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

1010 AM EDT Thu Mar 19 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 32 degrees.

1010 AM EDT Thu Mar 19 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

927
FZUS51 KBUF 200804
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
404 AM EDT Fri Mar 20 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.

LEZ020-201500-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
404 AM EDT Fri Mar 20 2026

.TODAY...East winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. Rain likely
early, then rain. A chance of rain late.
.TONIGHT...North winds 10 knots or less becoming northwest.
Mostly cloudy.
.SATURDAY...Light and variable winds. Mostly cloudy in the
morning, then becoming partly sunny.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Light and variable winds. A chance of rain
overnight.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northeast. Rain
likely during the day, then rain likely with a chance of snow
showers Sunday night.
.MONDAY...North winds 10 knots or less becoming northwest. A
chance of snow showers during the day.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west. Mostly
cloudy.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 32 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-201500-
Lower Niagara River-
404 AM EDT Fri Mar 20 2026

.TODAY...East winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. Rain with a
chance of snow early, then rain. A chance of rain late.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 10 knots or less becoming northwest.
Mostly cloudy.
.SATURDAY...Northwest winds less than 10 knots becoming
northeast. Partly sunny.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds less than 10 knots becoming
southeast. A chance of rain overnight.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northeast. Rain
likely during the day, then rain likely with a chance of snow
showers Sunday night.
.MONDAY...North winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of snow showers during the day.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west. Mostly
cloudy.

$$

LEZ040-041-201500-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
404 AM EDT Fri Mar 20 2026

.TODAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west and increasing to
15 to 20 knots. A chance of rain early, then rain. A chance of
rain late. Waves in ice free areas 1 foot or less building to
2 to 4 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds 10 knots or less becoming north. Mostly
cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Northwest winds less than 10 knots. Mostly cloudy in
the morning, then becoming partly sunny. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Light and variable winds becoming south 5 to
10 knots. A chance of rain overnight. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northeast. Rain
likely during the day, then rain likely with a chance of snow
showers Sunday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.MONDAY...North winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of snow showers during the day. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to
1 foot or less.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west. Mostly
cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.

Wave heights are for ice free areas.

$$

LOZ042-201500-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
404 AM EDT Fri Mar 20 2026

.TODAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots becoming north. Rain with a
chance of snow early, then rain. A chance of rain late. Waves
1 to 3 feet.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest.
Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.SATURDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northeast.
Partly sunny. Waves around 1 foot.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southeast. A
chance of rain and snow overnight. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SUNDAY...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northeast 15 to
20 knots. Rain likely during the day, then rain likely with a
chance of snow showers Sunday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet building
to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.MONDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of snow showers during the day. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to
1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.TUESDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to
4 feet.

$$

LOZ043-044-201500-
Hamlin Beach to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
404 AM EDT Fri Mar 20 2026

.TODAY...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northwest. A
chance of rain early, then rain from late morning on. Waves 1 to
3 feet.
.TONIGHT...North winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. Mostly
cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.SATURDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming north.
Partly sunny. Waves around 1 foot.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming
southeast. Rain and snow likely overnight. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SUNDAY...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northeast 15 to
20 knots. Rain and snow likely during the day, then rain likely
with a chance of snow showers Sunday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.MONDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of snow showers during the day. Waves 3 to 6 feet subsiding to
2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.TUESDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west 15 to
20 knots. A chance of snow showers Tuesday night. Waves 2 to
4 feet building to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.

The water temperature off Rochester is 38 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-201500-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
404 AM EDT Fri Mar 20 2026

.TODAY...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northeast 10 to
15 knots. Snow and rain. Rain likely late. Waves in ice free
areas 2 feet or less.
.TONIGHT...North winds 5 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 2 feet
or less.
.SATURDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less. Mostly sunny. Waves
1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming
southeast. Snow and rain likely overnight. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SUNDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northeast 15 to
20 knots. Rain and snow likely during the day, then rain likely
with a chance of snow showers Sunday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.MONDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers during the day. Waves 1 to
3 feet.
.TUESDAY...Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest
15 to 20 knots. A chance of snow showers Tuesday night. Waves
1 to 3 feet building to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around
7 feet.

Wave heights are for ice free areas.

$$