Fire Weather Concerns and Severe Weather

Dry and breezy conditions will bring elevated to critical fire weather conditions across portions of the northern and central High Plains through this weekend, where fuels remain largely receptive. Severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are possible from the Plains into the Upper Midwest, as well as in the Ohio Valley and portions of the Mid-Atlantic through this weekend. 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

1002 AM EDT Sat Sep 12 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 73 degrees.

1002 AM EDT Sat Sep 12 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 72 degrees, and the water

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

776
FZUS51 KBUF 121402
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1002 AM EDT Sat Sep 12 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.

LEZ020-122100-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
1002 AM EDT Sat Sep 12 2026

.REST OF TODAY...Light and variable winds becoming southwest 5 to
10 knots. A chance of showers late.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of showers.
.SUNDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of showers.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest. A
chance of showers.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast.
Mainly clear, then becoming partly cloudy.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. A chance
of showers Tuesday night.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 10 knots or less. A chance of
showers during the day, then showers likely Wednesday night.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 73 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-122100-
Lower Niagara River-
1002 AM EDT Sat Sep 12 2026

.REST OF TODAY...Southeast winds 10 knots or less becoming
southwest. Partly to mostly sunny.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of showers.
.SUNDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of showers in the
afternoon.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of
showers.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast.
Mainly clear, then becoming partly cloudy.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. A chance
of showers Tuesday night.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds less than 10 knots. A chance of
showers during the day, then showers likely Wednesday night.

$$

LEZ040-041-122100-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
1002 AM EDT Sat Sep 12 2026

.REST OF TODAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. A
chance of showers late. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TONIGHT...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. A chance
of showers. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. A chance
of showers in the morning. Waves 1 to 2 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northwest. A
chance of showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.MONDAY...North winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southeast 10 knots
or less. Mainly clear, then becoming partly cloudy. Waves 1 to
3 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less.
.TUESDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots. A chance of showers
Tuesday night. Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming south. A chance
of showers during the day, then a chance of showers and
thunderstorms Wednesday night. Waves 1 foot or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ042-122100-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
1002 AM EDT Sat Sep 12 2026

.REST OF TODAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming east. Partly
to mostly sunny. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TONIGHT...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. A chance
of showers. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SUNDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots. Becoming mostly sunny. Waves
1 to 2 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of
showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.MONDAY...North winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south 10 knots or
less. Mainly clear, then becoming partly cloudy. Waves 2 to
4 feet subsiding to 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. A chance
of showers Tuesday night. Waves 1 foot or less.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming east. A chance
of showers during the day, then showers likely Wednesday night.
Waves 1 foot or less.

$$

LOZ043-122100-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
1002 AM EDT Sat Sep 12 2026

.REST OF TODAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots. Mostly sunny late
this morning, then becoming partly sunny. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TONIGHT...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then a
chance of showers overnight. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. Mostly
cloudy in the morning, then becoming mostly sunny. Waves 2 feet
or less.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northwest
15 to 20 knots. A chance of showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building
to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.MONDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south and
diminishing to 10 knots or less. Mainly clear, then becoming
partly cloudy. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less.
Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.TUESDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots. A chance of showers
Tuesday night. Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south. A
chance of showers. Waves 1 foot or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Rochester is 72 degrees, and the water
temperature at the central lake buoy is 71 degrees.

$$

LOZ044-122100-
Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario-
1002 AM EDT Sat Sep 12 2026

.REST OF TODAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots. Sunny late this
morning, then becoming partly sunny. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TONIGHT...South winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves
2 feet or less.
.SUNDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. A chance of
showers in the morning. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northwest
15 to 20 knots. A chance of showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet building
to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.MONDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southeast and
diminishing to 10 knots or less. Mainly clear. Waves 3 to 5 feet
subsiding to 1 foot or less. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south. A
chance of showers Tuesday night. Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast. A
chance of showers. Waves 1 foot or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Oswego is 71 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-122100-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
1002 AM EDT Sat Sep 12 2026

.REST OF TODAY...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south.
Sunny. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TONIGHT...South winds 15 to 20 knots. Showers with a chance of
thunderstorms. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.
.SUNDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest 10 to
15 knots. A chance of showers in the morning. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northwest
15 to 20 knots. A chance of showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building
to 3 to 5 feet, then subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally
around 6 feet.
.MONDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southeast 5 to
15 knots. Mainly clear. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 2 feet or
less.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds 15 to 25 knots becoming south. A
chance of showers Tuesday night. Waves 2 feet or less building to
2 to 4 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southeast
10 knots or less. A chance of showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet
subsiding to 1 foot or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Cape Vincent is 71 degrees.

$$

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