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

1003 AM EST Mon Feb 9 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 32 degrees.

1003 AM EST Mon Feb 9 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 34 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

283
FZUS51 KBUF 091503
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1003 AM EST Mon Feb 9 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.

LEZ020-092200-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
1003 AM EST Mon Feb 9 2026

.REST OF TODAY...Light and variable winds. Partly sunny.
.TONIGHT...Light and variable winds. A chance of snow showers
overnight.
.TUESDAY...South winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest 10 to
15 knots. A chance of snow and rain showers in the morning, then
a chance of rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 to 15 knots. A chance of snow
showers overnight.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. A
chance of snow showers.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming west.
Mostly cloudy.
.FRIDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest. Mostly
cloudy.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 32 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-092200-
Lower Niagara River-
1003 AM EST Mon Feb 9 2026

.REST OF TODAY...Light and variable winds. Partly sunny late this
morning, then becoming mostly cloudy.
.TONIGHT...Light and variable winds. A chance of snow showers
overnight.
.TUESDAY...South winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest. A
chance of snow showers.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 to 15 knots. A chance of snow
showers overnight.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. A
chance of snow showers.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less. Mostly cloudy.
.FRIDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest. Partly
to mostly cloudy.

$$

LEZ040-041-092200-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
1003 AM EST Mon Feb 9 2026

.REST OF TODAY...Light and variable winds. Partly to mostly
sunny. The lake is mostly ice covered.
.TONIGHT...Light and variable winds. A chance of snow showers
overnight.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west 15 to
20 knots. A chance of snow showers, rain showers and freezing
rain in the morning, then a chance of rain showers in the
afternoon.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of snow
showers.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest. A
chance of snow showers.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming west. A
chance of snow showers during the day.
.FRIDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest. Mostly
cloudy.

Waves omitted due to the lake being mostly ice covered.

$$

LOZ042-092200-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
1003 AM EST Mon Feb 9 2026

.REST OF TODAY...Southwest winds less than 10 knots. Partly sunny
late this morning, then becoming mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or
less.
.TONIGHT...Southeast winds 10 knots or less. A chance of snow
showers overnight. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest 15 to
20 knots. Snow likely in the morning, then a chance of snow
showers in the afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of snow
showers overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 4 to 7 feet.
Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest. A
chance of snow showers. Waves 4 to 7 feet subsiding to 2 to
4 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of snow
showers during the day. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots. Partly to mostly cloudy.
Waves 2 feet or less.

$$

LOZ043-044-092200-
Hamlin Beach to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
1003 AM EST Mon Feb 9 2026

.REST OF TODAY...West winds less than 10 knots. Partly sunny late
this morning, then becoming mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TONIGHT...Southeast winds 10 knots or less. Mostly cloudy. Waves
1 foot or less.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest 15 to
20 knots. Snow likely in the morning, then snow likely with a
chance of rain showers in the afternoon. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots increasing to
30 knots. A chance of snow and rain showers in the evening, then
a chance of snow showers overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to
5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds to 30 knots becoming northwest 15 to
25 knots. Lake effect snow showers likely. Waves 5 to 8 feet
subsiding to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of snow
showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.FRIDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. Mostly
cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.

The water temperature off Rochester is 34 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-092200-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
1003 AM EST Mon Feb 9 2026

.REST OF TODAY...Light and variable winds. Partly to mostly
sunny. Waves in ice free areas 1 foot or less.
.TONIGHT...Light and variable winds becoming southeast 5 to
10 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south 10 to
15 knots. Snow. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west and
increasing to 15 to 25 knots. Snow with a chance of rain showers
in the evening, then lake effect snow showers likely overnight.
Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally
around 9 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest. Lake
effect snow showers likely. Waves 4 to 7 feet subsiding to 2 to
4 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves
2 feet or less.
.FRIDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west. Partly to
mostly cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.

Wave heights are for ice free areas.

$$