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

1129 AM EDT Sat Mar 28 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 32 degrees.

1129 AM EDT Sat Mar 28 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

235
FZUS51 KBUF 282011
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
411 PM EDT Sat Mar 28 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.

LEZ020-290300-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
411 PM EDT Sat Mar 28 2026

.TONIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Mostly
cloudy.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Mostly cloudy.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy in the
morning, then becoming partly sunny.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of
showers in the evening, then showers likely overnight.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. Showers
with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northeast. Rain
showers likely during the day.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming east. A chance
of rain and snow showers.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 32 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-290300-
Lower Niagara River-
411 PM EDT Sat Mar 28 2026

.TONIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Mostly
cloudy.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Mostly cloudy.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds around 10 knots. Mostly cloudy in the
morning, then becoming partly sunny.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of
showers in the evening, then showers likely overnight.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west 15 to
20 knots. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northeast. Rain
showers likely during the day.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming east 15 to
20 knots. A chance of snow and rain showers.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LEZ040-041-290300-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
411 PM EDT Sat Mar 28 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south 5 to
15 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves in ice free areas 3 to 5 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves in ice free areas occasionally
around 6 feet.
.SUNDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. Mostly cloudy.
Waves 2 feet or less.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy.
Waves 2 feet or less.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves
2 feet or less.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Showers likely.
Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots. Showers with a chance
of thunderstorms. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northeast 5 to
15 knots. Rain showers likely with a chance of snow showers
during the day, then a chance of snow and rain showers Wednesday
night. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southeast. A
chance of rain and snow showers during the day, then rain showers
likely with a chance of snow showers Thursday night. Waves 2 to
4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

Wave heights are for ice free areas.

$$

LOZ042-290300-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
411 PM EDT Sat Mar 28 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest 10 to
15 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to
3 feet.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves
2 feet or less.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy.
Waves 2 feet or less.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy in the
morning, then becoming partly sunny. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south. A
chance of showers in the evening, then showers likely overnight.
Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. Showers
with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to
3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northeast. Rain
showers likely during the day. Waves 3 to 6 feet. Waves
occasionally around 7 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 15 to 25 knots becoming east. A
chance of snow and rain showers. Waves 5 to 8 feet. Waves
occasionally around 10 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ043-290300-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
411 PM EDT Sat Mar 28 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest 10 to
15 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 3 to 6 feet subsiding to 1 to
3 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.SUNDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Mostly
cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Mostly cloudy.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves
2 feet or less.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south. A
chance of showers in the evening, then showers likely overnight.
Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
25 knots. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves 1 to
3 feet building to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northeast. Rain
showers likely during the day. Waves 4 to 7 feet subsiding to
3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 15 to 25 knots becoming east. A
chance of rain and snow showers. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to
4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Rochester is 38 degrees.

$$

LOZ044-290300-
Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario-
411 PM EDT Sat Mar 28 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest 5 to
15 knots. A chance of flurries. Waves 4 to 7 feet subsiding to
2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.SUNDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Mostly
cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...South winds 10 knots or less. Mostly cloudy.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.MONDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. Mostly
cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south. A
chance of showers in the evening, then showers likely overnight.
Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest and
increasing to 15 to 25 knots. Showers with a chance of
thunderstorms. Waves 2 feet or less building to 4 to 7 feet.
Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northeast. Rain
showers during the day. Waves 5 to 8 feet subsiding to 3 to
5 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots becoming east. A
chance of rain and snow showers. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to
2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ045-290300-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
411 PM EDT Sat Mar 28 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest 5 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers. A chance of flurries late.
Waves 4 to 7 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally
around 9 feet.
.SUNDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Mostly
cloudy in the morning, then becoming partly sunny. Waves 1 to
3 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves
2 feet or less.
.MONDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Mostly
cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south. A
chance of rain showers in the evening, then rain showers likely
overnight. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest and
increasing to 15 to 25 knots. Showers with a chance of
thunderstorms. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 5 to 8 feet. Waves
occasionally around 10 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northeast. Rain
showers during the day. Waves 5 to 8 feet subsiding to 1 to
3 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots becoming east. A
chance of snow and rain showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$