Current is the core driver of energy and material transport in lake systems and exerts a decisive influence on the distribution of pollutants, algae, and fish. Clarifying the spatiotemporal variability of lake currents is essential for understanding the mechanisms underlying lake ecological and environmental problems and for supporting precise management strategies. Based on high-frequency synchronous observations of wind and current fields from 20 automatic monitoring stations in Lake Chaohu in 2024, this study systematically analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics of the wind and current fields and explored their response relationships and driving mechanisms. Vector decomposition, Pearson correlation analysis, and circular statistical methods were employed to construct indices including the coefficient of variation of current velocity, directional dispersion coefficient, and composite current velocity ratio, thereby quantitatively evaluating current stability and dynamic characteristics across multiple temporal scales.The results indicate that the wind field over Lake Chaohu is controlled by the East Asian monsoon circulation and exhibits pronounced seasonal transition characteristics. In 2024, the basin-wide mean wind speed was approximately 3.4 m/s, with easterly winds prevailing in spring, southerly winds in summer, northeasterly winds in autumn, and northerly winds in winter. The current field in Lake Chaohu generally exhibited a weak “west-in–east-out” transport pattern, with mean current velocities at individual stations ranging from 3.75 to 9.27 cm/s and a basin-wide mean of 5.18 cm/s. High-velocity zones were mainly distributed in river inflow and outflow estuaries and flow passages on both sides of Laoshan Island, whereas the northwestern lake region, central lake area, and some nearshore zones remained under low-velocity conditions.Vertical current velocities in Lake Chaohu were only on the order of mm/s, indicating limited vertical exchange capacity. The current field exhibited significant fluctuations across seasonal, monthly, and daily scales. Basin-wide vector-averaged current velocities in spring and summer were 0.92 cm/s and 0.89 cm/s, respectively, both substantially higher than the 0.53 cm/s observed in autumn and winter. During the “Yangtze River-to-Lake Chaohu Water Diversion Project” period, daily mean current velocities in the Zhao River inflow region remained between 9.69 and 14.82 cm/s. At eight national monitoring stations, the mean coefficient of variation of current velocity reached 94.06%, the directional dispersion coefficient ranged from 73.5% to 95.8%, and the mean composite current velocity ratio was only 0.28, indicating that the Lake Chaohu current field is characterized by “low velocity, high variability, and strong directional dispersion.”Wind speed and current velocity showed a significant positive correlation overall (p < 0.01), indicating that wind forcing is the primary driver controlling current variability in Lake Chaohu. However, substantial differences were observed in the response intensity of currents to wind forcing among different sites, suggesting that the current field structure is jointly influenced by multiple factors, including lake basin morphology and inflow–outflow discharge conditions. These findings provide a scientific basis for hydrodynamic regulation, identification of weak-flow retention zones, and the prevention and control of eutrophication and algal blooms in shallow lakes.