Understand the measurement
Water temperature is a sensor measurement at a specific depth, location, and time—not a whole-waterbody average.
How to read it
Temperature can vary sharply by depth, sun exposure, tributary inputs, current, and time of day. A station reading cannot establish swimming safety or water quality.
Units and station datums remain attached to the source observation. LakeRiverNow converts only through tested, explicit functions.
Safety limitation
Rising, falling, high, low, warm, or cold readings do not by themselves determine whether an activity is safe. Official alerts and local conditions take priority.
Read safety limitationsRecorded source examples
Delaware River at Montague, NJ
Colorado River at Lees Ferry, AZ
Potomac River near Washington, DC, Little Falls Pump Station
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