Watts Bar at a Glance
Water near 87. At the dock, calm wind. Outflow around 10,400 cfs from 1 of 5 turbines, rising to 12,500 cfs on Wednesday.
Tonight: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Northwest wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Watts Bar Weather
Rain caught by our own gauge at river mile 559.5; the forecast is Google's.
Forecast for the dock at river mile 559.5, refreshed every 30 minutes.
Weather readings are catching up
Our dock station and the forecast feed will be back shortly. The live cam above and the lake data below are still current.
Watts Bar Water System
Watts Bar Wildlife
Live from our own dock sensors at Tennessee River Mile 559.5, updated every minute.
See all 24 species heard at the dock
Common Questions
Everything visitors ask before a trip to Watts Bar, answered straight. Tap a question to open its answer.
What is the water temperature at Watts Bar Lake right now?
Watts Bar Lake water temperature is measured live, read by a WN34BL probe submerged off the dock at Tennessee River Mile 559.5. The probe reports every minute and the current reading shows in the weather section on this page.
How high is Watts Bar Lake right now?
Reservoir elevation is pulled live from TVA's public gauge. Summer pool sits at 741 ft; winter draw-down runs roughly 735 ft. The operating-guide chart on this page plots this year against TVA's seasonal target.
Where can I launch a boat on Watts Bar Lake?
The most-used public ramps are Tom Fuller Memorial Park in Rockwood, Kingston Waterfront Park, Caney Creek mid-lake, Spring City, and the Watts Bar Dam Ramp. The boat ramps page has addresses, parking, and trailer notes.
What marinas are on Watts Bar Lake?
Nine full-service marinas serve the lake: Blue Springs, Bayside, Caney Creek, Euchee, Long Island, Rockwood, Spring City Resort, Tennessee National, and Terrace View. Slips, fuel, restaurants, transient dockage, and pump-out vary; the marinas page has a detail page for each with verified phone numbers and amenities.
What fish can you catch in Watts Bar Lake?
A year-round mixed fishery: largemouth and smallmouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass, crappie, bluegill, and channel catfish. The fishing page has month-by-month patterns by species and a live "what's biting" read that pairs current water temperature with the seasonal pattern.
Where can I swim at Watts Bar Lake?
The two designated public swim beaches are Rhea Springs Recreation Area on the Spring City side and Kingston Waterfront Park on the Kingston end. Sand Island mid-lake is the anchor-and-swim spot. The swim page shows live water temperature, maps every spot, and flags summer pool versus winter draw-down.
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What's the weather forecast for Watts Bar Lake today?
Current dock conditions plus the hourly and 10-day forecast (from Google's weather feed for Tennessee River Mile 559.5, refreshed every 30 minutes) are in the weather section above, with a temperature arc, wind, pressure, UV, and a rain check against our own gauge.
Is Watts Bar Dam generating right now?
Watts Bar Dam is scheduled to run one or more of its 5 units today, and current outflow is live from TVA. Water released from Fort Loudoun upstream reaches Watts Bar in 1 to 2 days. Generation and flow come from TVA's public API.
When does the sun set at Watts Bar Lake today?
Sunrise, sunset, length of daylight, the moon phase and illumination, and tomorrow's moonrise and moonset are computed locally for Tennessee River Mile 559.5 (35.62°N, 84.71°W) and shown in the sun, air, and moon almanac on this page.
Are there any active weather alerts on Watts Bar Lake?
Any active National Weather Service watches or warnings for Roane County (small craft advisory, severe thunderstorm watch, lake wind advisory, and the like) appear at the top of this page above the forecast. When there are none, nothing shows.
What's the air quality at Watts Bar Lake?
The current Air Quality Index, from EPA AirNow's nearest reporting station, is in the weather section on this page. Watts Bar sits in a rural valley with generally good air, and the gradient bar shows where today's reading falls on the EPA scale.
Where can I get gas for my boat on Watts Bar Lake?
Pumps are at Blue Springs, Bayside, Caney Creek, Euchee, Long Island, Rockwood, Spring City Resort, Tennessee National, and Terrace View. Diesel is more limited (Blue Springs and Spring City Resort are the reliable stops). Hours change with season and weather, so call ahead. The fuel page sorts by distance and shows dam-generation status.
Where can I camp near Watts Bar Lake?
Lakefront TVA campgrounds include Fooshee Pass, Hornsby Hollow, and Riley Creek, plus Rhea Springs Recreation Area (with the lake's best public swim beach) and the Watts Bar Dam Reservation. The parks & campgrounds page has the full list.
Where can I eat near Watts Bar Lake?
On-the-water spots include Maple Creek at Euchee, Oakey's at Caney Creek, and kitchens at Terrace View and Blue Springs (Crow's Nest). Land-side options cluster in Kingston, Rockwood, Spring City, Harriman, and Decatur. The eat page groups every option by area with phones and maps.
How do I lock through Watts Bar Dam?
Hail the lockmaster on VHF channel 13 or call ahead at (423) 334-3522. Lockages are free for recreational boaters; allow 30 to 60 minutes if no commercial traffic is queued. The full procedure is in the Watts Bar lock guide; Fort Loudoun Lock has its own guide.
Where can I bring my dog on Watts Bar Lake?
Most TVA campgrounds, several marinas, and many lakefront parks welcome leashed dogs, and Fort Paws Dog Park in Kingston is the dedicated off-leash facility. Some beaches allow dogs in the water seasonally outside marked swim zones. The pet-friendly guide has the full list.
What's happening on Watts Bar Lake this week?
Tournaments, festivals, and marina live music are on the events page. The big recurring weekenders are Smokin' the Water (July 4th, Kingston), Loudon's River Fest (August), and Spring City Summer Nights. Marina nightlife runs Friday and Saturday in season.
What are the regions of Watts Bar Lake?
Watts Bar splits into six regions: Kingston, Rockwood, Mid-Lake, Spring City, Lower Lake / Dam, and Upper Riverine. Each has different launches, traffic, wind exposure, and feel.
Where can I get a free Watts Bar Lake vector for a t-shirt?
Right here. We publish a free vector outline of Watts Bar Lake (and every Tennessee River reservoir) at /lake-vector/: SVG, PDF, DXF for laser cutters and Cricut, EPS, and high-resolution PNG in ten color combinations. The renderings are CC0; the lake outline comes from OpenStreetMap, which asks only that you credit "OpenStreetMap contributors" wherever you use it.