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 EDT Mon May 4 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 47 degrees.

1003 AM EDT Mon May 4 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 43 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

610
FZUS51 KBUF 042003
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
403 PM EDT Mon May 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.

LEZ020-050300-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
403 PM EDT Mon May 4 2026

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Showers likely late
this evening. A chance of showers after midnight.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. A
chance of showers in the morning, then showers in the afternoon.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds less than 10 knots becoming
northeast. Rain.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming north. Rain
in the morning, then showers likely in the afternoon.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds less than 10 knots. A chance
of rain showers in the evening.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds less than 10 knots becoming west.
Mostly cloudy.
.FRIDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of showers.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of showers.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 47 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-050300-
Lower Niagara River-
403 PM EDT Mon May 4 2026

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. A chance of showers
from late evening on.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. A
chance of showers in the morning, then showers likely in the
afternoon.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 knots or less becoming northeast.
Rain.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming north. Rain
in the morning, then showers likely in the afternoon.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...West winds less than 10 knots. A chance of
rain showers in the evening.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming west.
Mostly cloudy.
.FRIDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of showers
Friday night.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west. A chance
of showers.

$$

LEZ040-041-050300-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
403 PM EDT Mon May 4 2026

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms. A chance
of showers late. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 5 to
15 knots. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers with a
chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 2 to 4 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 knots or less becoming northeast.
Rain with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then rain
overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming north. Rain
in the morning, then showers likely in the afternoon. Waves
1 foot or less.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds less than 10 knots becoming
west. A chance of rain showers in the evening. Waves 1 foot or
less.
.THURSDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming west.
Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. A chance
of showers. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of showers.
Waves 1 foot or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ042-050300-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
403 PM EDT Mon May 4 2026

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. A chance of showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to
4 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 10 to
15 knots. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers likely
in the afternoon. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming east.
Rain likely in the evening, then rain overnight. Waves 2 feet or
less.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest.
Rain in the morning, then showers likely in the afternoon. Waves
1 foot or less.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 knots or less. A chance of
showers in the evening. Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot
or less.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. A chance
of showers Friday night. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west. A chance
of showers. Waves 2 feet or less.

$$

LOZ043-044-050300-
Hamlin Beach to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
403 PM EDT Mon May 4 2026

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south 15 to
20 knots. A chance of showers after midnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 10 to
15 knots. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers likely
with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 1 to
3 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 knots or less becoming east. Rain
with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then rain
overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less.
.WEDNESDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest.
Rain in the morning, then showers in the afternoon. Waves 1 foot
or less.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of rain
showers. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots. Partly to mostly cloudy.
Waves 2 feet or less.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. A chance
of showers Friday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot or
less.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of showers.
Waves 2 feet or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Rochester is 43 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-050300-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
403 PM EDT Mon May 4 2026

.TONIGHT...South winds 5 to 10 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. A chance of showers after midnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 2 to 4 feet.
.TUESDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 5 to
15 knots. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves
2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest.
Rain with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then rain
overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less.
.WEDNESDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less. Rain in the
morning, then showers in the afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of rain
showers. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots. Partly to mostly cloudy.
Waves 2 feet or less.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Partly
cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of showers.
Waves 2 feet or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$