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 Thu Jan 22 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 32 degrees.

1003 AM EST Thu Jan 22 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 35 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

517
FZUS51 KBUF 230303
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1003 PM EST Thu Jan 22 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.

LEZ020-231000-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
1003 PM EST Thu Jan 22 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING...

.REST OF TONIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west
15 to 20 knots. A chance of snow showers.
.FRIDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots. Partly sunny.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots. Snow showers likely in
the evening, then a chance of snow showers overnight.
.SATURDAY...West winds less than 10 knots becoming southwest.
Partly sunny in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Light and variable winds becoming east 5 to
10 knots. A chance of snow overnight.
.SUNDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northeast. Snow.
.MONDAY...North winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. Snow showers
likely during the day, then a chance of snow showers Monday
night.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 5 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 32 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-231000-
Lower Niagara River-
1003 PM EST Thu Jan 22 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING...

.REST OF TONIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west.
A chance of snow showers after midnight.
.FRIDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of snow showers in
the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest 5 to
15 knots. Snow showers likely in the evening, then a chance of
snow showers overnight.
.SATURDAY...Northwest winds less than 10 knots becoming
southwest. A chance of snow showers.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Light and variable winds becoming east 5 to
10 knots. A chance of snow overnight.
.SUNDAY...East winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northeast. Snow.
.MONDAY...North winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. A chance of
snow showers.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. A chance
of snow showers.

$$

LEZ040-041-231000-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
1003 PM EST Thu Jan 22 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT...

.REST OF TONIGHT...West winds to 30 knots. Lake effect snow
showers. Waves 5 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally around 11 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds to 30 knots. Snow showers likely in the
morning, then a chance of snow showers in the afternoon. Waves
5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to 10 to 15 knots. A chance of snow showers in the
evening. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.SATURDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming north.
Partly sunny. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 knots or less. A chance of snow
overnight. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SUNDAY...East winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northeast. Snow.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. Snow
showers likely during the day, then a chance of snow showers
Monday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. A chance
of snow showers. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 4 to 7 feet, then
subsiding to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.

$$

LOZ042-231000-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
1003 PM EST Thu Jan 22 2026

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING...

.REST OF TONIGHT...West winds to 30 knots. A chance of snow
showers after midnight. Waves 8 to 12 feet. Waves occasionally
around 15 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds to 30 knots. Lake effect snow showers. Waves
9 to 13 feet. Waves occasionally around 16 feet.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to
25 knots. Lake effect snow showers. Waves 8 to 11 feet subsiding
to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 14 feet.
.SATURDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west less than
10 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding
to 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming
southeast 10 to 15 knots. A chance of snow showers in the
evening, then a chance of snow overnight. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SUNDAY...East winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northeast. Snow.
Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally
around 9 feet.
.MONDAY...North winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. Snow showers
likely during the day, then a chance of snow showers Monday
night. Waves 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds to 30 knots becoming west 15 to
25 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves 5 to 8 feet. Waves
occasionally around 10 feet.

$$

LOZ043-231000-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
1003 PM EST Thu Jan 22 2026

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING...

.REST OF TONIGHT...West winds to 30 knots. A chance of snow
showers late. Waves 7 to 11 feet. Waves occasionally around
14 feet.
.FRIDAY...West gales to 35 knots diminishing to 30 knots. Lake
effect snow showers. Waves 9 to 13 feet. Waves occasionally
around 16 feet.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to
25 knots. Lake effect snow showers. Waves 10 to 13 feet subsiding
to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally around 16 feet.
.SATURDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of snow
showers. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 knots or less becoming east 10 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers in the evening, then a chance
of snow overnight. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SUNDAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Snow. Waves 2 to 4 feet
building to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.MONDAY...North winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. Snow showers
likely during the day, then a chance of snow showers Monday
night. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 6 to 9 feet. Waves
occasionally around 11 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds to 30 knots becoming west 15 to
25 knots. A chance of snow showers Tuesday night. Waves 5 to
8 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet.

The water temperature off Rochester is 35 degrees.

$$

LOZ044-231000-
Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario-
1003 PM EST Thu Jan 22 2026

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING...

.REST OF TONIGHT...West gales to 35 knots becoming southwest and
diminishing to 30 knots. A chance of snow showers late this
evening, then lake effect snow showers after midnight. Waves
11 to 16 feet. Waves occasionally around 20 feet.
.FRIDAY...West gales to 35 knots. Lake effect snow showers. Waves
12 to 16 feet. Waves occasionally around 20 feet.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Northwest gales to 35 knots diminishing to 15 to
20 knots. Lake effect snow showers in the evening, then a chance
of snow showers overnight. Waves 11 to 15 feet subsiding to 4 to
7 feet. Waves occasionally around 19 feet.
.SATURDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of snow
showers. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming east.
Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SUNDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots. Snow. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.MONDAY...North winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest. Snow
showers likely. Waves 3 to 5 feet building to 6 to 9 feet. Waves
occasionally around 11 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds to 30 knots becoming west 15 to
25 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves 6 to 10 feet. Waves
occasionally around 13 feet.

$$

LOZ045-231000-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
1003 PM EST Thu Jan 22 2026

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING...

.REST OF TONIGHT...West gales to 35 knots diminishing to
30 knots. Lake effect snow showers. Waves 10 to 15 feet. Waves
occasionally around 19 feet.
.FRIDAY...West gales to 35 knots. Lake effect snow showers. Waves
10 to 15 feet. Waves occasionally around 19 feet.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Northwest gales to 35 knots diminishing to 15 to
25 knots overnight. Snow showers likely in the evening. Waves
10 to 14 feet subsiding to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around
18 feet.
.SATURDAY...North winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. Mostly
sunny. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...North winds 10 knots or less becoming east.
Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SUNDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northeast 15 to
20 knots. Snow. Waves 2 feet or less.
.MONDAY...Northeast winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest. Snow
during the day, then snow showers likely Monday night. Waves 1 to
3 feet building to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.TUESDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of snow showers.
Waves 4 to 7 feet building to 5 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally
around 11 feet.

$$