Bottom row: wind / gust in mph.

Lake Martin

▲ CAUTION

This hour: wind 6 mph from the NNW, gusts 16 mph, thunder chance 0%. Why: gusts 16 mph.

Next GO window (5 AM–8 PM): Sat 8 AM to 8 PM (12 hours)

  • ⚠ Freeze Warning — Freeze Warning issued November 13 at 9:33AM CST until November 15 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Birmingham AL
  • ⚠ Freeze Warning — Freeze Warning issued November 13 at 9:33AM CST until November 14 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Birmingham AL
Next 12 hours (Central time)
6 PM7 PM8 PM9 PM10 PM11 PM12 AM1 AM2 AM3 AM4 AM5 AM
▲ CAUTION✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO
6/165/155/153/133/123/123/103/103/123/123/123/12

Bottom row: wind / gust in mph.

Lake Eufaula

▲ CAUTION

This hour: wind 8 mph from the NW, gusts 18 mph, thunder chance 0%. Why: gusts 18 mph.

Next GO window (5 AM–8 PM): Sat 8 AM to 8 PM (12 hours)

  • ⚠ Freeze Warning — Freeze Warning issued November 13 at 9:33AM CST until November 15 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Birmingham AL
  • ⚠ Freeze Warning — Freeze Warning issued November 13 at 9:33AM CST until November 14 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Birmingham AL
Next 12 hours (Central time)
6 PM7 PM8 PM9 PM10 PM11 PM12 AM1 AM2 AM3 AM4 AM5 AM
▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO
8/188/187/166/146/135/125/105/106/126/125/125/10

Bottom row: wind / gust in mph.

Mobile Bay & the Gulf Beaches

Mobile Bay (upper bay)

✓ GO

This hour: wind 8 mph from the N, gusts 15 mph, thunder chance —.

Next GO window (5 AM–8 PM): Fri 6 PM to 8 PM (2 hours)

  • ⚠ Frost Advisory — Frost Advisory issued November 13 at 10:09AM CST until November 14 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Mobile AL

Buoy 42012 (offshore reference) at Fri, Nov 13, 6:00 PM CST: wind 18 mph, water 74°F.

Next 12 hours (Central time)
6 PM7 PM8 PM9 PM10 PM11 PM12 AM1 AM2 AM3 AM4 AM5 AM
✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO
8/157/126/106/106/105/96/96/107/127/137/137/12

Bottom row: wind / gust in mph.

Dauphin Island

▲ CAUTION

This hour: wind 15 mph from the N, gusts 20 mph, thunder chance —. Why: wind 15 mph, gusts 20 mph.

Next GO window (5 AM–8 PM): Sat 1 PM to 6 PM (5 hours)

✓ No active NWS alerts for this spot.

Buoy 42012 (offshore reference) at Fri, Nov 13, 6:00 PM CST: wind 18 mph, water 74°F.

Next 12 hours (Central time)
6 PM7 PM8 PM9 PM10 PM11 PM12 AM1 AM2 AM3 AM4 AM5 AM
▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO✕ NO-GO
15/2014/1814/1813/1713/1713/1713/1714/1815/2016/2116/2116/21

Bottom row: wind / gust in mph.

This hour: wind 10 mph from the N, gusts 17 mph, thunder chance —. Why: wind 10 mph, gusts 17 mph.

Next GO window (5 AM–8 PM): Sat 10 AM to 8 PM (10 hours)

✓ No active NWS alerts for this spot.

Buoy 42012 (offshore reference) at Fri, Nov 13, 6:00 PM CST: wind 18 mph, water 74°F.

Next 12 hours (Central time)
6 PM7 PM8 PM9 PM10 PM11 PM12 AM1 AM2 AM3 AM4 AM5 AM
▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO✓ GO▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION▲ CAUTION
10/178/168/168/168/157/157/157/158/168/179/188/17

Bottom row: wind / gust in mph.

Our rule of thumb (not an official standard)

There is no official go/no-go number for kayaks or small boats. These are our own cutoffs, set on the conservative side for a loaded kayak or a small jon boat. Each hour gets the worst status any one item earns.

  • ✓ GOSustained wind under 10 mph, gusts under 15 mph, thunder chance under 10%, no thunderstorms in the forecast and no active NWS alert.
  • ▲ CAUTIONSustained wind 10–14 mph, or gusts 15–19 mph, or thunder chance 10–24%, or a “slight chance” / “isolated” thunderstorm mention, or an NWS statement (for example a Rip Current Statement).
  • ✕ NO-GOSustained wind 15 mph or more, or gusts 20 mph or more, or thunder chance 25% or more, or any thunderstorm forecast stronger than “slight chance,” or anyactive NWS Warning, Watch or Advisory for the spot — Small Craft Advisory, Gale Warning, Lake Wind Advisory, Severe Thunderstorm Warning and the rest.
  • — NO READINGThe wind forecast or the alert feed didn’t answer. We won’t call an hour GO without both.

Where those numbers come from

  • The American Canoe Association’s Beaufort Scale for Paddlers calls Force 3 (8–12 mph) “generally manageable for beginners” and says that at Force 4 (13–18 mph) “novice paddlers may struggle.” Our GO line sits inside Force 3 and our NO-GO line sits inside Force 4.
  • The National Weather Service’s safe boating guidance says to “stop all activities when there is lightning or when weather conditions look threatening.” That’s why any real thunderstorm mention is a NO-GO here.
  • On a Small Craft Advisory, the NWS glossary says “there is no precise definition of a small craft” — any vessel that may be adversely affected counts. A kayak counts.
  • The 5 AM–8 PM limit on the “next GO window” is ours, so the page never suggests a midnight launch.

Data sources

Hourly wind, gust, wind direction and thunder odds come from the National Weather Service forecast data for each spot; alerts come from the NWS active-alerts feed, including the marine zones for Mobile Bay and the coast. Coastal cards add the latest reading from NOAA buoy 42012 off Orange Beach. This page re-checks every 15 minutes. Wind on open water can run well above a forecast point — look at the water before you launch. Also see today’s fishing conditions and Gulf conditions.