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 Mon Jan 19 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 33 degrees.

1003 AM EST Mon Jan 19 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 35 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

339
FZUS51 KBUF 192103
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
403 PM EST Mon Jan 19 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.

LEZ020-200400-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
403 PM EST Mon Jan 19 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING...

.TONIGHT...West winds to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to 20 knots.
Snow showers likely early, then a chance of snow showers late
this evening. Snow showers likely after midnight.
.TUESDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of snow showers in
the morning, then snow showers likely in the afternoon.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest
10 to 15 knots. Snow showers.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest 15 to
20 knots. Snow.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west.
Snow in the evening, then snow showers likely overnight.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 10 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers.
.FRIDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to 15 knots.
A chance of snow showers.
.SATURDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less. A chance of snow
showers during the day.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 33 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-200400-
Lower Niagara River-
403 PM EST Mon Jan 19 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING...

.TONIGHT...West winds to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to 25 knots.
A chance of snow showers early.
.TUESDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots. Mostly sunny.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest
10 to 15 knots. Snow showers likely.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest 15 to
20 knots. Snow.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots. Snow in the
evening, then snow showers likely overnight.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west. A
chance of snow showers.
.FRIDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest 5 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers.
.SATURDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less. A chance of snow
showers.

$$

LEZ040-041-200400-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
403 PM EST Mon Jan 19 2026

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...West gales to 40 knots diminishing to 30 knots. Lake
effect snow. Visibility one quarter mile or less at times this
evening. Waves 9 to 13 feet subsiding to 7 to 10 feet. Waves
occasionally around 16 feet.
.TUESDAY...West winds to 30 knots. Heavy freezing spray in the
morning. Lake effect snow. Waves 7 to 10 feet. Waves occasionally
around 13 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots. Snow showers in
the evening, then a chance of snow showers overnight. Waves 5 to
9 feet subsiding to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around
11 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest to
30 knots. Snow. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 4 to 7 feet. Waves
occasionally around 9 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds to 30 knots becoming west.
Snow in the evening, then snow showers likely overnight. Waves
5 to 9 feet building to 7 to 10 feet. Waves occasionally around
13 feet.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds to 30 knots becoming west. Snow
showers likely during the day, then a chance of snow showers
Thursday night. Waves 6 to 10 feet. Waves occasionally around
13 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds to 30 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to 10 to 15 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves
5 to 8 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around
10 feet.
.SATURDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north. A
chance of snow showers during the day. Waves 1 to 3 feet.

$$

LOZ042-200400-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
403 PM EST Mon Jan 19 2026

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TUESDAY NIGHT...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TUESDAY
NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...West gales to 40 knots diminishing to 30 knots. A
chance of snow showers early. Freezing spray. Waves 10 to 14 feet
subsiding to 8 to 11 feet. Waves occasionally around 18 feet.
.TUESDAY...West winds to 30 knots. Heavy freezing spray in the
morning. A chance of snow showers. Waves 8 to 11 feet. Waves
occasionally around 14 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds to 30 knots becoming southwest 15 to
25 knots. A chance of snow showers in the evening, then snow
showers likely overnight. Waves 6 to 10 feet subsiding to 3 to
6 feet. Waves occasionally around 13 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest to
30 knots. Snow. Waves 3 to 5 feet building to 4 to 7 feet. Waves
occasionally around 9 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds to 30 knots becoming west.
Snow in the evening, then snow showers likely overnight. Waves
5 to 9 feet building to 7 to 10 feet. Waves occasionally around
13 feet.
.THURSDAY...West winds to 30 knots increasing to 35 knot gales. A
chance of snow showers. Waves 7 to 10 feet building to 9 to
12 feet. Waves occasionally around 15 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds to 30 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to 15 to 20 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves
7 to 11 feet subsiding to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally around
14 feet.
.SATURDAY...Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots. A chance of snow
showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet.

$$

LOZ043-200400-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
403 PM EST Mon Jan 19 2026

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TUESDAY NIGHT...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TUESDAY
NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...West gales to 35 knots diminishing to 30 knots. Snow
showers likely early, then a chance of snow showers late this
evening. Freezing spray. Waves 10 to 14 feet. Waves occasionally
around 18 feet.
.TUESDAY...West winds to 30 knots. Heavy freezing spray in the
morning. A chance of snow showers in the afternoon. Waves 7 to
11 feet. Waves occasionally around 14 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds to 30 knots becoming southwest 15 to
25 knots. Partly cloudy. Waves 6 to 10 feet subsiding to 3 to
5 feet. Waves occasionally around 13 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of snow in the
morning, then snow in the afternoon. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding
to 1 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west
to 30 knots. Snow in the evening, then snow showers likely
overnight. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 5 to 8 feet. Waves
occasionally around 10 feet.
.THURSDAY...West winds to 30 knots increasing to 35 knot gales. A
chance of snow showers. Waves 6 to 9 feet building to 9 to
13 feet. Waves occasionally around 16 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds to 30 knots becoming northwest 15 to
25 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves 9 to 12 feet subsiding
to 6 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally around 15 feet.
.SATURDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves 3 to 6 feet subsiding
to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.

The water temperature off Rochester is 35 degrees.

$$

LOZ044-200400-
Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario-
403 PM EST Mon Jan 19 2026

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TUESDAY NIGHT...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TUESDAY
NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...Southwest gales to 40 knots becoming west and
diminishing to 30 knots. Freezing spray. Snow early, then snow
showers likely late this evening. A chance of snow showers after
midnight. Waves 14 to 19 feet subsiding to 12 to 16 feet. Waves
occasionally around 24 feet.
.TUESDAY...West winds to 30 knots. Heavy freezing spray in the
morning. Snow showers likely in the morning, then snow in the
afternoon. Waves 10 to 14 feet. Waves occasionally around
18 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds to 30 knots becoming southwest 15 to
25 knots. A chance of snow showers in the evening. Waves 10 to
14 feet subsiding to 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around
18 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots increasing to 30 knots. A
chance of snow in the morning, then snow likely in the afternoon.
Waves 3 to 6 feet subsiding to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally
around 7 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...South winds to 30 knots becoming southwest.
Snow likely in the evening, then snow showers likely overnight.
Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 7 to 11 feet. Waves occasionally
around 14 feet.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds to 30 knots becoming west and
increasing to 40 knot gales. Snow showers likely. Waves 9 to
12 feet building to 14 to 18 feet. Waves occasionally around
23 feet.
.FRIDAY...West gales to 35 knots becoming northwest. Snow showers
likely. Waves 10 to 15 feet subsiding to 7 to 10 feet. Waves
occasionally around 19 feet.
.SATURDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming north 10 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves 3 to 6 feet subsiding
to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.

$$

LOZ045-200400-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
403 PM EST Mon Jan 19 2026

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TUESDAY NIGHT...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TUESDAY
NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...West gales to 40 knots diminishing to 30 knots after
midnight. Lake effect snow. Visibility one quarter mile or less
at times early, then one quarter mile or less at times after
midnight. Waves 13 to 17 feet subsiding to 11 to 15 feet. Waves
occasionally around 22 feet.
.TUESDAY...West winds to 30 knots. Lake effect snow. Waves 8 to
12 feet building to 10 to 13 feet. Waves occasionally around
16 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds to 30 knots becoming southwest 15 to
25 knots. Lake effect snow showers. Waves 9 to 13 feet subsiding
to 6 to 10 feet. Waves occasionally around 16 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots increasing to 30 knots. A
chance of snow in the morning, then snow in the afternoon. Waves
5 to 8 feet subsiding to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally around
10 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...South gales to 35 knots becoming southwest and
diminishing to 30 knots overnight. Snow in the evening, then snow
showers overnight. Waves 6 to 10 feet building to 9 to 13 feet.
Waves occasionally around 16 feet.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds to 30 knots becoming west and
increasing to 35 knot gales. Snow showers. Waves 9 to 12 feet
building to 11 to 16 feet. Waves occasionally around 20 feet.
.FRIDAY...West gales to 40 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to 15 to 25 knots. Snow showers. Waves 10 to 14 feet
subsiding to 6 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally around 18 feet.
.SATURDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northeast. A
chance of snow showers during the day. Waves 3 to 5 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.

$$