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 EST Tue Feb 17 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 32 degrees.

1003 AM EST Tue Feb 17 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 34 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

947
FZUS51 KBUF 180903
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
403 AM EST Wed Feb 18 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.

LEZ020-181600-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
403 AM EST Wed Feb 18 2026

.TODAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Areas of fog early. Rain with
freezing rain likely early, then rain from late morning on.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 10 knots or less becoming east. Mostly
cloudy.
.THURSDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northeast. Mostly
cloudy.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of rain
showers in the evening, then rain showers likely overnight.
.FRIDAY...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. Rain
showers during the day, then snow and rain showers likely Friday
night.
.SATURDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming east. A chance of
snow showers.
.SUNDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming north. Snow
showers likely.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 32 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-181600-
Lower Niagara River-
403 AM EST Wed Feb 18 2026

.TODAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to 20 knots.
Areas of dense fog early. Rain and freezing rain.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming east. Cloudy.
.THURSDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Mostly cloudy.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Rain showers likely
overnight.
.FRIDAY...East winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. Rain showers
during the day, then rain showers likely with a chance of snow
showers Friday night.
.SATURDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming east. A chance of
snow showers.
.SUNDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming north. Snow
showers likely.

$$

LEZ040-041-181600-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
403 AM EST Wed Feb 18 2026

.TODAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northeast 10 to
15 knots. Patchy dense fog early. Rain and freezing rain early,
then rain from late morning on. The lake is mostly ice covered.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 10 knots or less. Mostly cloudy.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 10 knots or less. Mostly cloudy.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southeast. A
chance of rain showers in the evening, then rain showers likely
overnight.
.FRIDAY...Southeast winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. Rain
showers during the day, then a chance of snow and rain showers
likely Friday night.
.SATURDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming north 5 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers.
.SUNDAY...North winds 10 to 15 knots. Snow showers likely.

Waves omitted due to the lake being mostly ice covered.

$$

LOZ042-181600-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
403 AM EST Wed Feb 18 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TODAY...East winds 15 to 25 knots increasing to 30 knots. Areas
of dense fog early. Freezing rain, snow with rain likely with
sleet this morning, then freezing rain, snow and sleet this
afternoon. Waves 3 to 5 feet building to 5 to 9 feet. Waves
occasionally around 11 feet.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 15 to 25 knots becoming east and
diminishing to 10 to 15 knots. Freezing rain and snow likely in
the evening. Waves 6 to 9 feet subsiding to 3 to 6 feet. Waves
occasionally around 11 feet.
.THURSDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 3 to
5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Rain showers likely
overnight. Waves 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.FRIDAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west. Rain showers
during the day, then rain showers likely with a chance of snow
showers Friday night. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet.
Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.SATURDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots becoming east. A chance of
snow showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.SUNDAY...Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of snow
showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.

$$

LOZ043-044-181600-
Hamlin Beach to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
403 AM EST Wed Feb 18 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...Northeast winds 15 to 25 knots. Areas of dense fog
early. A chance of rain, freezing rain and snow early, then snow,
freezing rain and sleet. Snow and freezing rain late. Waves 2 to
4 feet building to 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around
10 feet.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. Snow with freezing rain likely in the evening. Waves
4 to 7 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around
9 feet.
.THURSDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 2 to
4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. A chance of rain showers overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.FRIDAY...Southeast winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west. Rain
showers during the day, then rain showers with snow showers
likely Friday night. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet.
Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.SATURDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northeast. A chance
of snow showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.SUNDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northeast 15 to
20 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to
2 to 4 feet.

The water temperature off Rochester is 34 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-181600-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
403 AM EST Wed Feb 18 2026

.TODAY...Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. Patchy fog early. A chance of snow. Snow likely late.
Waves in ice free areas 2 feet or less.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. Snow in the evening. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots. Partly sunny. Waves
1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming east. A
chance of freezing rain and rain showers overnight. Waves 1 foot
or less.
.FRIDAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 10 to 15 knots.
Rain showers with possible snow showers and freezing rain likely
during the day, then rain showers with snow showers likely Friday
night. Waves 2 feet or less building to 2 to 4 feet.
.SATURDAY...North winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northeast. A
chance of snow showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot or
less.
.SUNDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of snow
showers. Waves 1 foot or less.

Wave heights are for ice free areas.

$$