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 Tue May 12 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 49 degrees.

1003 AM EDT Tue May 12 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 49 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

821
FZUS51 KBUF 130203
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1003 PM EDT Tue May 12 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-LOZ030-130900-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-Lower Niagara River-
1003 PM EDT Tue May 12 2026

.REST OF TONIGHT...Southeast winds 10 knots or less increasing to
10 to 15 knots. A chance of showers late this evening, then
showers after midnight.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest.
Showers in the morning, then a chance of showers in the
afternoon.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy.
.THURSDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of showers.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds less than 10 knots. Mostly
cloudy.
.FRIDAY...Light and variable winds becoming south 5 to 10 knots.
Partly to mostly cloudy.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. Becoming
mainly clear.
.SUNDAY...West winds less than 10 knots becoming southeast.
Partly to mostly cloudy.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 49 degrees.

$$

LEZ040-041-130900-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
1003 PM EDT Tue May 12 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING...

.REST OF TONIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south
15 to 20 knots. A chance of showers late this evening, then
showers after midnight. Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest.
Showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 to 15 knots. Showers likely
overnight. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.THURSDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest. Showers
likely in the morning, then a chance of showers in the afternoon.
Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds less than 10 knots. A chance of
showers in the evening. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming south. Partly to
mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Becoming mainly clear.
Waves 2 feet or less.
.SUNDAY...Light and variable winds becoming southeast 5 to
10 knots. Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.

$$

LOZ042-130900-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
1003 PM EDT Tue May 12 2026

.REST OF TONIGHT...East winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southeast.
Showers. Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west. Showers in
the morning, then a chance of showers in the afternoon. Waves
1 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest
10 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to
1 to 3 feet.
.THURSDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. Mostly
cloudy. Waves 1 to 2 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Mostly cloudy.
Waves around 1 foot.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Partly to
mostly cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 10 to
15 knots. Becoming mainly clear. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to
2 to 4 feet, then subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming east. Partly
cloudy, then becoming mostly cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.

$$

LOZ043-130900-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
1003 PM EDT Tue May 12 2026

.REST OF TONIGHT...East winds less than 10 knots becoming
southeast 10 to 15 knots. Showers. Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY...Southeast winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest
10 to 15 knots. Showers in the morning, then showers likely with
a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. A
chance of showers in the evening. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest.
Mostly cloudy in the morning, then becoming partly sunny. Waves
1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Mostly cloudy.
Waves 1 to 2 feet.
.FRIDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest.
Mostly cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SATURDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. Partly
cloudy, then becoming mainly clear. Waves 1 foot or less building
to 1 to 3 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southeast 10 knots or
less. Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Rochester is 49 degrees.

$$

LOZ044-130900-
Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario-
1003 PM EDT Tue May 12 2026

.REST OF TONIGHT...East winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast
10 to 15 knots. A chance of showers late this evening, then
showers after midnight. Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY...Southeast winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest
10 to 15 knots. Showers in the morning, then showers with a
chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Showers likely
in the evening, then a chance of showers overnight. Waves 2 feet
or less.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming northwest.
Partly sunny. Waves 1 to 2 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Mostly cloudy.
Waves 1 to 2 feet.
.FRIDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming south. Mostly
cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SATURDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southeast 10 knots or
less. Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to
1 foot or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ045-130900-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
1003 PM EDT Tue May 12 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM EDT WEDNESDAY THROUGH
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...

.REST OF TONIGHT...Southeast winds 10 knots or less increasing to
10 to 15 knots. A chance of showers after midnight. Showers late.
Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY...Southeast winds 15 to 25 knots becoming south.
Showers in the morning, then showers with a chance of
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to
1 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then a
chance of showers overnight. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming west.
Partly sunny. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming
north. Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...North winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south. Mostly
cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. A chance of
showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southeast. Partly to
mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$