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 Sun Apr 5 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 33 degrees.

1012 AM EDT Sun Apr 5 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 42 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

534
FZUS51 KBUF 051412
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1012 AM EDT Sun Apr 5 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.

LEZ020-052115-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
1012 AM EDT Sun Apr 5 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

.REST OF TODAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. A
chance of rain showers early this afternoon. Rain showers likely
late.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to
10 knots. Rain showers likely with a chance of snow showers in
the evening.
.MONDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of snow and rain
showers in the morning, then a chance of rain showers in the
afternoon.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest.
Rain and snow showers likely in the evening, then snow showers
overnight.
.TUESDAY...Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming light and
variable. Snow showers likely during the day.
.WEDNESDAY...Southeast winds less than 10 knots becoming south
and increasing to 15 to 20 knots. Partly to mostly cloudy.
.THURSDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest 10 to
15 knots. A chance of showers.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 33 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-052115-
Lower Niagara River-
1012 AM EDT Sun Apr 5 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

.REST OF TODAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. A
chance of showers, then showers likely late.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to
15 knots. A chance of rain showers in the evening.
.MONDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of rain and snow
showers in the morning, then a chance of rain showers in the
afternoon.
.MONDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. Rain
and snow showers likely in the evening, then snow showers likely
overnight.
.TUESDAY...Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming light and
variable. Snow showers likely during the day.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 10 knots or less increasing to 15 to
20 knots. Partly to mostly cloudy.
.THURSDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest 10 to
15 knots. A chance of showers.

$$

LEZ040-041-052115-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
1012 AM EDT Sun Apr 5 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

.REST OF TODAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. A
chance of rain showers late. Waves in ice free areas 3 to 6 feet.
Waves in ice free areas occasionally around 7 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. A chance of rain and snow showers in the evening. Waves
3 to 6 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around
7 feet.
.MONDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of snow and rain
showers. Waves 2 feet or less.
.MONDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest 15 to
20 knots. Snow showers with rain showers likely in the evening,
then snow showers overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to
4 feet.
.TUESDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming light and
variable. Snow showers likely during the day. Waves 3 to 5 feet
subsiding to 1 foot or less. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Southeast winds less than 10 knots becoming south
and increasing to 15 to 25 knots. Partly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or
less building to 2 to 4 feet.
.THURSDAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. A chance of showers Thursday night. Waves 2 to 4 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.

Wave heights are for ice free areas.

$$

LOZ042-052115-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
1012 AM EDT Sun Apr 5 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

.REST OF TODAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of rain
showers late this morning. A chance of rain showers late. Waves
3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 3 to
6 feet building to 4 to 7 feet, then subsiding to 3 to 6 feet.
Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.MONDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to 15 knots.
A chance of rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Waves 3 to
5 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. Snow showers with rain showers likely. Waves 1 to
2 feet building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.TUESDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west and
diminishing to 5 to 15 knots. Snow showers likely during the day.
Waves 4 to 6 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally
around 7 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
25 knots. Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.THURSDAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest. A
chance of showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 3 to 5 feet,
then subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.

$$

LOZ043-052115-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
1012 AM EDT Sun Apr 5 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY MORNING...

.REST OF TODAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of rain
showers, then rain showers likely late. Waves 2 to 4 feet
building to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of rain showers in
the evening. Waves 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around
10 feet.
.MONDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to 15 knots.
A chance of rain showers in the afternoon. Waves 4 to 7 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest and
increasing to 15 to 20 knots. Snow showers with rain showers
likely. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.TUESDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west and
diminishing to 5 to 10 knots. Snow showers likely during the day.
Waves 4 to 7 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally
around 9 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots increasing to 15 to
25 knots. Mainly clear, then becoming mostly cloudy. Waves 2 feet
or less building to 2 to 4 feet.
.THURSDAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest. A
chance of showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.

The water temperature off Rochester is 42 degrees.

$$

LOZ044-052115-
Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario-
1012 AM EDT Sun Apr 5 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY MORNING...

.REST OF TODAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of showers
late. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 4 to 7 feet. Waves
occasionally around 9 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of rain showers in
the evening. Waves 5 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally around
11 feet.
.MONDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. A chance of rain and snow showers in the morning. Waves
4 to 7 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around
9 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest 15 to
20 knots. A chance of rain and snow showers in the evening, then
snow and rain showers likely overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.TUESDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west and
diminishing to 10 to 15 knots. Snow showers likely during the
day. Waves 4 to 7 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves
occasionally around 9 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots increasing to 15 to
25 knots. Mainly clear, then becoming partly cloudy. Waves 2 feet
or less building to 2 to 4 feet.
.THURSDAY...South winds to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to
20 knots. A chance of showers Thursday night. Waves 2 to 4 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.

$$

LOZ045-052115-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
1012 AM EDT Sun Apr 5 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY MORNING...

.REST OF TODAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west.
Cloudy. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 4 to 7 feet. Waves
occasionally around 9 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of rain and snow
showers overnight. Waves 5 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally around
11 feet.
.MONDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. A chance of snow and rain showers in the morning. Waves
4 to 7 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around
9 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming north and
increasing to 15 to 20 knots. A chance of rain and snow showers
in the evening, then snow showers likely overnight. Waves 1 to
3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.
.TUESDAY...North winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west and
diminishing to 5 to 15 knots. A chance of snow showers during the
day. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south and
increasing to 30 knots. Mainly clear, then becoming partly
cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less building to 4 to 7 feet. Waves
occasionally around 9 feet.
.THURSDAY...South winds to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to
25 knots. A chance of rain showers. Waves 4 to 7 feet subsiding
to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.

$$