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

1013 AM EDT Mon Apr 13 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 35 degrees.

1013 AM EDT Mon Apr 13 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 40 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

498
FZUS51 KBUF 132012
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
412 PM EDT Mon Apr 13 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.

LEZ020-140300-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
412 PM EDT Mon Apr 13 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southeast and
diminishing to less than 10 knots after midnight. Mostly cloudy.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the morning, then a
chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then showers with a
chance of thunderstorms overnight.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Showers with a
chance of thunderstorms in the morning, then showers likely in
the afternoon.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Showers likely
with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then showers
overnight.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Showers.
.FRIDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming south. A
chance of showers during the day.
.SATURDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. Showers
likely.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 35 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-140300-
Lower Niagara River-
412 PM EDT Mon Apr 13 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south and
diminishing to 10 knots or less after midnight. Partly cloudy
this evening, then becoming mostly cloudy.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the morning, then a
chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then showers with a
chance of thunderstorms overnight.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Showers with a chance
of thunderstorms in the morning, then showers likely in the
afternoon.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening,
then showers overnight.
.THURSDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest.
Showers.
.FRIDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast. A
chance of showers during the day.
.SATURDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Showers
likely.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LEZ040-041-140300-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
412 PM EDT Mon Apr 13 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of showers
and thunderstorms late. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to
3 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves
1 to 3 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then showers with a
chance of thunderstorms overnight. Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Showers with a
chance of thunderstorms. Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Showers with a
chance of thunderstorms. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Showers. Waves 2 feet
or less.
.FRIDAY...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming south. A
chance of showers during the day. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SATURDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest 15 to
20 knots. Showers likely. Waves 1 to 3 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ042-140300-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
412 PM EDT Mon Apr 13 2026

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

.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming east and
diminishing to 5 to 10 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet
subsiding to 1 foot or less.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest
15 to 20 knots. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the
morning, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the
afternoon. Waves 2 feet or less building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to
10 to 15 knots. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the
evening, then showers with a chance of thunderstorms overnight.
Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally
around 6 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the morning,
then showers likely in the afternoon. Waves 1 to 2 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south
and diminishing to 5 to 10 knots. Showers. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest.
Showers. Waves 2 feet or less.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southeast. A chance
of showers during the day. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest and
increasing to 15 to 25 knots. Showers likely. Waves 2 feet or
less building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ044-140300-
Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario-
412 PM EDT Mon Apr 13 2026

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

.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming south and
diminishing to less than 10 knots after midnight. Mostly cloudy.
Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest.
Showers likely in the morning, then showers with a chance of
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. Showers.
Waves 1 to 2 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south less
than 10 knots. Showers likely. Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. Showers
likely. Waves 2 feet or less.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southeast 10 knots or
less. A chance of showers during the day. Waves 1 to 3 feet
subsiding to 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest and
increasing to 15 to 25 knots. A chance of showers during the day,
then showers likely Saturday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to
3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ043-140300-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
412 PM EDT Mon Apr 13 2026

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

.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming east and
diminishing to 10 knots or less after midnight. Mostly cloudy.
Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. Showers
likely in the morning, then showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. A
chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms overnight. Waves 1 to
3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west and
increasing to 15 to 20 knots. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms in the morning, then showers likely in the
afternoon. Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south.
Showers likely. Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. Showers
likely. Waves 2 feet or less.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southeast. A chance
of showers during the day. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest
15 to 20 knots. A chance of showers during the day, then showers
likely Saturday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Rochester is 40 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-140300-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
412 PM EDT Mon Apr 13 2026

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

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming south and
diminishing to 10 knots or less after midnight. Mostly cloudy.
Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest.
Showers in the morning, then showers with a chance of
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening,
then showers likely overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest.
Showers. Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming
southeast less than 10 knots. Showers likely. Waves 1 foot or
less.
.THURSDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. Showers
likely. Waves 2 feet or less.
.FRIDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming east. A
chance of showers during the day. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest and
increasing to 15 to 25 knots. A chance of showers during the day,
then showers likely Saturday night. Waves 2 feet or less building
to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$