Heat Wave Persists Over the Central U.S.; Significant Flooding Expected in the Northern Mid-Atlantic Tuesday

Dangerous and extreme heat will remain across portions of the Central U.S. this week, persisting across the Mid to Lower Mississippi Valleys, Gulf Coast, Southern Plains and portions of Texas. A heat wave over the Southwest will intensify late this week. Severe thunderstorms and flash flooding will spread from the Great Lakes/Ohio Valley to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast the next few days. Read More >

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

1004 AM EDT Mon Jul 27 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 73 degrees.

1004 AM EDT Mon Jul 27 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 67 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

296
FZUS51 KBUF 280804
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
404 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

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.

LEZ020-281500-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
404 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

.TODAY...South winds 10 knots or less becoming northwest. Showers
with a chance of thunderstorms this morning, then a chance of
showers and thunderstorms this afternoon.
.TONIGHT...North winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then showers likely
overnight.
.WEDNESDAY...Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming north.
Showers likely.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...North winds 5 to 10 knots. Showers likely in
the evening, then a chance of showers overnight.
.THURSDAY...North winds 5 to 10 knots becoming light and
variable. Becoming mainly clear.
.FRIDAY...Light and variable winds. Mainly clear, then becoming
partly cloudy.
.SATURDAY...Light and variable winds. A chance of showers
Saturday night.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 73 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-281500-
Lower Niagara River-
404 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

.TODAY...South winds 10 knots or less becoming northwest. Showers
early, then a chance of showers late this morning. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms late.
.TONIGHT...Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming north. A
chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then showers
likely overnight.
.WEDNESDAY...Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming north.
Showers likely.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...North winds around 10 knots. Showers likely in
the evening, then a chance of showers overnight.
.THURSDAY...North winds around 10 knots becoming light and
variable. Becoming mainly clear.
.FRIDAY...Light and variable winds. Mainly clear, then becoming
partly cloudy.
.SATURDAY...Light and variable winds. A chance of showers
Saturday night.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LEZ040-041-281500-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
404 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 2 to 4 feet.
.TONIGHT...Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming north 15 to
20 knots. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening,
then showers likely overnight. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 3 to
5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. Showers likely. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 2 to
4 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...North winds 10 to 15 knots. A chance of
showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.THURSDAY...North winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest less
than 10 knots. Becoming mainly clear. Waves 2 feet or less.
.FRIDAY...West winds less than 10 knots. Mainly clear, then
becoming partly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...South winds less than 10 knots. A chance of showers
Saturday night. Waves 1 foot or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ042-281500-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
404 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING...

.TODAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming north. Showers this
morning, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms this
afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less building to 2 to 4 feet.
.TONIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming north. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then
showers likely overnight. Waves 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally
around 7 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots. Showers likely. Waves
3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...North winds 10 to 15 knots. Showers likely in
the evening, then a chance of showers overnight. Waves 2 to
4 feet.
.THURSDAY...North winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. Partly
cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.FRIDAY...Northwest winds less than 10 knots becoming south.
Mainly clear, then becoming partly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds less than 10 knots. A chance of
showers Saturday night. Waves 1 foot or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ043-281500-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
404 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH
THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming north. Showers with a
chance of thunderstorms. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TONIGHT...Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming north 15 to
20 knots. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the
evening, then showers overnight. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to
4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming north.
Showers in the morning, then showers with a chance of
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 4 to 7 feet. Waves
occasionally around 9 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...North winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to
10 to 15 knots. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the
evening, then showers likely overnight. Waves 3 to 6 feet. Waves
occasionally around 7 feet.
.THURSDAY...North winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. Partly
to mostly cloudy. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to 2 feet.
.FRIDAY...Northwest winds less than 10 knots becoming southwest.
Mainly clear, then becoming partly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...South winds less than 10 knots. A chance of showers
Saturday night. Waves 1 foot or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Rochester is 67 degrees.

$$

LOZ044-281500-
Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario-
404 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH
THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north. Showers with a
chance of thunderstorms. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TONIGHT...North winds 5 to 15 knots. Showers likely with a
chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then showers overnight.
Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally
around 7 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots. Showers in the morning,
then showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Waves 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...North winds 15 to 20 knots. Showers with a
chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then showers likely
overnight. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.THURSDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to
15 knots. Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to
1 to 2 feet.
.FRIDAY...North winds 10 knots or less becoming south. Mainly
clear, then becoming partly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...South winds less than 10 knots. Partly cloudy, then
becoming mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ045-281500-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
404 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026

.TODAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north. Showers with a
chance of thunderstorms. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north. Showers
with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then showers
likely overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...North winds 10 to 15 knots. Showers in the morning,
then showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...North winds 15 to 20 knots. Showers with a
chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then showers likely
overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.THURSDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to
15 knots. A chance of showers during the day. Waves 2 feet or
less.
.FRIDAY...North winds 10 knots or less becoming south. Mainly
clear, then becoming partly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...South winds less than 10 knots becoming southeast.
Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

Radar