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

1011 AM EDT Sun Mar 29 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 32 degrees.

1011 AM EDT Sun Mar 29 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 38 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

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FZUS51 KBUF 300805
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
405 AM EDT Mon Mar 30 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.

LEZ020-301500-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
405 AM EDT Mon Mar 30 2026

.TODAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. A chance of showers late.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Showers in the evening,
then showers with a chance of thunderstorms overnight.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Showers with a chance
of thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northeast.
Rain showers.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south. Rain
showers.
.FRIDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest.
Showers likely during the day, then a chance of showers Friday
night.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 32 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-301500-
Lower Niagara River-
405 AM EDT Mon Mar 30 2026

.TODAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Partly sunny this
morning, then becoming mostly cloudy.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south 10 knots
or less. Showers in the evening, then showers with a chance of
thunderstorms overnight.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Showers with a chance
of thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northeast.
Rain showers likely.
.THURSDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south. Rain
showers with a chance of snow showers during the day, then rain
showers Thursday night.
.FRIDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north. Showers
during the day, then a chance of showers Friday night.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LEZ040-041-301500-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
405 AM EDT Mon Mar 30 2026

.TODAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. A chance of showers
late. Waves in ice free areas 2 feet or less.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Showers with a chance
of thunderstorms. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Showers with a chance
of thunderstorms. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 3 to 5 feet, then subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northeast.
Rain showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south 15 to
20 knots. Rain showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.FRIDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 5 to
15 knots. Showers likely. Waves 1 to 3 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

Wave heights are for ice free areas.

$$

LOZ042-301500-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
405 AM EDT Mon Mar 30 2026

.TODAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Partly sunny this
morning, then becoming mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less
building to 1 to 3 feet.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming east. Showers
likely in the evening, then showers with a chance of
thunderstorms overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot or
less.
.TUESDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south 15 to
20 knots. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves 1 to
3 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming east. Rain
showers likely during the day, then a chance of rain and snow
showers Wednesday night. Waves 3 to 5 feet building to 3 to
6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.THURSDAY...East winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southeast. Rain
showers with a chance of snow showers during the day, then rain
showers Thursday night. Waves 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally
around 10 feet.
.FRIDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming north. Showers
during the day, then a chance of showers Friday night. Waves 2 to
4 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ043-301500-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
405 AM EDT Mon Mar 30 2026

.TODAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. Partly
sunny this morning, then becoming mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to
3 feet.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming east. A
chance of showers in the evening, then showers with a chance of
thunderstorms overnight. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY...East winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southeast. Showers
with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west 15 to
20 knots. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves 1 to
3 feet building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northeast. Rain
showers during the day, then a chance of rain and snow showers
Wednesday night. Waves 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southeast.
Rain showers with a chance of snow showers during the day, then
rain showers Thursday night. Waves 4 to 7 feet. Waves
occasionally around 9 feet.
.FRIDAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to 10 to 15 knots. Showers likely. Waves 2 to 4 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Rochester is 38 degrees.

$$

LOZ044-045-301500-
Sodus Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
405 AM EDT Mon Mar 30 2026

.TODAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Partly
sunny this morning, then becoming mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to
3 feet.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming northeast. A
chance of rain showers in the evening, then rain showers
overnight. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southeast. Rain
showers with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west and
increasing to 15 to 20 knots. Rain showers with a chance of
thunderstorms. Waves 1 foot or less building to 3 to 5 feet.
Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northeast. Rain
showers during the day, then a chance of rain and snow showers
Wednesday night. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet.
Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southeast.
Rain showers with snow showers likely during the day, then rain
showers Thursday night. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 3 to
5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.FRIDAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots becoming north. Rain
showers. Waves 3 to 6 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves
occasionally around 7 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$