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 Sun Nov 2 2025 The water temperature off Buffalo is 56 degrees.

1003 AM EST Sun Nov 2 2025 The water temperature off Rochester is 48 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

514
FZUS51 KBUF 022103
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
403 PM EST Sun Nov 2 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.

LEZ020-030400-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
403 PM EST Sun Nov 2 2025

.TONIGHT...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Mainly
clear this evening, then becoming partly cloudy.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. Showers
likely.
.MONDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mainly
clear.
.TUESDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots. Sunny.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest.
Mostly cloudy.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest.
Rain showers likely.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming south.
Partly to mostly cloudy.
.FRIDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. Rain showers.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 56 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-030400-
Lower Niagara River-
403 PM EST Sun Nov 2 2025

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 10 knots or less. Mainly clear this
evening, then becoming partly cloudy.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west and
increasing to 30 knots. Showers likely.
.MONDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. Becoming mainly clear.
.TUESDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots. Sunny.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest.
Mostly cloudy.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest.
Rain showers likely.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming south.
Partly cloudy, then becoming mostly cloudy.
.FRIDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. Rain showers.

$$

LEZ040-041-030400-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
403 PM EST Sun Nov 2 2025

...GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY
EVENING...

.TONIGHT...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest 15 to
20 knots. Mainly clear this evening, then becoming partly cloudy.
Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west and
increasing to 35 knot gales in the afternoon. A chance of showers
in the morning, then showers likely in the afternoon. Waves 3 to
6 feet building to 9 to 13 feet. Waves occasionally around
16 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...West gales to 35 knots diminishing to 15 to
25 knots overnight. Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mainly clear. Waves 8 to 12 feet subsiding to 4 to 7 feet. Waves
occasionally around 15 feet.
.TUESDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. Sunny. Waves 3 to 6 feet.
Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south 10 to
15 knots. Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly
cloudy. Waves 3 to 6 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves
occasionally around 7 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest.
Showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 5 to 8 feet, then
subsiding to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south 15 to
20 knots. Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to
2 feet or less.
.FRIDAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. Showers.
Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally
around 10 feet.

$$

LOZ042-030400-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
403 PM EST Sun Nov 2 2025

...GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE MONDAY
NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest 15 to
20 knots. Mainly clear this evening, then becoming partly cloudy.
Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west and
increasing to 35 knot gales in the afternoon. Showers. Waves 3 to
5 feet building to 10 to 13 feet. Waves occasionally around
16 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...West winds to 30 knots. A chance of showers.
Waves 8 to 11 feet subsiding to 6 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally
around 14 feet.
.TUESDAY...West winds to 30 knots. Sunny. Waves 5 to 9 feet.
Waves occasionally around 11 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest
10 to 15 knots. Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly cloudy. Waves 3 to 6 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves
occasionally around 7 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest.
Rain showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 4 to 7 feet. Waves
occasionally around 9 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest
5 to 15 knots. Partly cloudy, then becoming mostly cloudy. Waves
3 to 6 feet subsiding to 2 feet or less. Waves occasionally
around 7 feet.
.FRIDAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. Rain showers.
Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally
around 6 feet.

$$

LOZ043-030400-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
403 PM EST Sun Nov 2 2025

...GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE MONDAY
NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest 15 to
20 knots. Mainly clear. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west and
increasing to 35 knot gales in the afternoon. A chance of showers
in the morning, then showers in the afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 8 to 11 feet. Waves occasionally around 14 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...West winds to 30 knots. A chance of showers.
Waves 7 to 11 feet. Waves occasionally around 14 feet.
.TUESDAY...West winds to 30 knots. Sunny. Waves 7 to 11 feet.
Waves occasionally around 14 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest
10 to 15 knots. Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly cloudy. Waves 5 to 8 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves
occasionally around 10 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northwest
and increasing to 30 knots. Showers. Waves 2 feet or less
building to 6 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally around 11 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest
10 to 15 knots. Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves 5 to 8 feet
subsiding to 2 feet or less. Waves occasionally around 10 feet.
.FRIDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west. Showers.
Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally
around 6 feet.

The water temperature off Rochester is 48 degrees.

$$

LOZ044-030400-
Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario-
403 PM EST Sun Nov 2 2025

...GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE MONDAY
NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south 15 to
20 knots. Mainly clear this evening, then becoming partly cloudy.
Waves 2 feet or less.
.MONDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west and increasing
to 35 knot gales in the afternoon. Showers in the afternoon.
Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 11 to 15 feet. Waves occasionally
around 19 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...West winds to 30 knots becoming northwest.
Showers. Waves 10 to 15 feet. Waves occasionally around 19 feet.
.TUESDAY...Northwest winds to 30 knots becoming west. A chance of
showers in the morning. Waves 8 to 12 feet. Waves occasionally
around 15 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest and
diminishing to 10 to 15 knots. Partly cloudy in the evening, then
becoming mostly cloudy. Waves 7 to 10 feet subsiding to 3 to
6 feet. Waves occasionally around 13 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northwest and
increasing to 30 knots. Showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to
6 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally around 11 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest and
diminishing to 10 to 15 knots. Rain showers likely during the
day. Waves 5 to 8 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves
occasionally around 10 feet.
.FRIDAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. Rain showers.
Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally
around 7 feet.

$$

LOZ045-030400-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
403 PM EST Sun Nov 2 2025

...GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE MONDAY
NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...South winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. Mainly clear this evening, then becoming partly cloudy.
Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally
around 6 feet.
.MONDAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest and
increasing to 35 knot gales in the afternoon. Showers in the
afternoon. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 11 to 15 feet. Waves
occasionally around 19 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...West gales to 35 knots diminishing to 30 knots
overnight. Showers. Waves 11 to 15 feet subsiding to 8 to
12 feet. Waves occasionally around 19 feet.
.TUESDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west to
30 knots. A chance of showers in the morning. Waves 7 to 11 feet.
Waves occasionally around 14 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest and
diminishing to 10 to 15 knots. Partly cloudy in the evening, then
becoming mostly cloudy. Waves 7 to 10 feet subsiding to 2 to
4 feet. Waves occasionally around 13 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northwest and
increasing to 15 to 25 knots. Rain showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet
building to 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest.
Rain showers likely during the day. Waves 4 to 7 feet subsiding
to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.FRIDAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. Rain showers.
Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally
around 9 feet.

$$