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

1145 AM EDT Fri Apr 17 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 42 degrees.

1145 AM EDT Fri Apr 17 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 42 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

455
FZUS51 KBUF 171546
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1145 AM EDT Fri Apr 17 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.

LEZ020-172100-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
1145 AM EDT Fri Apr 17 2026

.REST OF TODAY...Light and variable winds. Mostly cloudy late
this morning, then becoming partly sunny.
.TONIGHT...Light and variable winds becoming southeast 5 to
10 knots. Partly cloudy.
.SATURDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest. A
chance of showers in the morning, then showers with a chance of
thunderstorms in the afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west.
Rain showers in the evening, then rain showers likely overnight.
.SUNDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of rain showers.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest.
Partly cloudy.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. Partly
to mostly cloudy.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 42 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-172100-
Lower Niagara River-
1145 AM EDT Fri Apr 17 2026

.REST OF TODAY...Light and variable winds. Mostly cloudy late
this morning, then becoming partly sunny.
.TONIGHT...Light and variable winds becoming south 5 to 10 knots.
Partly cloudy.
.SATURDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. A
chance of showers in the morning, then showers with a chance of
thunderstorms in the afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 to 15 knots. Rain showers in the
evening, then rain showers likely overnight.
.SUNDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of rain showers.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest.
Partly cloudy.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. Partly to
mostly cloudy.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LEZ040-041-172100-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
1145 AM EDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...DENSE FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON...

.REST OF TODAY...Light and variable winds. Areas of fog. Waves
1 foot or less.
.TONIGHT...Light and variable winds becoming south 10 to
15 knots. Areas of fog. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest 10 to
15 knots. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers with a
chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west.
Rain showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then
rain showers likely overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of rain showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet, then
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest.
Partly cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Partly
to mostly cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ042-172100-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
1145 AM EDT Fri Apr 17 2026

.REST OF TODAY...North winds less than 10 knots becoming
northeast. Patchy fog late this morning. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TONIGHT...East winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast. Partly
to mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest
15 to 20 knots. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers
in the afternoon. Waves 2 feet or less building to 2 to 4 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest.
Rain showers in the evening, then rain showers likely overnight.
Waves 2 to 4 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of rain showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest 5 to
15 knots. Partly cloudy. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to
3 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.TUESDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 10 to
15 knots. Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet.

$$

LOZ043-044-172100-
Hamlin Beach to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
1145 AM EDT Fri Apr 17 2026

.REST OF TODAY...North winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest.
Patchy fog late this morning. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast.
Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south 15 to
20 knots. Showers in the afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west. Rain
showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest. Rain
showers during the day, then a chance of rain showers Sunday
night. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 4 to 7 feet. Waves
occasionally around 9 feet.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 10 to
15 knots. Becoming mainly clear. Waves 3 to 6 feet subsiding to
2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.TUESDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest 15 to
20 knots. A chance of rain showers Tuesday night. Waves 1 to
3 feet.

The water temperature off Rochester is 42 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-172100-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
1145 AM EDT Fri Apr 17 2026

.REST OF TODAY...North winds 5 to 10 knots. Partly to mostly
sunny. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TONIGHT...North winds less than 10 knots becoming southeast
10 to 15 knots. Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south.
Showers likely in the afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to
2 to 4 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west. Rain
showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northwest and
increasing to 15 to 25 knots. Rain showers during the day, then a
chance of rain showers Sunday night. Waves 3 to 6 feet building
to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 5 to
15 knots. Partly cloudy. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to
3 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.TUESDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of rain showers
Tuesday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.

$$