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 Feb 9 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 32 degrees.

1003 AM EST Mon Feb 9 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 34 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

888
FZUS51 KBUF 100903
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
403 AM EST Tue Feb 10 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.

LEZ020-101600-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
403 AM EST Tue Feb 10 2026

.TODAY...Southeast winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest
10 to 15 knots. A chance of snow this morning, then a chance of
rain this afternoon.
.TONIGHT...West winds 10 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots. A chance of snow showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of
snow showers.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming west. A
chance of snow showers during the day.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots. Mostly cloudy.
.SATURDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast.
Partly to mostly cloudy.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 32 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-101600-
Lower Niagara River-
403 AM EST Tue Feb 10 2026

.TODAY...Southeast winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest. A
chance of snow early. A chance of rain this afternoon.
.TONIGHT...West winds 10 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots. A chance of snow showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of
snow showers.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming west.
Mostly cloudy.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots. Mostly cloudy.
.SATURDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast.
Partly to mostly cloudy.

$$

LEZ040-041-101600-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
403 AM EST Tue Feb 10 2026

.TODAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. A
chance of snow early. A chance of rain this afternoon. The lake
is mostly ice covered.
.TONIGHT...West winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. A chance of snow showers overnight.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of snow showers
in the morning, then snow showers likely in the afternoon.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. Snow showers likely in the evening, then a chance of
snow showers overnight.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west. A chance
of snow showers during the day.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy.
.SATURDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southeast. Partly
cloudy.

Waves omitted due to the lake being mostly ice covered.

$$

LOZ042-101600-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
403 AM EST Tue Feb 10 2026

.TODAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Snow
likely early, then a chance of snow late this morning. A chance
of rain and snow this afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TONIGHT...West winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
25 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 4 to
7 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest. A
chance of snow showers in the morning, then snow showers likely
in the afternoon. Waves 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around
10 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots. Snow in the
evening, then a chance of snow showers overnight. Waves 5 to
8 feet subsiding to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around
10 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. A
chance of snow showers during the day. Waves 2 to 4 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to
3 feet.
.SATURDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southeast. Mostly
cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less.

$$

LOZ043-044-101600-
Hamlin Beach to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
403 AM EST Tue Feb 10 2026

.TODAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south. Snow
likely this morning, then rain likely, a chance of snow and
freezing rain this afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west and
increasing to 15 to 25 knots. A chance of rain in the evening,
then a chance of snow showers overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds to 30 knots becoming northwest. Snow
showers in the morning, then lake effect snow in the afternoon.
Waves 6 to 10 feet building to 7 to 11 feet. Waves occasionally
around 14 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots. Lake effect
snow in the evening, then snow showers likely overnight. Waves
5 to 9 feet subsiding to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around
11 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers during the day. Waves 3 to
5 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to
3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.
.SATURDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southeast.
Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less.

The water temperature off Rochester is 34 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-101600-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
403 AM EST Tue Feb 10 2026

.TODAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south 15 to
20 knots. Snow from late morning on. Waves in ice free areas
1 foot or less.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west 15 to
20 knots. Snow likely in the evening, then a chance of snow
showers overnight. Waves 1 foot or less.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest. Snow.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to
10 to 15 knots. Snow showers likely in the evening, then a chance
of snow showers overnight. Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of snow
showers during the day. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of snow showers Friday night. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southeast.
Partly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.

Wave heights are for ice free areas.

$$