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 Fri Apr 24 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 47 degrees.

1003 AM EDT Fri Apr 24 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 43 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

003
FZUS51 KBUF 250803
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
403 AM EDT Sat Apr 25 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.

LEZ020-251500-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
403 AM EDT Sat Apr 25 2026

.TODAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northeast. Showers.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of showers in
the evening.
.SUNDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Mostly sunny.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds less than 10 knots. Mainly clear.
.MONDAY...East winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast. Mainly
clear, then becoming partly cloudy.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming northwest.
A chance of showers.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 47 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-251500-
Lower Niagara River-
403 AM EDT Sat Apr 25 2026

.TODAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northeast 15 to
20 knots. Showers.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to
10 knots. A chance of showers in the evening.
.SUNDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Partly to mostly sunny.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds less than 10 knots. Mainly clear.
.MONDAY...East winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast. Mainly
clear, then becoming partly cloudy.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms during the day, then
showers likely Tuesday night.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming northwest. A
chance of showers.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LEZ040-251500-
Ripley to Dunkirk along Lake Erie-
403 AM EDT Sat Apr 25 2026

.TODAY...Southeast winds 10 knots or less becoming north 10 to
15 knots. Showers this morning, then a chance of showers this
afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves
1 to 3 feet.
.SUNDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Mostly sunny. Waves
1 foot or less.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 10 knots or less becoming east.
Mainly clear. Waves 1 foot or less.
.MONDAY...East winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast 10 to
15 knots. Mainly clear, then becoming partly cloudy. Waves 2 feet
or less.
.TUESDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest 5 to
15 knots. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves 2 feet or
less.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming northwest.
A chance of showers. Waves 1 foot or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LEZ041-251500-
Dunkirk to Buffalo along Lake Erie-
403 AM EDT Sat Apr 25 2026

.TODAY...East winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north. Showers. Waves
2 feet or less.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of showers in
the evening. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SUNDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Mostly sunny. Waves
1 foot or less.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 10 knots or less becoming east.
Mainly clear. Waves 1 foot or less.
.MONDAY...East winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast 10 to
15 knots. Mainly clear, then becoming partly cloudy. Waves 1 foot
or less.
.TUESDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest 5 to
15 knots. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves
2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds less than 10 knots becoming
northwest. A chance of showers. Waves 1 foot or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ042-251500-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
403 AM EDT Sat Apr 25 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...

.TODAY...East winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northeast to
30 knots. Showers. Waves 4 to 7 feet building to 6 to 10 feet.
Waves occasionally around 13 feet.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 15 to 25 knots becoming east and
diminishing to 10 to 15 knots. A chance of showers in the
evening. Waves 6 to 9 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves
occasionally around 11 feet.
.SUNDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northeast. Mostly
sunny. Waves 1 to 2 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 knots or less. Mainly clear. Waves
1 foot or less.
.MONDAY...East winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southeast. Mainly
clear, then becoming partly cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest.
Showers likely. Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest. A
chance of showers. Waves 2 feet or less.

$$

LOZ043-251500-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
403 AM EDT Sat Apr 25 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...

.TODAY...East winds 15 to 25 knots. Showers. Waves 3 to 5 feet
building to 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet.
.TONIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to
15 knots. Showers likely in the evening. Waves 3 to 6 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.SUNDAY...East winds 10 knots or less becoming north. Mostly
sunny. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...North winds less than 10 knots. Mainly clear.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.MONDAY...East winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast 10 to
15 knots. Mainly clear, then becoming partly cloudy. Waves 2 feet
or less.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south 10 to
15 knots. Showers likely. Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. Showers
likely. Waves 2 feet or less.

The water temperature off Rochester is 43 degrees.

$$

LOZ044-251500-
Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario-
403 AM EDT Sat Apr 25 2026

.TODAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Showers. Waves 2 feet or
less.
.TONIGHT...East winds 5 to 15 knots diminishing to less than
10 knots. Showers likely in the evening. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SUNDAY...Northeast winds 10 knots or less becoming northwest.
Mostly sunny. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds less than 10 knots. Mainly clear.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.MONDAY...Light and variable winds becoming southeast 10 to
15 knots. Mainly clear. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south 10 to
15 knots. A chance of showers. Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. Showers
likely. Waves 2 feet or less.

$$

LOZ045-251500-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
403 AM EDT Sat Apr 25 2026

.TODAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots becoming north 5 to 15 knots.
A chance of showers from late morning on. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming light and
variable. A chance of showers in the evening. Waves 1 foot or
less.
.SUNDAY...Northeast winds less than 10 knots becoming northwest.
Sunny. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds less than 10 knots. Mainly clear.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.MONDAY...Northeast winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast
10 to 15 knots. Mainly clear. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south. A
chance of showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet,
then subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest 5 to
15 knots. Showers likely. Waves 1 to 3 feet.

$$