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 America

The reported Lake America 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 America 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

1004 AM EDT Fri Oct 16 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 64 degrees.

1004 AM EDT Fri Oct 16 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 62 degrees, the water

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 America off Rochester are included in the Nearshore Marine Forecast.

Click the link for previous versions of the Nearshore Marine Forecast.

NearShore Marine Forecast

161
FZUS51 KBUF 161404
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1004 AM EDT Fri Oct 16 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.

LEZ020-162100-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
1004 AM EDT Fri Oct 16 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

.REST OF TODAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots. Periods of rain.
.TONIGHT...Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming north. A
chance of rain showers in the evening.
.SATURDAY...North winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. Mostly
sunny.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Light and variable winds. Clear.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south. Clear.
.MONDAY...South winds less than 10 knots. Mainly clear.
.TUESDAY...Light and variable winds. Mainly clear.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 64 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-162100-
Lower Niagara River-
1004 AM EDT Fri Oct 16 2026

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

.REST OF TODAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots. Periods of rain, then
a chance of showers late.
.TONIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming north. A
chance of showers in the evening.
.SATURDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest 5 to
15 knots. Mostly sunny.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest.
Clear.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Clear.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds less than 10 knots. Mainly clear.
.TUESDAY...Light and variable winds. Mainly clear.

$$

LEZ040-041-162100-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
1004 AM EDT Fri Oct 16 2026

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

.REST OF TODAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. Periods of rain late
this morning, then rain likely this afternoon. Waves 5 to 9 feet.
Waves occasionally around 11 feet.
.TONIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming north. Showers
likely in the evening. Waves 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally
around 9 feet.
.SATURDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest 5 to
15 knots. Becoming mostly sunny. Waves 3 to 6 feet subsiding to
1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest.
Mainly clear. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south. Clear.
Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet, then subsiding to 1 to
3 feet.
.MONDAY...South winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast. Mainly
clear. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY...Northeast winds less than 10 knots becoming east.
Mainly clear. Waves 1 foot or less.

$$

LOZ042-162100-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
1004 AM EDT Fri Oct 16 2026

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

.REST OF TODAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest.
Periods of rain, then a chance of showers late. Waves 2 to 4 feet
building to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.TONIGHT...Northwest winds 20 to 25 knots becoming north. A
chance of showers. Waves 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally around
9 feet.
.SATURDAY...North winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to 10 to 15 knots. Mostly sunny. Waves 4 to 7 feet
subsiding to 1 to 2 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest.
Mainly clear. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots diminishing to 5 to
10 knots. Clear. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming west. Mainly
clear. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TUESDAY...North winds 10 knots or less becoming northeast.
Mainly clear. Waves 1 foot or less.

$$

LOZ043-044-162100-
Hamlin Beach to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
1004 AM EDT Fri Oct 16 2026

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

.REST OF TODAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west.
Periods of rain, then a chance of showers late. Waves 2 to 4 feet
building to 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet.
.TONIGHT...Northwest winds 20 to 25 knots becoming north. A
chance of showers. Waves 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around
10 feet.
.SATURDAY...North winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to 10 to 15 knots. Becoming mostly sunny. Waves 5 to
8 feet subsiding to 2 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around
10 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest.
Mainly clear. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south. Clear.
Waves 2 feet or less.
.MONDAY...South winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest. Mainly
clear. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TUESDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming northeast.
Mainly clear. Waves 1 foot or less.

The water temperature off Rochester is 62 degrees, the water
temperature at the central lake buoy is 60 degrees, and the water
temperature off Oswego is 60 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-162100-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
1004 AM EDT Fri Oct 16 2026

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

.REST OF TODAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west.
Periods of rain, then a chance of showers late. Waves 4 to
7 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.TONIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming north. A
chance of rain showers in the evening. Waves 4 to 7 feet
subsiding to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.SATURDAY...North winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to 10 to 15 knots. Mostly sunny. Waves 3 to 6 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest.
Mainly clear. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south. Mainly
clear. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.MONDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots diminishing to less than
10 knots. Mainly clear. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY...Northeast winds 10 knots or less. Mainly clear. Waves
1 foot or less.

The water temperature off Cape Vincent is 58 degrees.

$$