Showers and Storms in the East; Dangerously Hot and Dry in the West

A frontal boundary will bring scattered showers and storms to portions of the Central and Eastern U.S. through the end of the week. Meanwhile, dangerous heat will intensify across the Intermountain West and expand into the Central U.S. by early next week. Elevated wildfire conditions will develop across portions of the Northern/Central Plains and air quality issues will persist in the Northwest. Read More >

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

1004 AM EDT Wed Aug 5 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 75 degrees.

1004 AM EDT Wed Aug 5 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 52 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

779
FZUS51 KBUF 060804
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
404 AM EDT Thu Aug 6 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.

LEZ020-061500-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
404 AM EDT Thu Aug 6 2026

.TODAY...Light and variable winds becoming southwest 5 to
10 knots. Mostly sunny.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds less than 10 knots. Mainly clear in
the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy.
.FRIDAY...Light and variable winds. A chance of showers in the
morning, then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in
the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 knots or less. Showers likely
with a chance of thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west less than
10 knots. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms during
the day, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms Saturday
night.
.SUNDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest. A
chance of showers Sunday night.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. A chance of showers and thunderstorms during the day,
then showers with a chance of thunderstorms Monday night.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 75 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-061500-
Lower Niagara River-
404 AM EDT Thu Aug 6 2026

.TODAY...Light and variable winds becoming west 5 to 10 knots.
Mostly sunny.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds less than 10 knots. Mainly clear in
the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy.
.FRIDAY...Light and variable winds becoming southwest 5 to
10 knots. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers likely
with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. A
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west less than
10 knots. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest. A
chance of showers Sunday night.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms during the day, then showers with a chance of
thunderstorms Monday night.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LEZ040-041-061500-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
404 AM EDT Thu Aug 6 2026

.TODAY...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming west. Mostly
sunny. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds less than 10 knots becoming south.
Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...South winds less than 10 knots becoming southwest.
Showers likely in the morning, then showers with a chance of
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 knots or less. Showers with a
chance of thunderstorms. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms during the day, then a
chance of showers and thunderstorms Saturday night. Waves 1 to
3 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest. A
chance of showers Sunday night. Waves 1 foot or less.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. A chance of showers and thunderstorms during the day,
then showers with a chance of thunderstorms Monday night. Waves
1 to 2 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ042-061500-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
404 AM EDT Thu Aug 6 2026

.TODAY...Southwest winds less than 10 knots becoming west. Mostly
sunny. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TONIGHT...South winds less than 10 knots. Partly cloudy in the
evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...Light and variable winds. A chance of showers in the
morning, then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening,
then a chance of showers overnight. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. A chance
of showers and thunderstorms. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SUNDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. A chance
of showers Sunday night. Waves 2 feet or less.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms during the day, then showers likely with a chance
of thunderstorms Monday night. Waves 2 feet or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ043-061500-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
404 AM EDT Thu Aug 6 2026

.TODAY...South winds less than 10 knots. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms this afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TONIGHT...Light and variable winds. Partly cloudy. Waves 1 foot
or less.
.FRIDAY...Light and variable winds. Showers likely with a chance
of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 10 knots or less becoming
southwest. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves
1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west. A chance
of showers and thunderstorms. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SUNDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. A chance
of showers Sunday night. Waves 2 feet or less.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms during the day, then showers likely with a chance
of thunderstorms Monday night. Waves 2 feet or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Rochester is 52 degrees.

$$

LOZ044-061500-
Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario-
404 AM EDT Thu Aug 6 2026

.TODAY...South winds 10 knots or less becoming west. A chance of
showers early. A chance of showers and thunderstorms this
afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TONIGHT...Light and variable winds. Partly to mostly cloudy.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...Light and variable winds. Showers likely with a chance
of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Light and variable winds becoming south 5 to
10 knots. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the
evening, then showers likely overnight. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms during the day, then a
chance of showers Saturday night. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SUNDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. A chance
of showers. Waves 2 feet or less.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms during the day, then showers likely with a chance
of thunderstorms Monday night. Waves 2 feet or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ045-061500-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
404 AM EDT Thu Aug 6 2026

.TODAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. A chance
of showers early. A chance of showers early this afternoon. Waves
1 foot or less.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds less than 10 knots becoming south.
Partly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...South winds less than 10 knots becoming southwest. A
chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves
1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...South winds 10 knots or less. Showers likely with
a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then showers likely
overnight. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms during the day, then
showers likely Saturday night. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SUNDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south. A chance of
showers. Waves 2 feet or less.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of showers
during the day, then showers likely Monday night. Waves 2 feet or
less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

Radar