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 EDT Mon May 4 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 47 degrees.

1003 AM EDT Mon May 4 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 43 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

345
FZUS51 KBUF 050803
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
403 AM EDT Tue May 5 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.

LEZ020-051500-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
403 AM EDT Tue May 5 2026

.TODAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west 15 to
20 knots. A chance of showers through early afternoon, then
showers late.
.TONIGHT...West winds 10 knots or less becoming east. Showers.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming north.
Showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...West winds less than 10 knots. Mostly cloudy.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming west.
Partly to mostly cloudy.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south. A chance of
showers Friday night.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Showers likely.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 47 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-051500-
Lower Niagara River-
403 AM EDT Tue May 5 2026

.TODAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west. A chance
of showers early. A chance of showers early this afternoon, then
showers likely late.
.TONIGHT...West winds less than 10 knots becoming east. Showers.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest.
Showers.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...West winds less than 10 knots. Mostly cloudy.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming west.
Partly to mostly cloudy.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. A chance
of showers Friday night.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of showers.

$$

LEZ040-041-051500-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
403 AM EDT Tue May 5 2026

.TODAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of showers this
morning, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms early this
afternoon. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms late. Waves
2 to 4 feet.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northeast less
than 10 knots. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the
evening, then showers overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to
1 foot or less.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast winds 10 knots or less becoming north.
Showers. Waves 1 foot or less.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...West winds less than 10 knots. A chance of
showers in the evening. Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming west.
Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. A chance
of showers Friday night. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south. Showers
likely. Waves 2 feet or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ042-051500-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
403 AM EDT Tue May 5 2026

.TODAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west. A chance
of showers early. A chance of showers early this afternoon, then
showers likely late. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming east and
diminishing to 10 knots or less overnight. Showers. Waves 2 feet
or less.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds 10 knots or less becoming west. Showers.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 knots or less. Mostly cloudy.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots. Partly to mostly cloudy.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. A chance
of showers Friday night. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of showers.
Waves 1 foot or less.

$$

LOZ043-044-051500-
Hamlin Beach to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
403 AM EDT Tue May 5 2026

.TODAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west. A chance
of showers this morning, then a chance of showers and
thunderstorms early this afternoon. Showers likely with a chance
of thunderstorms late. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming east and
diminishing to 10 knots or less overnight. Showers with a chance
of thunderstorms in the evening, then showers overnight. Waves
1 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest.
Showers. Waves 1 foot or less.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of showers
in the evening. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots. Partly to mostly cloudy.
Waves 2 feet or less.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south. A chance of
showers Friday night. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SATURDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. Showers
likely. Waves 1 foot or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Rochester is 43 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-051500-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
403 AM EDT Tue May 5 2026

.TODAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest. A chance
of showers early, then showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms from late morning on. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to
2 to 4 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south and
diminishing to 10 knots or less overnight. Showers with a chance
of thunderstorms in the evening, then showers overnight. Waves
1 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest.
Showers. Waves 1 foot or less.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of rain
showers in the evening. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots. Partly cloudy. Waves 2 feet
or less.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south. A chance of
rain showers Friday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot
or less.
.SATURDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Showers
likely. Waves 2 feet or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$