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 Fri Apr 3 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 33 degrees.

1013 AM EDT Fri Apr 3 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

468
FZUS51 KBUF 040807
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
406 AM EDT Sat Apr 4 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.

LEZ020-041500-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
406 AM EDT Sat Apr 4 2026

.TODAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming east. A chance of
rain showers. A chance of rain showers and thunderstorms late.
.TONIGHT...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Showers
with a chance of thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west 15 to
20 knots. A chance of rain showers in the afternoon.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of rain and
snow showers in the evening, then a chance of snow showers
overnight.
.MONDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest. Rain
showers likely with a chance of snow showers during the day, then
snow showers with rain showers likely Monday night.
.TUESDAY...Northwest winds around 10 knots becoming light and
variable. Snow showers during the day.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 10 knots or less increasing to 10 to
15 knots. Partly cloudy.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 33 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-041500-
Lower Niagara River-
406 AM EDT Sat Apr 4 2026

.TODAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of rain showers.
.TONIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots. A chance of showers in the
afternoon.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of rain and
snow showers.
.MONDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest. Rain
showers likely during the day, then snow and rain showers likely
Monday night.
.TUESDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south less than
10 knots. Snow showers likely during the day.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 10 knots or less increasing to 15 to
20 knots. Partly to mostly cloudy.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LEZ040-041-041500-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
406 AM EDT Sat Apr 4 2026

.TODAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southeast. A
chance of rain showers through early afternoon, then a chance of
rain showers and thunderstorms late. Waves in ice free areas
1 foot or less.
.TONIGHT...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Rain
showers with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west 15 to
20 knots. A chance of rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally
around 7 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to
15 knots. A chance of snow and rain showers in the evening, then
a chance of snow showers overnight. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding
to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.MONDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. Snow
showers likely with a chance of rain showers during the day, then
snow showers Monday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TUESDAY...Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming light and
variable. Snow showers during the day. Waves 1 to 3 feet
subsiding to 1 foot or less.
.WEDNESDAY...Southeast winds less than 10 knots becoming south
and increasing to 15 to 25 knots. Mainly clear, then becoming
partly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less building to 1 to 3 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

Wave heights are for ice free areas.

$$

LOZ042-041500-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
406 AM EDT Sat Apr 4 2026

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

.TODAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to 20 knots.
A chance of rain showers from late morning on. Waves 1 to 2 feet
building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.TONIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest 15 to
20 knots. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves 2 to
4 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of rain showers.
Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally
around 9 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of rain
showers in the evening. Waves 4 to 7 feet subsiding to 3 to
6 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.MONDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of rain and snow showers during the day, then snow and rain
showers likely Monday night. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to
3 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.TUESDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 5 to
15 knots. Snow showers likely during the day. Waves 3 to 5 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots increasing to 15 to
25 knots. Partly cloudy, then becoming mostly cloudy. Waves
2 feet or less building to 2 to 4 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ043-041500-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
406 AM EDT Sat Apr 4 2026

.TODAY...Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming east 15 to
20 knots. A chance of rain showers this afternoon. Waves 1 to
3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.
.TONIGHT...Southeast winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then
showers with a chance of thunderstorms overnight. Waves 2 to
4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. Rain showers in the morning,
then a chance of rain showers in the afternoon. Waves 2 to 4 feet
building to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of rain
showers in the evening, then a chance of rain and snow showers
overnight. Waves 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet.
.MONDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of rain and snow showers during the day, then snow and rain
showers likely Monday night. Waves 3 to 6 feet subsiding to 1 to
3 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.TUESDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 5 to
15 knots. Snow showers likely during the day. Waves 3 to 5 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots increasing to 15 to
25 knots. Mainly clear, then becoming partly cloudy. Waves 2 feet
or less building to 2 to 4 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Rochester is 40 degrees.

$$

LOZ044-041500-
Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario-
406 AM EDT Sat Apr 4 2026

.TODAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming east. A chance of
rain showers this afternoon. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TONIGHT...Southeast winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest. A
chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then showers
with a chance of thunderstorms overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 3 to 5 feet, then subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west and
increasing to 30 knots. Rain showers in the morning, then a
chance of rain showers in the afternoon. Waves 2 to 4 feet
building to 6 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally around 11 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to
25 knots. A chance of rain showers in the evening, then a chance
of rain and snow showers overnight. Waves 6 to 9 feet. Waves
occasionally around 11 feet.
.MONDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest 5 to
15 knots. A chance of rain and snow showers during the day, then
a chance of snow showers Monday night. Waves 4 to 7 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.TUESDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 10 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers during the day. Waves 3 to
5 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots increasing to 15 to
25 knots. Mainly clear, then becoming partly cloudy. Waves 2 feet
or less building to 2 to 4 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ045-041500-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
406 AM EDT Sat Apr 4 2026

.TODAY...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming east. A chance of
rain showers late. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TONIGHT...Southeast winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest to
30 knots. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the
evening, then showers with a chance of thunderstorms overnight.
Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally
around 9 feet.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west to
30 knots. Rain showers in the morning, then a chance of rain
showers in the afternoon. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 6 to
9 feet. Waves occasionally around 11 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to
25 knots. A chance of snow and rain showers overnight. Waves 5 to
9 feet. Waves occasionally around 11 feet.
.MONDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest 5 to
15 knots. A chance of snow and rain showers. Waves 4 to 7 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.TUESDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 5 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers during the day. Waves 2 to
4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south and
increasing to 30 knots. Mainly clear, then becoming partly
cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 4 to 7 feet. Waves
occasionally around 9 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$