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

1004 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 55 degrees.

1004 AM EDT Wed May 27 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 45 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

859
FZUS51 KBUF 280204
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1004 PM EDT Wed May 27 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.

LEZ020-280900-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
1004 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026

.REST OF TONIGHT...North winds less than 10 knots. Mainly clear.
.THURSDAY...North winds 5 to 10 knots. Partly sunny in the
morning, then becoming mostly sunny.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...North winds less than 10 knots. Mainly clear.
.FRIDAY...Southwest winds 10 knots or less increasing to 15 to
20 knots. Mostly sunny.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north. Becoming
mainly clear.
.SATURDAY...North winds 5 to 10 knots becoming light and
variable. Mainly clear.
.SUNDAY...West winds less than 10 knots. Partly cloudy.
.MONDAY...North winds less than 10 knots. Partly cloudy.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 55 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-280900-
Lower Niagara River-
1004 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026

.REST OF TONIGHT...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming
north. Mainly clear.
.THURSDAY...North winds 5 to 10 knots. Partly sunny in the
morning, then becoming mostly sunny.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds less than 10 knots. Mainly
clear.
.FRIDAY...Southwest winds 10 knots or less increasing to 10 to
15 knots. Mostly sunny.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north. Becoming
mainly clear.
.SATURDAY...North winds around 10 knots becoming light and
variable. Mainly clear.
.SUNDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming northwest. Partly
cloudy.
.MONDAY...North winds less than 10 knots. Partly cloudy.

$$

LEZ040-041-280900-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
1004 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026

.REST OF TONIGHT...Northwest winds less than 10 knots becoming
north. Becoming mainly clear. Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY...North winds 5 to 10 knots. Becoming mostly sunny.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming light
and variable. Mainly clear in the evening, then becoming partly
cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...Southwest winds 10 knots or less increasing to 15 to
20 knots. Sunny. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north. Partly
cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.SATURDAY...North winds 5 to 10 knots becoming light and
variable. Mainly clear. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SUNDAY...Light and variable winds. Partly cloudy. Waves 1 foot
or less.
.MONDAY...North winds less than 10 knots. Becoming mainly clear.
Waves 1 foot or less.

$$

LOZ042-280900-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
1004 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026

.REST OF TONIGHT...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north.
Mainly clear late this evening, then becoming partly cloudy.
Waves 1 to 2 feet.
.THURSDAY...North winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west. A chance of
showers in the morning. Waves 1 to 2 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 10 knots. Mainly clear. Waves
1 to 2 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to 20 knots.
Mostly sunny. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming north 10 to
15 knots. A chance of showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet.
.SATURDAY...North winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west less than
10 knots. Mainly clear. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SUNDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest. Partly to
mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.MONDAY...North winds 10 knots or less becoming northwest. Partly
cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.

$$

LOZ043-044-280900-
Hamlin Beach to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
1004 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026

.REST OF TONIGHT...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north.
Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to 2 feet.
.THURSDAY...North winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. A chance of
showers in the morning. Waves 1 to 2 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 10 knots. Mainly clear in the
evening, then becoming partly cloudy. Waves 1 to 2 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots increasing to 15 to 20 knots.
A chance of showers in the afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 feet building
to 2 to 4 feet.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest. A
chance of showers. Waves 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.
.SATURDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west and
diminishing to 5 to 10 knots. Becoming mainly clear. Waves 3 to
5 feet subsiding to 2 feet or less. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots. Partly to mostly cloudy.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less. Partly cloudy. Waves
1 foot or less.

The water temperature off Rochester is 45 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-280900-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
1004 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026

.REST OF TONIGHT...North winds 10 knots or less. Mostly cloudy.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY...North winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northwest. Partly
to mostly sunny. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 knots or less. Partly cloudy.
Waves 2 feet or less.
.FRIDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west 15 to
20 knots. A chance of showers in the afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 2 to 4 feet.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest. A
chance of showers. Waves 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.
.SATURDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west and
diminishing to 10 knots or less. Becoming mainly clear. Waves
3 to 5 feet subsiding to 2 feet or less. Waves occasionally
around 6 feet.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming south. Partly
to mostly cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.
.MONDAY...North winds 10 knots or less. Partly cloudy. Waves
1 foot or less.

$$