Watch Out Boaters, Strong Winds Are Hitting Fort Peck Lake

Use caution if you are looking to head out onto Fort Peck Lake Thursday afternoon and evening. Gusty winds are creating serious waves, and dangerous conditions for small boats. Waves are expected to be between 3' and 4' by Thursday evening.

As a wildly popular place to fish, Fort Peck Reservoir in Montana is known for its abundant walleye, northern pike, and smallmouth bass. It also supports populations of lake trout, chinook salmon, and paddlefish.

"Fort Peck Lake, or Lake Fort Peck, is a major reservoir in Montana, formed by the Fort Peck Dam on the Missouri River."

The concern this time of year is that with so many visitors to Montana during the summer, there are likely inexperienced boaters on the lake during this advisory.

• A LAKE WIND ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM FRIDAY.
• WHAT...Northwest winds of 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph, will persist through the overnight hours behind an approaching cold front.
• WHERE...Fort Peck Lake and surrounding areas.
• WHEN...Until 5 AM Friday.
• IMPACTS...Strong winds and rough waves on area lakes will create hazardous conditions for small craft.
• ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Expect wave heights in excess of 4 feet, especially this evening.
• PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Boaters on Fort Peck Lake should use extra caution since strong winds and rough waves can overturn small craft.

Fort Peck Lake covers a very large area in Montana. According to Visit Montana:

"The lake is about 134 miles in length and has a maximum depth of 220 feet when full. There are over 1,520 miles of shoreline, longer than the California coast."

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