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

1012 AM EDT Wed Apr 1 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 32 degrees.

1012 AM EDT Wed Apr 1 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 40 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

819
FZUS51 KBUF 011413
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1012 AM EDT Wed Apr 1 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.

LEZ020-012100-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
1012 AM EDT Wed Apr 1 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...North winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northeast.
Mostly cloudy.
.TONIGHT...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 15 knots becoming south. A
chance of showers in the evening, then showers likely with a
chance of thunderstorms overnight.
.FRIDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northeast less
than 10 knots. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms
during the day, then a chance of showers Friday night.
.SATURDAY...East winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest 10 to
15 knots. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. Rain
showers likely during the day.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 32 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-012100-
Lower Niagara River-
1012 AM EDT Wed Apr 1 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...North winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northeast.
Mostly cloudy.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming east. A chance
of rain showers overnight.
.THURSDAY...East winds 5 to 15 knots. Rain showers likely.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south. A
chance of showers in the evening, then showers likely with a
chance of thunderstorms overnight.
.FRIDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northeast less
than 10 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
with a chance of thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. Rain showers likely during the day.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LEZ040-041-012100-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
1012 AM EDT Wed Apr 1 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...North winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northeast. A
chance of rain showers late. Waves in ice free areas 2 feet or
less.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. A chance of rain showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southeast.
Rain showers likely. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot or
less.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...South winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. A chance of showers in the evening, then showers likely
with a chance of thunderstorms overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.FRIDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming east and
diminishing to less than 10 knots. Showers likely with a chance
of thunderstorms 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 west. Rain
showers likely during the day, then a chance of rain showers
Sunday night. Waves 3 to 6 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves
occasionally around 7 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

Wave heights are for ice free areas.

$$

LOZ042-012100-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
1012 AM EDT Wed Apr 1 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming north.
Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to 2 feet.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming east 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 15 to
20 knots. Showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 3 to 5 feet.
Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. Rain showers during the day.
Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally
around 10 feet.

$$

LOZ043-012100-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
1012 AM EDT Wed Apr 1 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming
northeast. Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to 2 feet.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. A chance of rain showers overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.THURSDAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of rain showers.
Waves 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 15 to 25 knots becoming south.
A chance of showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet.
.FRIDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming north and
diminishing to 5 to 10 knots. A chance of showers during the day.
Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet, then subsiding to 1 to
3 feet.
.SATURDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest
15 to 20 knots. A chance of showers during the day, then showers
Saturday night. Waves 1 to 2 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. Rain showers during the day,
then a chance of rain showers Sunday night. Waves 3 to 6 feet
building to 6 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally around 11 feet.

The water temperature off Rochester is 40 degrees.

$$

LOZ044-045-012100-
Sodus Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
1012 AM EDT Wed Apr 1 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON...North winds 5 to 10 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves
2 feet or less.
.TONIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves
1 to 3 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming east 15 to
20 knots. A chance of rain showers in the morning, then rain
showers likely in the afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south
and increasing to 30 knots. Showers likely. 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 likely 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 10 knots becoming south and
increasing to 30 knots. A chance of rain showers during the day,
then rain showers with a chance of thunderstorms Saturday night.
Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally
around 9 feet.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west to
30 knots. Rain showers during the day, then a chance of rain
showers Sunday night. Waves 5 to 9 feet building to 7 to 10 feet.
Waves occasionally around 13 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$