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

1011 AM EDT Thu Apr 23 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 47 degrees.

1011 AM EDT Thu Apr 23 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

796
FZUS51 KBUF 240805
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
405 AM EDT Fri Apr 24 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.

LEZ020-241500-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
405 AM EDT Fri Apr 24 2026

.TODAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northeast. Partly to
mostly sunny.
.TONIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of showers in the
evening, then showers overnight.
.SATURDAY...East winds around 10 knots becoming northeast.
Showers.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of
showers.
.SUNDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming light and
variable. Partly cloudy, then becoming mainly clear.
.MONDAY...East winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast. A
chance of showers Monday night.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. Showers
likely.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 47 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-241500-
Lower Niagara River-
405 AM EDT Fri Apr 24 2026

.TODAY...East winds around 10 knots becoming northeast. Partly to
mostly sunny.
.TONIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots. A chance of rain showers in
the evening, then rain showers overnight.
.SATURDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northeast.
Showers.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of
showers in the evening.
.SUNDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming light and
variable. Becoming mainly clear.
.MONDAY...East winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast. A
chance of showers Monday night.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest.
Showers likely during the day, then a chance of showers Tuesday
night.

$$

LEZ040-041-241500-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
405 AM EDT Fri Apr 24 2026

.TODAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Partly to mostly sunny.
Waves 2 feet or less.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming east. Showers
with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SATURDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots. Showers. Waves 2 feet
or less.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of rain
showers. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SUNDAY...Northeast winds 10 knots or less becoming east. Partly
cloudy, then becoming mainly clear. Waves 1 foot or less.
.MONDAY...East winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast and
increasing to 15 to 20 knots. A chance of showers Monday night.
Waves 1 foot or less building to 1 to 3 feet.
.TUESDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest 5 to
15 knots. Showers likely. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot
or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ042-241500-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
405 AM EDT Fri Apr 24 2026

.TODAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to 15 knots.
Partly to mostly sunny. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TONIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Rain showers likely
overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.SATURDAY...East winds 15 to 25 knots. Showers. Waves 3 to 6 feet
building to 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to
15 knots. A chance of showers in the evening. Waves 4 to 7 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.SUNDAY...East winds 10 knots or less. Becoming mainly clear.
Waves 2 feet 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 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less.

$$

LOZ043-241500-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
405 AM EDT Fri Apr 24 2026

.TODAY...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots. Partly sunny this
morning, then becoming mostly sunny. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TONIGHT...East winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to 20 knots.
A chance of rain showers overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to
2 to 4 feet.
.SATURDAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Showers likely. Waves 3 to
6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to
15 knots. Showers likely in the evening, then a chance of showers
overnight. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 2 feet or less. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.SUNDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots becoming light and variable.
Becoming 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 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot
or less.

The water temperature off Rochester is 43 degrees.

$$

LOZ044-241500-
Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario-
405 AM EDT Fri Apr 24 2026

.TODAY...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north. Becoming
mostly sunny. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming east. Partly to
mostly cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SATURDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Showers likely. Waves
2 feet or less.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 10 knots or less becoming east.
Showers likely in the evening, then a chance of showers
overnight. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SUNDAY...East winds less than 10 knots. Becoming 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.

$$

LOZ045-241500-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
405 AM EDT Fri Apr 24 2026

.TODAY...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north. Becoming
mostly sunny. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming east. Mainly
clear in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy. Waves 1 foot
or less.
.SATURDAY...East winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of rain showers.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 knots or less. A chance of rain
showers in the evening. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SUNDAY...Northeast winds less than 10 knots. Becoming mainly
clear. Waves 1 foot or less.
.MONDAY...Northeast 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. A
chance of showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet.

$$