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

1019 AM EDT Tue Mar 28 2023 The water temperature off Buffalo is 36 degrees.

1019 AM EDT Tue Mar 28 2023 The water temperature off Rochester is 39 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

000
FZUS51 KBUF 291052
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
652 AM EDT Wed Mar 29 2023

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.

LEZ020-291515-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
652 AM EDT Wed Mar 29 2023

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON EDT TODAY THROUGH
THIS EVENING...

.TODAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west and
increasing to 20 to 25 knots this afternoon. A chance of rain
showers early this afternoon. Rain and snow showers late.
.TONIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 5 to
15 knots. Snow showers in the evening.
.THURSDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Mostly
sunny.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming
south. A chance of snow showers overnight.
.FRIDAY...South winds around 10 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. Rain showers.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds to 30 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to 15 to 20 knots. Rain showers during the day, then
a chance of rain showers Saturday night.
.SUNDAY...Northwest winds around 10 knots becoming south. Partly
cloudy.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 36 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-291515-
Lower Niagara River-
652 AM EDT Wed Mar 29 2023

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON
THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

.TODAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west and
increasing to 30 knots this afternoon. A chance of rain showers
early this afternoon. Rain and snow showers late.
.TONIGHT...Northwest winds to 30 knots becoming west and
diminishing to 10 to 15 knots. Snow showers in the evening.
.THURSDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Mostly
sunny.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming
south. A chance of snow showers overnight.
.FRIDAY...Southeast winds around 10 knots becoming south and
increasing to 15 to 20 knots. Rain showers.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds to 30 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to 15 to 20 knots. Rain showers during the day, then
a chance of rain showers Saturday night.
.SUNDAY...Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south. Partly
to mostly cloudy.

$$

LEZ040-041-291515-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
652 AM EDT Wed Mar 29 2023

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON EDT TODAY THROUGH
LATE TONIGHT...

.TODAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west and
increasing to 30 knots this afternoon. A chance of rain showers
early this afternoon. Rain showers likely with snow showers late.
Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally
around 9 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to 10 to 15 knots. Snow showers in the evening. Waves
5 to 8 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around
10 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. Sunny.
Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south.
Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. Waves
2 feet or less.
.FRIDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots. Rain showers. Waves 1 to
3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds to 30 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to 15 to 20 knots. Rain showers during the day, then
a chance of snow and rain showers Saturday night. Waves 4 to
7 feet building to 8 to 11 feet, then subsiding to 4 to 7 feet.
Waves occasionally around 14 feet.
.SUNDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south. Partly
cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet.

$$

LOZ042-291515-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
652 AM EDT Wed Mar 29 2023

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON EDT TODAY THROUGH
THURSDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west and increasing
to 30 knots this afternoon. A chance of rain showers early this
afternoon. Rain and snow showers late. Waves 2 feet or less
building to 6 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally around 11 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds to 30 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to 15 to 20 knots. Snow showers in the evening. Waves
6 to 10 feet subsiding to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally around
13 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 10 to
15 knots. Mostly sunny. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 2 to
4 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south. A
chance of snow showers overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to
1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south 15 to
20 knots. Rain showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds to 30 knots becoming northwest 15 to
25 knots. Rain showers during the day, then a chance of rain
showers Saturday night. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 7 to
11 feet, then subsiding to 6 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally around
14 feet.
.SUNDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south 5 to
15 knots. Partly cloudy, then becoming mostly cloudy. Waves 3 to
5 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.

$$

LOZ044-291515-
Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario-
652 AM EDT Wed Mar 29 2023

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
THIS EVENING...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING...

.TODAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest 15 to
20 knots. Rain showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms
late. Waves 2 feet or less building to 2 to 4 feet.
.TONIGHT...West gales to 40 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to 30 knots. Snow and rain showers likely in the
evening, then a chance of snow showers overnight. Waves 10 to
14 feet subsiding to 7 to 10 feet. Waves occasionally around
18 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west. A
chance of snow showers in the morning. Waves 4 to 7 feet
subsiding to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south. Partly
cloudy. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.FRIDAY...Southeast winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south. Rain
showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.SATURDAY...South winds to 30 knots becoming northwest. Rain
showers during the day, then rain showers likely with a chance of
snow showers Saturday night. Waves 3 to 5 feet building to 8 to
12 feet, then subsiding to 7 to 10 feet. Waves occasionally
around 15 feet.
.SUNDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south 5 to
15 knots. Partly cloudy. Waves 4 to 7 feet subsiding to 2 feet or
less. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ043-291515-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
652 AM EDT Wed Mar 29 2023

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
THIS EVENING...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING...

.TODAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest and
increasing to 35 knot gales this afternoon. Rain showers with a
chance of thunderstorms late. Waves 2 feet or less building to
5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet.
.TONIGHT...West gales to 35 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to 15 to 25 knots. Snow showers in the evening, then
a chance of snow showers overnight. Waves 10 to 14 feet subsiding
to 6 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally around 18 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west. A
chance of snow showers in the morning. Waves 4 to 7 feet
subsiding to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south. Partly
cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. Waves 2 to
4 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...Southeast winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south. Rain
showers. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest to
30 knots. Rain showers during the day, then a chance of rain
showers Saturday night. Waves 3 to 5 feet building to 7 to
11 feet. Waves occasionally around 14 feet.
.SUNDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south 5 to
15 knots. Partly cloudy. Waves 4 to 7 feet subsiding to 2 feet or
less. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Rochester is 39 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-291515-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
652 AM EDT Wed Mar 29 2023

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
THIS EVENING...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING...

.TODAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest 15 to
20 knots. Rain showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms
late. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.
.TONIGHT...West gales to 40 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to 30 knots. Snow showers likely with rain showers in
the evening. Waves 10 to 14 feet subsiding to 6 to 9 feet. Waves
occasionally around 18 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west. Mostly
sunny. Waves 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south 5 to
15 knots. Partly cloudy. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to
3 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.FRIDAY...Southeast winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south. Rain
showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.
.SATURDAY...South winds to 30 knots becoming northwest 15 to
25 knots. Rain showers during the day, then rain showers likely
with a chance of snow showers Saturday night. Waves 3 to 6 feet
building to 7 to 11 feet, then subsiding to 6 to 9 feet. Waves
occasionally around 14 feet.
.SUNDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south 5 to
15 knots. Mainly clear, then becoming partly cloudy. Waves 3 to
5 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

JLA