July afternoons in Three Lakes average 78 degrees. January nights average 2. Three Lakes weather swings that far over a year, and it decides almost everything about a trip here, from whether the ski show is running to whether the snowmobile trails are open.
The figures below are 30-year averages for Three Lakes from the National Centers for Environmental Information, covering 1991 to 2020. They tell you what is normal. What they do not tell you is what each season actually feels like up here, which is the other half of this guide.
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The short answer: when to come
For the lakes, come between mid-May and mid-September, when Three Lakes averages about 129 days of comfortable weather and the boats, the ski show and the lake bars are all running. July and August are warmest and busiest.
For snow, come from late December to February. The area averages about 75 inches of snow a year, and that is when the snowmobile trails and the groomed ski trail are most reliable.
September is the month to aim for: warm days, cool nights, fewer people and the start of fall color. April and early November are the quiet weeks, when some places close and the weather can do anything.
Three Lakes weather month by month
Average high and low temperatures, rain and melted snow combined, and snowfall, by month:
| Month | High (°F) | Low (°F) | Precipitation (in) | Snowfall (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21 | 2 | 1.2 | 14.0 |
| Feb | 26 | 4 | 1.0 | 14.4 |
| Mar | 38 | 14 | 1.7 | 10.3 |
| Apr | 51 | 27 | 2.8 | 9.6 |
| May | 65 | 40 | 3.5 | 0.3 |
| Jun | 74 | 50 | 4.2 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 78 | 54 | 4.2 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 75 | 53 | 3.4 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 67 | 45 | 3.6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 53 | 34 | 3.4 | 1.9 |
| Nov | 38 | 22 | 1.9 | 9.0 |
| Dec | 26 | 10 | 1.6 | 15.7 |
Source: NCEI 1991 to 2020 climate normals, as compiled for Three Lakes by myPerfectWeather. Precipitation includes the water in snow.
A few patterns jump out. Summer is the wet season as well as the warm one, with July and June each averaging about 4.2 inches of rain, mostly in thunderstorms. Snow can fall in any month from October to April. December is the snowiest month, at around 15.7 inches.
Summer: lake season
Summer in Three Lakes means highs in the 70s, lows in the 50s and long evenings. On June 21 the sun is up for about 15 hours and 43 minutes, and it does not get properly dark until late.
The water is warmest from July into August. This is when the Three Lakes chain of lakes is at its busiest, with the Burnt Rollways boat hoist running from May through September.
July is also the clearest month, with clear or mostly clear skies about 71 percent of the time, and the stormiest. Afternoon thunderstorms build fast over the lakes. When you hear thunder, get off the water.
Fall: color, cranberries and Pumpkin Fest
September averages highs in the high 60s and lows in the mid-40s, and October drops to highs in the low 50s. By late September the maples start to turn, and the color usually runs into early October.
Fall is also when many cottage resorts start to close or shorten their seasons, and when the first snow can arrive, usually as an October flurry. Pack for both.
Winter: 75 inches of snow
Winter is long and properly cold. January averages a high of 21 and a low of 2, and nights well below zero are normal. The shortest day, December 21, has about 8 hours and 40 minutes of daylight.
It is also a season people come for. The 186 miles of snowmobile trails around Three Lakes open once the ground is frozen and the snow is deep enough, often by late December in a normal year, and stay busy into February.
About five miles of the Three Eagle Trail between Three Lakes and Eagle River are groomed for cross-country skiing when there is snow, and the lakes fill with ice-fishing shanties. Stone Harbor Marina rents snowmobiles once there is snow on the ground.
Daylight is short in midwinter, so plan the long ride or ski for the middle of the day and keep the evening for the fire.
Ice is never guaranteed. Ask locally about conditions on a specific lake that week, and stay off any ice you are unsure of.
Spring: ice-out and the quiet weeks
Spring arrives late. March still averages more than 10 inches of snow, and April another 9 or so, while highs climb from the 30s into the 50s.
The ice usually goes out sometime in April, and the lakes stay cold for weeks after. May is the turning point, with highs in the mid-60s and almost no snow. It is quiet, cheap and pretty, but some resorts and seasonal restaurants are not open yet, so check before you book.
Bugs arrive with the warmth. Black flies and mosquitoes are at their worst in late May and June, especially near the woods and wetlands, so pack repellent and something with long sleeves for the evenings.
Spring is also mud season on back roads and trails. The Three Eagle Trail's crushed stone drains well, but the forest roads can be soft.
Daylight, sun and wind
Daylight shapes a trip here as much as temperature does. In July, Three Lakes averages about 10.5 hours of actual sunshine a day. In December it gets about 2.2, under the cloudiest skies of the year, which are overcast or mostly cloudy around 56 percent of the time.
Wind is light most of the year, averaging around 7 miles an hour in summer and 9 in winter. That is part of why the lakes are good for skiing and paddling on summer mornings, and why a still January day can feel milder than the thermometer says.
The town calendar by season
The weather also sets the town's calendar. The Burnt Rollways boat hoist runs May through September. The Aqua Devils ski from mid-June to mid-August. The Fourth of July celebration is the peak summer weekend, and September brings the North by Northwoods Music Crawl and Oktoberfest.
In winter, the snowmobile trails and the groomed ski section take over, and Eagle River, about 10 miles north, hosts the World Championship Snowmobile Derby each January. The speedway races on Saturday nights in the warm months, and the Center for the Arts runs films and concerts all year.
Dates move every year, so check the Events tab for Three Lakes before you book around any of them.
Checking conditions before you go
Averages tell you what to expect. For what is happening today, use the National Weather Service forecast for Three Lakes and the live webcams the Three Lakes visitors bureau runs on its website, which show the town and the water in real time.
In winter, check the trail report as well as the forecast. A thaw can close the snowmobile trails, and a cold snap after rain can turn roads to ice. In summer, watch the radar on any afternoon you plan to be on the water.
Rainy-day plans
Summer storms usually pass in an hour or two, but a wet day still needs a plan.
The Three Lakes Historical Museum on Huron Street has seven buildings to wander through, open Tuesday to Saturday. For kids, the indoor pool at Northernaire Resort is the bad-weather answer if you are staying there.
What to pack by season
Summer: shorts and a fleece, rain jacket, bug spray for the evenings, and water shoes for rocky launches.
Fall: layers, a warm hat for mornings on the water, and boots that can handle a muddy trail.
Winter: proper cold-weather gear rated well below zero, waterproof boots, and a face covering for riding. If you are snowmobiling, insulated bibs and a full helmet.
Spring: everything from fall plus a winter coat, because April can still bring snow.
Whatever you pack, Three Lakes is about 230 miles north of Milwaukee, and it is noticeably colder and snowier up here than in the southern half of the state.
Every season has its own reasons to come, and the full list of Three Lakes attractions runs from ski shows to sled trails.
Frequently asked questions
Published August 24, 2026
