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

1009 AM EDT Sun May 3 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 46 degrees.

1009 AM EDT Sun May 3 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 44 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

225
FZUS51 KBUF 040654
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
254 AM EDT Mon May 4 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.

LEZ020-040915-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
254 AM EDT Mon May 4 2026

.OVERNIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. A chance of
sprinkles late.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. A chance of sprinkles in the morning.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. A chance of
showers.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. A chance
of showers in the morning, then showers in the afternoon.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 knots or less becoming northeast.
Showers in the evening, then rain overnight.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming light and
variable. Rain during the day.
.THURSDAY...North winds less than 10 knots becoming west. Mostly
cloudy.
.FRIDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest. Partly
to mostly cloudy.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 46 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-040915-
Lower Niagara River-
254 AM EDT Mon May 4 2026

.OVERNIGHT...Southwest winds around 15 knots. A chance of
sprinkles late.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots. Mostly sunny.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to
10 to 15 knots. A chance of showers.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. A chance
of showers in the morning, then showers likely in the afternoon.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 knots or less becoming north.
Showers in the evening, then rain overnight.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast winds less than 10 knots. Rain during the
day.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming west.
Mostly cloudy.
.FRIDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest. Partly
to mostly cloudy.

$$

LEZ040-041-040915-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
254 AM EDT Mon May 4 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING...

.OVERNIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of
sprinkles late. Waves 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. Mostly sunny. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to
3 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to
15 to 20 knots. Showers likely. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west and
diminishing to 5 to 10 knots. A chance of showers in the morning,
then showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northeast.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then rain
overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest
less than 10 knots. Rain during the day. Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY...North winds 10 knots or less becoming west. A chance
of rain showers. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Partly to
mostly cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ042-040915-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
254 AM EDT Mon May 4 2026

.OVERNIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of
sprinkles late. Waves 2 to 4 feet.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots. Mostly sunny. Waves
1 to 3 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of
showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 10 to
15 knots. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers likely
in the afternoon. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming north. Showers
in the evening, then rain overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest.
Rain during the day. Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west. Mostly
cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Partly to
mostly cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.

$$

LOZ043-044-040915-
Hamlin Beach to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
254 AM EDT Mon May 4 2026

.OVERNIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of
sprinkles. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. A chance of sprinkles in the morning. Waves 1 to
3 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south
15 to 20 knots. A chance of showers overnight. Waves 2 feet or
less.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 10 to
15 knots. Showers likely in the morning, then showers with a
chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming north. Showers
with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then rain
overnight. Waves 1 to 2 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...North winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west. Rain during
the day, then a chance of showers Wednesday night. Waves 2 feet
or less.
.THURSDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 2 feet
or less building to 2 to 4 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest 5 to
15 knots. Partly cloudy. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 2 feet or
less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Rochester is 44 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-040915-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
254 AM EDT Mon May 4 2026

.OVERNIGHT...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest
15 to 20 knots. A chance of showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building
to 2 to 4 feet.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. A chance of showers in the morning. Waves 2 to 4 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...South winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. A chance of showers overnight. Waves 2 feet or less
building to 2 to 4 feet.
.TUESDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest 10 to
15 knots. Showers likely in the morning, then showers with a
chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 2 to 4 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then rain
overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...North winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west. Rain during
the day, then a chance of showers Wednesday night. Waves 2 feet
or less.
.THURSDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to
3 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest 10 to
15 knots. Partly cloudy. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to
3 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$