Vail Lake reservoir
Vail Lake
Vail Lake is a reservoir located in southern California, United States. The lake was created in 1948 after the construction of the Vail Lake Dam on Temecula Creek. Vail Lake is primarily fed by Temecula Creek, which is a tributary of Santa Margarita River. The lake is an important source of water for the surrounding agricultural lands and serves as a recreational destination. Its hydrology is affected by the surface flow from Temecula Creek and by snowpack from the nearby mountains. The lake is surrounded by a variety of recreational facilities, including camping areas, picnic sites, and hiking trails. Water-based activities, such as fishing, boating, and swimming, are also popular among visitors. The lake also plays a significant role in supporting the local agricultural industry by providing irrigation water.
Daily levels at Vail Lake
Storage volume, pool elevation, and total release plotted from the operating agency's daily observations.
Storage
acre-ft · code 2
Pool Elevation
ft · code 1
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Vail Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Temecula C Nr Aguanga Ca | · | → |
| Santa Margarita R Nr Temecula Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Santa Gertrudis C Nr Temecula Ca | · | → |
| Warm Springs C Nr Murrieta Ca | · | → |
| Rainbow C Nr Fallbrook Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Santa Margarita R A Fpud Sump Nr Fallbrook Ca | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Vail Lake.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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About Vail Lake
Where does the data for Vail Lake come from?
Daily storage, pool elevation, and release rates are sourced from USGS, USBR, and USACE monitoring stations. Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
Storage observations are updated daily by the operating agency. The 15-day weather forecast refreshes throughout the day. Snoflo caches and renders the most recent observation -- check the "as of" timestamp on the storage card.
What does the Hazard hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card below for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this reservoir, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.