Lake Temperatures

Lake Erie

The reported Lake Erie water temperature is taken at the Buffalo Water Treatment Plant located on Lake Erie at the entrance to the Niagara River. The reading is taken at a depth of 30 feet. This data is unofficial.

Lake Ontario

The reported Lake Ontario water temperature is taken at the Monroe County Water Treatment Plant near Greece, N.Y. The temperatures is measured at the intake pipes about 1500 feet offshore at a approximate depth of 35 feet. The Lake Ontario temperature occasionally may not be representative of the surface temperature due to upwelling. This process, more common during the summer months, brings colder water from the deeper parts of the lake toward the surface near the temperature sensor. The surface water may be significantly warmer. This data is unofficial.

Latest Lake Temperatures

1003 AM EST Sat Nov 15 2025 The water temperature off Buffalo is 48 degrees.

1003 AM EST Sat Nov 15 2025 The water temperature off Rochester is 50 degrees.

Monthly Lake Erie Temperatures
January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December

Historical Lake Erie Temperatures (Unofficial Normals and Extremes)

The daily lake temperatures for Lake Erie off Buffalo and for Lake Ontario off Rochester are included in the Nearshore Marine Forecast.

Click the link for previous versions of the Nearshore Marine Forecast.

NearShore Marine Forecast

573
FZUS51 KBUF 160303
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1003 PM EST Sat Nov 15 2025

For waters within five nautical miles of shore

Waves are the significant wave height - the average of the highest
1/3 of the wave spectrum. Occasional wave height is the average of
the highest 1/10 of the wave spectrum.

LEZ020-161000-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
1003 PM EST Sat Nov 15 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON...

.REST OF TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of showers
late this evening. A chance of showers late.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of rain showers in the morning, then a chance of rain and snow
showers in the afternoon.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of snow
showers.
.MONDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots. Partly sunny.
.MONDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy.
.TUESDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming light and variable.
Mostly cloudy.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast winds less than 10 knots becoming east.
Partly to mostly cloudy.
.THURSDAY...East winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast. Rain
showers likely Thursday night.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 48 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-161000-
Lower Niagara River-
1003 PM EST Sat Nov 15 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT...

.REST OF TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots. Mostly cloudy.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of rain showers in the morning, then a chance of rain and snow
showers in the afternoon.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west. A
chance of snow showers in the evening.
.MONDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots. Partly sunny.
.MONDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to
10 knots. Mostly cloudy.
.TUESDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming light and variable.
Mostly cloudy.
.WEDNESDAY...North winds less than 10 knots. Partly to mostly
cloudy.
.THURSDAY...East winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast. Rain
showers likely Thursday night.

$$

LEZ040-041-161000-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
1003 PM EST Sat Nov 15 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE MONDAY NIGHT...

.REST OF TONIGHT...West winds to 30 knots. A chance of showers.
Waves 6 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally around 11 feet.
.SUNDAY...Northwest winds to 30 knots. Rain showers in the
morning, then rain showers with snow showers likely in the
afternoon. Waves 6 to 10 feet building to 8 to 11 feet. Waves
occasionally around 14 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds to 30 knots. Snow and rain
showers in the evening, then snow showers likely overnight. Waves
7 to 11 feet subsiding to 5 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally around
14 feet.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds to 30 knots becoming west 15 to
25 knots. Snow showers likely in the morning, then a chance of
snow and rain showers in the afternoon. Waves 4 to 7 feet. Waves
occasionally around 9 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west and
diminishing to 10 to 15 knots. A chance of rain and snow showers
in the evening. Waves 3 to 6 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves
occasionally around 7 feet.
.TUESDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north less than
10 knots. A chance of rain and snow showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet
subsiding to 1 foot or less.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast winds less than 10 knots becoming east. A
chance of rain showers during the day. Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY...East winds 10 knots or less becoming south 10 to
15 knots. A chance of rain showers during the day, then rain
showers likely Thursday night. Waves 1 foot or less.

$$

LOZ042-161000-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
1003 PM EST Sat Nov 15 2025

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT...

.REST OF TONIGHT...West winds to 30 knots. A chance of showers
late. Waves 4 to 7 feet building to 9 to 12 feet. Waves
occasionally around 15 feet.
.SUNDAY...Northwest gales to 35 knots diminishing to 30 knots.
Rain showers likely in the morning, then snow showers likely with
a chance of rain showers in the afternoon. Waves 9 to 13 feet.
Waves occasionally around 16 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds to 30 knots. Snow showers likely
in the evening, then a chance of snow showers overnight. Waves
7 to 11 feet. Waves occasionally around 14 feet.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds to 30 knots becoming west. A chance of
snow showers. Waves 5 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally around
11 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves
4 to 7 feet subsiding to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around
9 feet.
.TUESDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest 5 to
15 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to
2 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...North winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast.
Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY...East winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast. Rain
showers likely Thursday night. Waves 1 foot or less.

$$

LOZ043-161000-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
1003 PM EST Sat Nov 15 2025

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT...

.REST OF TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots increasing to
35 knot gales. A chance of showers late this evening. A chance of
showers late. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 10 to 14 feet. Waves
occasionally around 18 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds to 30 knots becoming northwest and
increasing to 35 knot gales. Rain showers likely in the morning,
then rain and snow showers likely in the afternoon. Waves 10 to
15 feet. Waves occasionally around 19 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Northwest gales to 35 knots diminishing to
30 knots. Snow showers likely in the evening, then a chance of
snow showers overnight. Waves 10 to 14 feet. Waves occasionally
around 18 feet.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds to 30 knots becoming west. A chance of
snow showers. Waves 8 to 11 feet. Waves occasionally around
14 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds to 30 knots becoming west 15 to
25 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves 6 to 10 feet subsiding
to 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around 13 feet.
.TUESDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to 5 to 10 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 4 to 7 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast.
Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves around 1 foot.
.THURSDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots. Rain showers likely
Thursday night. Waves 1 foot or less.

The water temperature off Rochester is 50 degrees.

$$

LOZ044-161000-
Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario-
1003 PM EST Sat Nov 15 2025

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT...

.REST OF TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots increasing to
35 knot gales after midnight. Showers likely, then a chance of
showers late. Waves 3 to 5 feet building to 11 to 15 feet. Waves
occasionally around 19 feet.
.SUNDAY...West gales to 35 knots becoming northwest. Rain showers
in the morning, then rain and snow showers likely in the
afternoon. Waves 11 to 15 feet. Waves occasionally around
19 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Northwest gales to 35 knots diminishing to
30 knots. Snow showers likely. Waves 10 to 14 feet. Waves
occasionally around 18 feet.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds to 30 knots becoming west. A chance of
snow showers. Waves 8 to 12 feet. Waves occasionally around
15 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds to 30 knots. A chance of snow
showers. Waves 7 to 11 feet subsiding to 5 to 8 feet. Waves
occasionally around 14 feet.
.TUESDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots diminishing to 5 to
15 knots. A chance of rain and snow showers. Waves 4 to 7 feet
subsiding to 1 to 2 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southeast.
Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots. Rain showers likely
Thursday night. Waves 1 foot or less.

$$

LOZ045-161000-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
1003 PM EST Sat Nov 15 2025

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT...

.REST OF TONIGHT...Southwest winds to 30 knots becoming west and
increasing to 35 knot gales after midnight. Showers likely. Waves
3 to 6 feet building to 10 to 14 feet. Waves occasionally around
18 feet.
.SUNDAY...West gales to 35 knots becoming northwest. Rain showers
in the morning, then snow showers likely in the afternoon. Waves
10 to 14 feet. Waves occasionally around 18 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Northwest gales to 35 knots diminishing to
30 knots. Snow showers likely. Waves 9 to 13 feet subsiding to
8 to 11 feet. Waves occasionally around 16 feet.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds to 30 knots becoming west. A chance of
snow showers. Waves 7 to 11 feet subsiding to 6 to 10 feet. Waves
occasionally around 14 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to
25 knots. Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves 6 to 10 feet subsiding
to 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around 13 feet.
.TUESDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest 5 to
15 knots. Partly cloudy. Waves 3 to 6 feet subsiding to 2 feet or
less. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...North winds 10 knots or less becoming east. Partly
to mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots. Rain showers likely
Thursday night. Waves 1 foot or less.

$$