Spring Weather Hazards Across the U.S. Thursday

Gusty winds and low relative humidity will bring critical fire weather to the central and southern Plains and south Texas Thursday. Widespread high winds will continue to impact the interior Northwest, northern Plains, and Upper Midwest Thursday. A storm tracking across the northern Plains, Great Lakes and into the Northeast U.S. will bring heavy snow and gusty winds Thursday into Saturday. Read More >

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

1103 AM EDT Wed Mar 11 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 33 degrees.

1103 AM EDT Wed Mar 11 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 38 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

550
FZUS51 KBUF 120210
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1010 PM EDT Wed Mar 11 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.

LEZ020-120900-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
1010 PM EDT Wed Mar 11 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

.REST OF TONIGHT...West winds 10 to 15 knots. Rain showers late
this evening.
.THURSDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south
10 knots or less. Partly cloudy.
.FRIDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest and
increasing to 30 knots in the afternoon. Rain and snow likely.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...West winds to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to
20 knots. A chance of rain in the evening.
.SATURDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming east and
diminishing to less than 10 knots. A chance of snow showers
Saturday night.
.SUNDAY...East winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south 15 to 20 knots.
Snow and rain showers during the day, then rain showers with a
chance of snow showers Sunday night.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west and
diminishing to 10 to 15 knots. Rain showers with snow showers
likely during the day, then a chance of snow showers Monday
night.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 33 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-120900-
Lower Niagara River-
1010 PM EDT Wed Mar 11 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

.REST OF TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots. Rain showers likely
late this evening.
.THURSDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots. Cloudy in the morning,
then becoming partly sunny.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south and
diminishing to 10 knots or less overnight. Partly cloudy.
.FRIDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest and
increasing to 15 to 25 knots in the afternoon. Rain and snow.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...West winds to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to
20 knots. A chance of rain in the evening.
.SATURDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northeast and
diminishing to less than 10 knots. A chance of snow showers
Saturday night.
.SUNDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south and increasing
to 15 to 25 knots. Rain and snow showers.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west 15 to
20 knots. Rain showers with snow showers likely during the day.

$$

LEZ040-041-120900-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
1010 PM EDT Wed Mar 11 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON...
...GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...

.REST OF TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots. Rain showers with
snow showers likely late this evening, then a chance of snow
showers after midnight. The lake is mostly ice covered.
.THURSDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots. Cloudy in the morning,
then becoming partly sunny.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south
10 knots or less. Partly cloudy.
.FRIDAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest and
increasing to 35 knot gales in the afternoon. Rain and snow
likely in the morning, then rain likely in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...West gales to 40 knots diminishing to 30 knots. A
chance of rain in the evening.
.SATURDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming east and
diminishing to 5 to 10 knots. A chance of snow showers Saturday
night.
.SUNDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south and increasing
to 35 knot gales. Snow and rain showers likely during the day,
then rain showers with a chance of snow showers Sunday night.
.MONDAY...West gales to 35 knots diminishing to 15 to 25 knots.
Rain showers with snow showers likely during the day, then a
chance of snow showers Monday night.

Waves omitted due to the lake being mostly ice covered.

$$

LOZ042-120900-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
1010 PM EDT Wed Mar 11 2026

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EDT THURSDAY...

.REST OF TONIGHT...West winds to 30 knots increasing to 35 knot
gales. Rain showers late this evening, then a chance of rain
showers after midnight. Waves 4 to 7 feet building to 9 to
13 feet. Waves occasionally around 16 feet.
.THURSDAY...West winds to 30 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 7 to
11 feet subsiding to 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around
14 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming south and
diminishing to 5 to 15 knots. Partly cloudy. Waves 4 to 7 feet
subsiding to 2 feet or less. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.FRIDAY...Southeast winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest and
increasing to 30 knots. Rain and snow. Waves 1 to 3 feet building
to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds to 30 knots becoming west and
increasing to 35 knot gales overnight. Rain likely in the
evening. Waves 7 to 10 feet building to 9 to 13 feet. Waves
occasionally around 16 feet.
.SATURDAY...West winds to 30 knots becoming northeast and
diminishing to 5 to 10 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 9 to 12 feet
subsiding to 1 to 2 feet. Waves occasionally around 15 feet.
.SUNDAY...East winds 15 to 25 knots becoming south and increasing
to 35 knot gales. Rain and snow showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet
building to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.MONDAY...Southwest gales to 35 knots becoming west. Rain showers
with snow showers likely during the day, then a chance of snow
showers Monday night. Waves 6 to 9 feet building to 10 to
14 feet. Waves occasionally around 18 feet.

$$

LOZ043-044-120900-
Hamlin Beach to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
1010 PM EDT Wed Mar 11 2026

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING...

.REST OF TONIGHT...West winds to 30 knots increasing to 35 knot
gales. Rain showers, then a chance of rain and snow showers late.
Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 11 to 15 feet. Waves occasionally
around 19 feet.
.THURSDAY...West winds to 30 knots. A chance of snow showers in
the morning. Waves 10 to 15 feet subsiding to 7 to 11 feet. Waves
occasionally around 19 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest
and diminishing to 5 to 15 knots. Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves
6 to 10 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around
13 feet.
.FRIDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest and
increasing to 15 to 25 knots. Snow and rain likely. Waves 1 to
3 feet building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west and
increasing to 40 knot gales overnight. Rain likely with a chance
of snow showers in the evening, then a chance of snow showers
overnight. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 13 to 17 feet. Waves
occasionally around 22 feet.
.SATURDAY...West gales to 35 knots becoming north and diminishing
to 5 to 10 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 13 to 17 feet subsiding to
2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around 22 feet.
.SUNDAY...East winds 15 to 25 knots becoming south and increasing
to 35 knot gales. Snow showers likely during the day, then rain
and snow showers likely Sunday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet building
to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.MONDAY...South gales to 35 knots becoming west. Rain showers
with snow showers likely during the day, then a chance of snow
and rain showers Monday night. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to
12 to 17 feet. Waves occasionally around 22 feet.

The water temperature off Rochester is 38 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-120900-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
1010 PM EDT Wed Mar 11 2026

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING...

.REST OF TONIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west
and increasing to 30 knots after midnight. Rain showers, then a
chance of rain and snow showers late. Waves in ice free areas
3 to 6 feet building to 10 to 14 feet. Waves in ice free areas
occasionally around 18 feet.
.THURSDAY...West winds to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to 25 knots.
A chance of snow showers in the morning. Waves 10 to 14 feet
subsiding to 6 to 10 feet. Waves occasionally around 18 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west
and diminishing to 5 to 15 knots. Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves
5 to 9 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around
11 feet.
.FRIDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
25 knots. Snow likely in the morning, then rain and snow in the
afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 3 to 6 feet. Waves
occasionally around 7 feet.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west and
increasing to 40 knot gales overnight. Rain with snow showers
likely in the evening, then snow showers likely overnight. Waves
5 to 8 feet building to 11 to 16 feet. Waves occasionally around
20 feet.
.SATURDAY...West gales to 35 knots becoming north and diminishing
to 5 to 10 knots. A chance of snow showers during the day. Waves
12 to 16 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around
20 feet.
.SUNDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southeast and
increasing to 40 knot gales. Snow and rain showers likely. Waves
1 to 3 feet building to 6 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally around
11 feet.
.MONDAY...South gales to 40 knots becoming west to 35 knots. Rain
showers with snow showers likely. Waves 6 to 9 feet building to
10 to 15 feet. Waves occasionally around 19 feet.

Wave heights are for ice free areas.

$$

Radar