Quinebaug & Shetucket Rivers, CT

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Quinebaug & Shetucket Rivers outdoor landscape
Quinebaug & Shetucket Rivers — Photo by JJBers, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Today’s Forecast:

☁
45°F
High: 45° | Low: 33°
Current Temperature
Cloudy
Station: KGON
Observed at: 12:00 pm CST on 11/13/26
Wind: 16 mph | Humidity: 70%
Today:Rain likely. Mostly cloudy. High near 44, with temperatures falling to around 42 in the afternoon. North wind 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tonight:A chance of rain before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday:Mostly sunny. High near 47, with temperatures falling to around 44 in the afternoon. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
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Today’s Report:

🥾 Hiking

Good
  82 /100

Good for hiking. High near 47°F. Light wind (10 mph).

  • Temp: Marginal weather factor
  • Rain: Favorable conditions
  • Wind: Favorable conditions
  • Thunderstorm: Favorable conditions
Tomorrow's Outlook:
Excellent 85/100
Excellent for hiking. High near 49°F. Light wind (12 mph).

🚲 Biking

Good
  73 /100

Good for biking. High near 47°F. Light wind (10 mph).

  • Temp: Marginal weather factor
  • Rain: Favorable conditions
  • Wind: Favorable conditions
  • Thunderstorm: Favorable conditions
Tomorrow's Outlook:
Good 77/100
Good for biking. High near 49°F. Light wind (12 mph).

🛶 Paddling

Not Recommended
  22 /100

Not Recommended for paddling. High near 47°F. Breezy winds (10 mph). Temperatures outside comfort limits (47°F).

  • Temp: Unfavorable weather factor
  • Rain: Favorable conditions
  • Wind: Marginal weather factor
  • Thunderstorm: Favorable conditions
Tomorrow's Outlook:
Not Recommended 12/100
Not Recommended for paddling. High near 49°F. Breezy winds (12 mph). Temperatures outside comfort limits (49°F).

🐟 Fishing

Excellent
  85 /100

Excellent for fishing. High near 47°F. Light wind (10 mph).

  • Temp: Marginal weather factor
  • Rain: Favorable conditions
  • Wind: Favorable conditions
  • Thunderstorm: Favorable conditions
Tomorrow's Outlook:
Good 83/100
Good for fishing. High near 49°F. Breezy winds (12 mph).

About Quinebaug & Shetucket Rivers

The representative point supports planning for reach-specific access, upstream rainfall, dams, low-head hazards, debris, flood stage and limited lower-river tidal influence.

Planning the Day

Choose a documented public reach whose flow matches the paddler’s skill; do not assume continuous navigation or access, and delay downstream launches while upstream runoff is still arriving.

Weather and Access Tips

  • The representative point does not describe every reach. Public access, dams, low-head hazards, navigation and tidal influence must be checked for the specific route; tidal guidance belongs only on lower reaches.
  • Select a documented public reach with legal put-in and takeout access; neither river is continuously navigable or publicly accessible.
  • Account for upstream rain, dams, low-head hazards and debris; apply tide information only on verified lower tidal reaches.

Nearby Towns and Areas

  • Norwich
  • Baltic
  • Putnam
  • Killingly
  • Willimantic
  • Quinebaug River
  • Shetucket River

7-Day Forecast for Quinebaug, CT

☁
45°F
High: 45° | Low: 33°
Current Temperature
Cloudy
Station: KGON
Observed at: 12:00 pm CST on 11/13/26
Wind: 16 mph | Humidity: 70%
Fri 🌧
44° 33°
66%
Sat ⛅
47° 27°
3%
Sun ☀
50° 27°
1%
Mon ☀
51° 27°
0%
Tue ☀
55° 31°
0%
Wed ☀
60° 32°
0%
Thu ☀
62° 32°
0%

7-Day High Temperature Trend

44° Fri 47° Sat 50° Sun 51° Mon 55° Tue 60° Wed 62° Thu

7-Day Low Temperature Trend

33° Fri 27° Sat 27° Sun 27° Mon 31° Tue 32° Wed 32° Thu

📊 7-Day Outdoor Outlook

Good Fair Poor 19 Fri 20 Sat 70 Sun 75 Mon 100 Tue 100 Wed 100 Thu
Forecast data from the National Weather Service  |  Last Updated: November 13, 2026 10:43 pm CST

Quinebaug & Shetucket Rivers Weather by Season

Winter

Ice, cold water and limited access restrict paddling, while lower reaches may retain tidal movement.

Spring

Rain across Windham County can raise New London County current after local skies clear.

Summer

Thunderstorms, debris and low-head dams require route-specific launch and takeout decisions.

Fall

Stable flows help paddling and fishing, though leaf debris and shorter daylight complicate shuttles.

Key Climate Data Points

  • Local climate: Multi-county river climate; annual mean temperature roughly low 50s °F near Norwich and cooler upstream; tidal guidance applies only to genuinely tidal lower reaches.
  • Warmest or primary-use period: Late spring and early fall often provide useful paddling temperatures, but suitability remains reach- and flow-specific.
  • Coldest or limited-access period: Winter cold water, ice and limited daylight make route and takeout errors more consequential.
  • Primary hazard season: March through May runoff and tropical-remnant rain later in the year can raise downstream flow long after local rain.
  • Best practical window: September and early October may offer stable flow and cooler air when upstream rainfall and dam conditions cooperate.