Frequently Asked Questions

Updated July, 2005

Below are the questions that are asked the most about the Lake Elsinore weather site. Didn't find your question here? Try the Temecula F.A.Q. or Ask!

Where is the Lake Elsinore weather station located?

North of the lake, in the northwest part of the City of Lake Elsinore, near Grand Avenue and Machado. The approximate elevation at the site is 1350 feet.

What is the Elsinore Convergence?

Two inland air streams meet each day just east of Lake Elsinore. The wind blows in from the southwest (from Temecula and Murrieta) and from the northwest (Corona). The resulting thermals make the Lake Elsinore area a haven for soaring activities such as hang gliding. The reason for the convergence is local topography. Taller mountains in the Elsinore range just west of Lake Elsinore direct wind around either side. The lack of consistent westerly winds contributes to hotter conditions in Lake Elsinore and along the rest of the convergence (Sun City, Menifee, and Canyon Lake out to Hemet) than most of the rest of the surrounding areas in Western Riverside County in the summertime.

Is there online information about the level of Lake Elsinore?

See the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, which manages Lake Elsinore and the Railroad Canyon Reservoir (Canyon Lake), upstream from Lake Elsinore on the San Jacinto River. The levels for both lakes are updated each week. Canyon Lake is managed by a dam, and spills into Lake Elsinore. Lake Elsinore's level is managed by an outfall system.

Where can I find the water temperature of the lake?

We don't know of any web site that records the water temperatures at Lake Elsinore currently. The temperature would likely vary anyway, and would be coldest in the center of the lake where it is deepest. If any of you comes across Lake Elsinore water temperatures, whether historical or current, please tell us.

What is the typical air quality in Lake Elsinore?

See South Coast AQMD's monitoring site for current air quality in Lake Elsinore, where they maintain full-time monitoring equipment. The air quality in Lake Elsinore is generally not very good in the summer and fall, the result of an inversion layer, the convergence, and pollutants upstream from the Los Angeles basin.