Seneca Lake

Seneca Lake stands as the largest among the glacial Finger Lakes within the state of New York. Renowned for its substantial size and depth, it remains entirely contained within the state’s borders. The lake has earned distinction as the preeminent locale for lake trout angling, exemplified by its role as the host of the esteemed National Lake Trout Derby. Positioned at the northern terminus of Seneca Lake, the city of Geneva, New York, commands attention, serving as the domicile for Hobart and William Smith Colleges, along with housing the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, a constituent entity of Cornell University. Conversely, the village of Watkins Glen, situated at the southern extremity of the lake, boasts a notable reputation due to its association with motorsport, primarily due to the presence of Watkins Glen International racetrack, as well as its picturesque cascades.

Seneca Lake possesses an uncommon macroclimate that has bestowed it with the distinction of nurturing over 50 wineries, predominantly characterized as farm wineries. Its geographical attributes have led to the designation of the Seneca Lake American Viticultural Area (AVA), solidifying its reputation within oenophilic circles.

In terms of dimensions, Seneca Lake stretches across a length of approximately 38 miles, securing its position as the second longest Finger Lake. Remarkably voluminous, it is estimated to contain an impressive 3.81 cubic miles (15.9 km³) of water, accounting for nearly half of the cumulative water volume across all the Finger Lakes. The lake’s profundity is notable, averaging 291 feet, while plunging to a maximum depth of 618 feet. The expansive water body covers a surface area of approximately 66.9 square miles (173 km²).

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Maps - Photos - Videos

Hector Falls from Seneca Lake

Andy | August 6, 2022

I took advantage of the extremely calm conditions on Seneca Lake yesterday to paddle up to Hector Falls and check them out looking up from the lake.

Friday August 5, 2022 — Seneca Lake

Montour Canal

Andy | August 6, 2022

This year with drier conditions and the new Watkins Glen sewage treatment plant the canal seemed a lot cleaner than in years past.

Friday August 5, 2022 — Seneca Lake

Watkins Glen Harbor

Andy | August 6, 2022

Friday August 5, 2022 — Seneca Lake

8-14 Day Outlook – Friday August 5

Andy | August 5, 2022

It seems likely that the heat wave will continue throughout much of August based on predictions of above average temperatures much of August. But don’t worry, autumn is still coming.

Weather Update – August 5, 2022

Andy | August 5, 2022

Final weekday of summer vacation

So it would seem. The crowds return tonight and tomorrow then Sunday I pack up and head home. Today and even tomorrow could be stormy but I hope not. A

Today. Feels like … August 14th.	A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Partly sunny. Light west wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. and	82 degrees	, 70 max dew point,	8:24 sunset.
Tonight. Muggy !	A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. and	68 degrees	, 70 max dew point,	6:03 sunrise.
Saturday. Muggy !	A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Mostly sunny. Southwest wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. and	88 degrees	, 70 max dew point,	8:22 sunset.
Saturday Night. Muggy !	A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Mostly clear. South wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. and	71 degrees	, 69 max dew point,	6:04 sunrise.
Sunday. Muggy !	A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Sunny. West wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. and	89 degrees	, 70 max dew point,	8:21 sunset.
Sunday Night. Muggy !	A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2am. Partly cloudy. Chance of precipitation is 30%. and	73 degrees	, 70 max dew point,	6:05 sunrise.
Monday. Muggy !	Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly after 2pm. Mostly sunny. Chance of precipitation is 60%. and	90 degrees	, 71 max dew point,	8:20 sunset.
Monday Night. Muggy !	Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy. Chance of precipitation is 60%. and	69 degrees	, 68 max dew point,	6:06 sunrise.
Tuesday. Feels like … September 8th.	A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Partly sunny. Chance of precipitation is 60%. and	77 degrees	, 66 max dew point,	8:18 sunset.
Tuesday Night. Feels like … July 31st.	Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy. Chance of precipitation is 60%. and	62 degrees	, 63 max dew point,	6:07 sunrise.
Wednesday. Feels like … September 8th.	Mostly sunny. and	77 degrees	, 61 max dew point,	8:17 sunset.
Wednesday Night. Feels like … August 20th.	Mostly clear. and	60 degrees	,	6:08 sunrise.
Thursday. Feels like … August 28th.	Sunny. and	80 degrees	, 60 max dew point,	8:16 sunset.

Daily Update – August 5, 2022

Andy | August 5, 2022

Good morning! Happy Friday.

How fast summer vacation comes and goes. Some of it is the more relaxed pace this year. Some of it just is time is going by faster as I get older.

Partly cloudy and 72 degrees at the Finger Lakes National Forest. Calm wind. The dew point is 69 degrees. The skies will clear around 9 am.

So yesterday I decided to head to Watkins Glen before the thunderstorms came. They arrived, just a few crackles of thunder and the pool was closed. Looked at the radar, the only a few small thunder cells, figured they’d pass by shortly.

Decided in the meantime to hike the Finger Lakes Trail. The thunder and rain picked up and I hurried to an old CCC built picnic pavilion. Pretty crazy thunderstorm that kind of popped out from nowhere though this 90 year old picnic pavilion is a very substantial structure, super heavy built out of massive timber beams.

With the rain and thunderstorms here never got much above eighty. But based on the frying pan on the table we got half and inch of rain after about 3 hours of rain and thunder this afternoon. Spent like two of them hiding out in the Punch Bowl Shelter on the Finger Lakes Trail. It was wet for a while, ended up completely soaked walking back after two hours of sheltering from the loud, repeated cracks of thunder and driving rain. Hiked through the gorge there after and it was fairly empty but damp.

I wanted to go to the pool but by 5 pm it’s opening seemed unlikely. I had some work stuff to do and I wanted to figure out the plotKML library so I went down to the Watkins Glen library. I hung out there until about ten minutes before closing and then decided to skip ice cream and head back to camp.

This morning I’m thinking about bringing my kayak down to Watkins Glen and doing some paddling on Seneca Lake. I’ve noticed in the morning it’s often the calmest, if not I can explore the Bad Indian Swamp with the kayak. I’ll probably leave it on my truck for the remainder of the week, paddling Taughannock and Cayuga Lake tomorrow. Hope to get some swimming in later at the state park, depends on how stormy it gets later.

Weather Update – August 3, 2022

Andy | August 3, 2022

Tonight and beyond

More unstable weather, heat and humidity ahead. But alas it’s summer and sometimes it is just sultry out. I am sure it will be much nicer here in the Finger Lakes though then back home.

Tonight. Muggy !	Mostly clear. South wind 3 to 8 mph. and	72 degrees	, 66 max dew point,	6:01 sunrise.
Thursday. Muggy !	A chance of showers before 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2pm and 5pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. Increasing clouds and hot. Heat index values as high as 98. South wind 6 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. and	93 degrees	, 71 max dew point,	8:25 sunset.
Thursday Night. Muggy !	Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 8pm and 9pm. Mostly cloudy. Light south wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. and	69 degrees	, 71 max dew point,	6:02 sunrise.
Friday. Muggy !	A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Mostly cloudy. Calm wind becoming west around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. and	85 degrees	, 72 max dew point,	8:24 sunset.
Friday Night. Muggy !	Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. and	69 degrees	, 72 max dew point,	6:03 sunrise.
Saturday. Muggy !	A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Mostly sunny. Chance of precipitation is 40%. and	89 degrees	, 73 max dew point,	8:23 sunset.
Saturday Night. Muggy !	A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Mostly clear. Chance of precipitation is 30%. and	70 degrees	, 72 max dew point,	6:04 sunrise.
Sunday. Muggy !	A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny and hot. Chance of precipitation is 30%. and	92 degrees	, 74 max dew point,	8:21 sunset.
Sunday Night. Muggy !	A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a chance of showers after 2am. Partly cloudy. Chance of precipitation is 30%. and	71 degrees	, 71 max dew point,	6:06 sunrise.
Monday. Muggy !	A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Mostly sunny. Chance of precipitation is 60%. and	89 degrees	, 72 max dew point,	8:20 sunset.
Monday Night. Muggy !	Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy. Chance of precipitation is 60%. and	67 degrees	, 70 max dew point,	6:07 sunrise.
Tuesday. Feels like … August 28th.	A chance of showers. Partly sunny. Chance of precipitation is 50%. and	80 degrees	, 68 max dew point,	8:19 sunset.
Tuesday Night. Feels like … July 15th.	Mostly cloudy. and	63 degrees	, 65 max dew point,	6:08 sunrise.