Austin, TX · lake · best for beginners
Lady Bird Lake
Austin's downtown reservoir on the Colorado River — no motorboats allowed, so it's paddler heaven. Sunset bat-watching under the Congress Avenue Bridge is a rite of passage.
Good
Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions
Wind
7 mph
gusting to 9 mph
Air temp
100°F
2% chance of rain
River flow
1,310 cfs
runnable 100–5,000
Best day to paddle this week
Wednesday · 78
Today
70
100°
Wed
78
97°
Best
Thu
74
98°
Fri
58
101°
Sat
52
103°
Sun
51
103°
Mon
57
103°
Scored from each day's peak forecast wind, heat, and rain chance — river flow isn't forecastable, so check back before you load the boat.
Wind, next 12 hours
mph| Hour | Wind (mph) | Gusts (mph) |
|---|---|---|
| 5p | 8 | 10 |
| 6p | 6 | 8 |
| 7p | 7 | 11 |
| 8p | 8 | 15 |
| 9p | 9 | 19 |
| 10p | 10 | 23 |
| 11p | 9 | 22 |
| 12a | 8 | 20 |
| 1a | 9 | 21 |
| 2a | 7 | 18 |
| 3a | 5 | 15 |
| 4a | 4 | 14 |
Is this flow normal for September 8?
Today's 1,310 cfs is Right about the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.
The median flow on this date is 1,360 cfs, across 127 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.
Why this score
- Wind — 7 mph — noticeable but manageable-1
- Heat — 100°F — bring more water than you think-15
- River flow — 1,310 cfs — in the runnable range±0
Launch notes
Easiest launch is the Rowing Dock or Zilker Park. Year-round season; summer mornings beat the heat.
Do your own homework
We show you live conditions. For local knowledge — where to put in, what the hazards are, whether it's worth the drive — here's where paddlers actually talk about this water. We don't vet these sources; check the dates and judge for yourself.
- Paddler discussion on Reddit
Trip reports and local warnings, straight from the source
- Search American Whitewater
Rapid classifications and gauge-linked run descriptions
- Satellite view and access roads
Check parking, put-ins, and what the banks actually look like
- Video from this water
The fastest way to see the character of a run before you drive
- USGS gauge 08158000
Full hydrograph, historical flows, and station metadata