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

1014 AM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 32 degrees.

1014 AM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 39 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

091
FZUS51 KBUF 312012
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
411 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 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.

LEZ020-010300-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
412 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 79 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms this evening, then showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms after midnight. A chance of
showers late. Some thunderstorms may produce gusty winds through
the early overnight.
.WEDNESDAY...North winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northeast. Mostly
cloudy.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming east. A
chance of rain showers overnight.
.THURSDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Rain showers likely.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south
and increasing to 15 to 20 knots. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms.
.FRIDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming north 5 to
15 knots. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms during
the day, then a chance of showers Friday night.
.SATURDAY...East winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Showers.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northwest. Rain
showers likely during the day, then a chance of rain showers
Sunday night.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 32 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-010300-
Lower Niagara River-
412 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 79 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms this evening, then showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms after midnight. A chance of
showers late. Some thunderstorms may produce gusty winds through
the early overnight.
.WEDNESDAY...North winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northeast. Mostly
cloudy.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming east. A
chance of rain showers overnight.
.THURSDAY...East winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northeast. Rain
showers likely.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south.
Showers likely in the evening, then showers likely with a chance
of thunderstorms overnight.
.FRIDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms during the day, then a
chance of showers Friday night.
.SATURDAY...East winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Showers.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest 10 to
15 knots. Rain showers likely during the day, then a chance of
rain showers Sunday night.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LEZ040-041-010300-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
412 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 5 to
15 knots. Rain showers with a chance of thunderstorms through the
early overnight, then a chance of rain showers late. Patchy fog
after midnight. Some thunderstorms may produce gusty winds
through the early overnight. Waves in ice free areas 1 to 3 feet
building to 2 to 4 feet, then subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...North winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northeast. A
chance of rain showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot or
less.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of
rain showers. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southeast.
Rain showers likely. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...South winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves
1 to 3 feet.
.FRIDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northeast 5 to
15 knots. Showers likely during the day, then a chance of showers
Friday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.SATURDAY...East winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest 15 to
20 knots. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves 2 feet or
less building to 2 to 4 feet.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest. Rain
showers likely during the day, then a chance of rain showers
Sunday night. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

Wave heights are for ice free areas.

$$

LOZ042-010300-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
412 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026

.TONIGHT...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northwest.
Rain showers with a chance of thunderstorms this evening, then
rain showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms after
midnight. Some thunderstorms may produce gusty winds through the
early overnight. Waves 1 to 2 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northeast.
Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to 2 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...East winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. A chance of rain showers overnight. Waves 2 feet or
less building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.THURSDAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Rain showers likely. Waves
3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south.
Showers likely. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.FRIDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming north and
diminishing to 5 to 10 knots. Showers likely during the day, then
a chance of showers Friday night. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to
3 to 5 feet, then subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally
around 6 feet.
.SATURDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest and
increasing to 15 to 25 knots. Showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet building
to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest. Rain
showers likely during the day, then a chance of rain showers
Sunday night. Waves 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around
10 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ043-010300-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
412 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026

.TONIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. Rain
showers with a chance of thunderstorms this evening, then rain
showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms after midnight. A
chance of rain showers late. Some thunderstorms may produce gusty
winds through the early overnight. Waves 1 to 2 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming north.
Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to 2 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots increasing to
15 to 20 knots. A chance of rain showers overnight. Waves 1 foot
or less building to 2 to 4 feet.
.THURSDAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Rain showers likely. Waves
3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 15 to 25 knots becoming south.
A chance of showers in the evening, then showers likely
overnight. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.FRIDAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to 5 to 10 knots. Showers likely during the day, then
a chance of showers Friday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to
2 to 4 feet, then subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.SATURDAY...Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest
15 to 20 knots. A chance of showers during the day, then showers
Saturday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest. Rain
showers likely during the day, then a chance of rain showers
Sunday night. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 5 to 9 feet. Waves
occasionally around 11 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Rochester is 39 degrees.

$$

LOZ044-045-010300-
Sodus Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
412 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026

.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. Rain
showers with a chance of thunderstorms this evening, then rain
showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms after midnight.
Patchy fog late this evening. Some thunderstorms may produce
gusty winds through the early overnight. Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming north. Mostly
cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...North winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northeast.
A chance of rain showers overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots becoming east 10 to
15 knots. Rain showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south
and increasing to 30 knots. Showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building
to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.FRIDAY...South winds to 30 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to 5 to 10 knots. Rain showers during the day, then a
chance of rain showers Friday night. Waves 3 to 6 feet subsiding
to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.SATURDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south and
increasing to 15 to 25 knots. A chance of rain showers during the
day, then rain showers Saturday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet building
to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest to
30 knots. Rain showers during the day, then a chance of rain
showers Sunday night. Waves 5 to 8 feet building to 7 to 10 feet.
Waves occasionally around 13 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$