The lake temperature was 13.7degC while the air temperature was a chilly 8.9degC.
The cycle of severe norwest storms has shown few signs of abating, and athletes preparing for next week's Challenge Wanaka long-distance triathlon are being asked to prepare for the worst but hope for the best.
The summer storms have created surf and rolling swells for swimmers practising the lake course, while cyclists say they have been battling winds from all directions around Lake Dunstan.
Lakeland Adventures skipper Simon Stewart said yesterday the lake was about 3degC cooler than this time last year.
The Otago Regional Council water information website yesterday recorded Lake Wanaka's level at 278.1m, comfortably below the first flood danger mark of 279.4.
Fiordland and South Westland can expect more severe weather on Wednesday and Thursday, bringing more heavy rain to the headwaters of the Otago lakes.
The Metservice website offers a little encouragement for weather watchers, with Saturday's forecast for Wanaka partly cloudy, becoming fine, and temperatures ranging between 6degC and 24degC.
However, the Central Otago forecast on Saturday is "rain with light winds".
But Central Otago gets "showers" and "not much wind".
Challenge Wanaka race director Victoria Murray-Orr said yesterday she was aware athletes were becoming anxious about weather cycles, but it would be extremely unlikely to change or cancel the event unless safety became an issue.
"I think people need to be prepared for less-than-perfect conditions. The nature of this summer is that it has been much windier than normal. It is highly probable it will be windy on race day. We will still run it in the wind, unless it is not safe. So be prepared for chop in the swim and head winds on the bike," she said.
If the wind was too dangerous for people to swim 3.8km, the swim leg would be shortened to one 1.9km lap. If it was impossible to swim, the race would be changed to a duathlon, she said.
