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

1014 AM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 37 degrees.

1014 AM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 40 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

842
FZUS51 KBUF 150811
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
411 AM EDT Wed Apr 15 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.

LEZ020-151500-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
411 AM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026

.TODAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Patchy fog early. Showers
with a chance of thunderstorms early. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms late.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Areas of fog. A chance
of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then showers
overnight.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Patchy fog in the
morning. Showers likely in the morning, then showers with a
chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then
showers likely overnight.
.FRIDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast. A
chance of showers during the day.
.SATURDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west. Showers
likely.
.SUNDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots. A chance of rain showers.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 37 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-151500-
Lower Niagara River-
411 AM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026

.TODAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Patchy fog early. Showers
with a chance of thunderstorms early. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms late.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Areas of fog. A chance
of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then showers likely
overnight.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Patchy fog in the
morning. Showers likely in the morning, then showers with a
chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west.
Showers in the evening, then showers likely overnight.
.FRIDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast. A
chance of showers during the day.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. Showers
likely.
.SUNDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots. A chance of rain showers.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LEZ040-041-151500-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
411 AM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026

.TODAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Patchy fog. Showers with
a chance of thunderstorms early. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms early this afternoon, then showers with a chance of
thunderstorms late. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Patchy fog. Showers
with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then showers
overnight. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Patchy fog in the
morning. Showers likely in the morning, then showers with a
chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Showers with a
chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then showers likely
overnight. Waves 2 feet or less.
.FRIDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast. A
chance of showers during the day. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest 15 to
20 knots. Showers likely. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of rain showers
during the day, then a chance of rain and snow showers Sunday
night. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ042-151500-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
411 AM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026

.TODAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Patchy
fog. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms early, then a chance
of showers late this morning. A chance of showers late. Waves
2 feet or less.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Patchy fog. A chance
of showers in the evening, then showers likely overnight. Waves
2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Patchy fog in the
morning. Showers likely in the morning, then showers with a
chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west.
Showers in the evening, then showers likely overnight. Waves
2 feet or less.
.FRIDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast. A
chance of showers during the day. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west and
increasing to 15 to 20 knots. Showers likely. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of rain showers.
Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally
around 10 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ043-044-151500-
Hamlin Beach to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
411 AM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026

.TODAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. Showers
with a chance of thunderstorms early, then a chance of showers
and thunderstorms late this morning. Patchy fog. Waves 2 feet or
less.
.TONIGHT...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Patchy fog. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then a chance of
showers overnight. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. Patchy
fog in the morning. Showers likely in the morning, then showers
with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 1 foot or
less.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then
showers likely overnight. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast. A
chance of showers during the day. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest
15 to 20 knots. A chance of showers during the day, then showers
likely Saturday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 3 to 5 feet.
Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. Rain showers likely during
the day, then a chance of rain and snow showers Sunday night.
Waves 4 to 7 feet building to 6 to 10 feet. Waves occasionally
around 13 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Rochester is 40 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-151500-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
411 AM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026

.TODAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms this morning. Patchy fog.
Waves 2 feet or less.
.TONIGHT...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Patchy fog. A chance of
showers in the evening, then showers overnight. Waves 1 foot or
less.
.THURSDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. Patchy
fog in the morning. Showers likely in the morning, then showers
with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 1 foot or
less.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming west.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then
showers likely overnight. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...North winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast. A
chance of showers during the day. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest and
increasing to 15 to 25 knots. A chance of showers during the day,
then showers likely Saturday night. Waves 2 feet or less building
to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. Rain
showers likely during the day, then a chance of rain and snow
showers Sunday night. Waves 5 to 8 feet building to 7 to 10 feet.
Waves occasionally around 13 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$