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 Sun May 17 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 52 degrees.

1003 AM EDT Sun May 17 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 48 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

032
FZUS51 KBUF 180803
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
403 AM EDT Mon May 18 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-LOZ030-181500-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-Lower Niagara River-
403 AM EDT Mon May 18 2026

.TODAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Mostly sunny.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of showers
overnight.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. Partly sunny in the morning, then becoming mostly
sunny.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then
showers overnight.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming north. Showers
likely during the day.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 10 knots or less becoming east.
Partly cloudy.
.FRIDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of showers Friday
night.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 52 degrees.

$$

LEZ040-041-181500-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
403 AM EDT Mon May 18 2026

.TODAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. Sunny.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Mainly clear in the
evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Partly to mostly sunny.
Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then
showers overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming north. Showers
during the day. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming east. Partly
cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southeast. A chance
of showers during the day, then showers likely Friday night.
Waves 1 foot or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ042-181500-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
403 AM EDT Mon May 18 2026

.TODAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest 15 to
20 knots. Becoming mostly sunny. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. A chance of showers overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots. Becoming mostly sunny.
Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then
showers overnight. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet.
Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest 10 to
15 knots. A chance of showers during the day. Waves 2 to 4 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 10 knots or less becoming east.
Partly cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.
.FRIDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots diminishing to 5 to 10 knots.
A chance of showers Friday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ043-044-181500-
Hamlin Beach to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
403 AM EDT Mon May 18 2026

.TODAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. Becoming
mostly sunny. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TONIGHT...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. Partly
to mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 2 to 4 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest.
Showers likely during the day. Waves 3 to 5 feet building to 4 to
7 feet, then subsiding to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around
9 feet.
.THURSDAY...North winds 5 to 15 knots becoming east less than
10 knots. Partly cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot or
less.
.FRIDAY...East winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southeast. A chance
of showers Friday night. Waves 2 feet or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Rochester is 48 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-181500-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
403 AM EDT Mon May 18 2026

.TODAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest.
Becoming mostly sunny. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TONIGHT...South winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of showers. Waves
2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest. A
chance of showers in the morning, then a chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest
15 to 20 knots. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves
1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming north 10 to
15 knots. Showers during the day. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to
3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.THURSDAY...North winds 10 to 15 knots becoming light and
variable. Mainly clear, then becoming partly cloudy. Waves 1 to
3 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...East winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast. A
chance of showers Friday night. Waves 1 foot or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$