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

1145 AM EDT Fri Apr 17 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 42 degrees.

1145 AM EDT Fri Apr 17 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

596
FZUS51 KBUF 180805
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
405 AM EDT Sat Apr 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.

LEZ020-181500-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
405 AM EDT Sat Apr 18 2026

.TODAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest 15 to
20 knots. A chance of showers early this afternoon. Showers with
a chance of thunderstorms late. Some thunderstorms may produce
gusty winds late.
.TONIGHT...West winds 5 to 10 knots. Rain showers likely.
.SUNDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of rain and snow
showers in the morning, then rain showers likely in the
afternoon.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest. Rain
showers likely with a chance of snow showers in the evening, then
a chance of snow showers overnight.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest.
Partly cloudy.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. Mostly
cloudy.
.WEDNESDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming light and
variable. Partly cloudy, then becoming mainly clear.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 42 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-181500-
Lower Niagara River-
405 AM EDT Sat Apr 18 2026

.TODAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Showers
likely early this afternoon. Showers with a chance of
thunderstorms late. Some thunderstorms may produce gusty winds
late.
.TONIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. Rain
showers likely.
.SUNDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of rain showers.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. A
chance of rain showers in the evening.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest.
Partly cloudy.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. Mostly
cloudy.
.WEDNESDAY...North winds 5 to 10 knots becoming light and
variable. Becoming mainly clear.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LEZ040-041-181500-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
405 AM EDT Sat Apr 18 2026

.TODAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest. A chance
of showers early this afternoon. Showers with a chance of
thunderstorms late. Some thunderstorms may produce gusty winds
late. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 5 to
15 knots. Rain showers likely. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to
1 to 3 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to 20 knots.
A chance of rain showers in the morning, then a chance of rain
and snow showers in the afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to
2 to 4 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. A
chance of rain and snow showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to
1 to 3 feet.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south. Partly
cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Partly
to mostly cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY...North winds less than 10 knots. Partly cloudy, then
becoming mainly clear. Waves 1 foot or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ042-181500-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
405 AM EDT Sat Apr 18 2026

.TODAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest 15 to
20 knots. Showers likely early this afternoon. Showers with a
chance of thunderstorms late. Some thunderstorms may produce
gusty winds late. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. Rain showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in
the evening, then rain showers likely overnight. Some
thunderstorms may produce gusty winds in the evening. Waves 1 to
3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to 20 knots.
A chance of rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Waves 1 to
3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest. A
chance of rain showers in the evening. Waves 2 to 4 feet building
to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest 5 to
15 knots. Becoming mainly clear. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to
1 foot or less.
.TUESDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest 5 to
15 knots. A chance of rain showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...North winds 10 knots or less. Becoming mainly clear.
Waves 2 feet or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ043-181500-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
405 AM EDT Sat Apr 18 2026

.TODAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to 20 knots.
Showers likely late. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest 10 to
15 knots. Rain showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the
evening, then rain showers likely overnight. Some thunderstorms
may produce gusty winds in the evening. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 2 to 4 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to 20 knots.
Rain and snow showers likely in the morning, then a chance of
rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of rain
showers in the evening. Waves 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally
around 6 feet.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest 5 to
15 knots. Becoming mainly clear. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to
1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. A chance of
rain showers. Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY...North winds 5 to 15 knots. Becoming mainly clear.
Waves 2 feet or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Rochester is 42 degrees.

$$

LOZ044-181500-
Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario-
405 AM EDT Sat Apr 18 2026

.TODAY...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south 15 to
20 knots. A chance of showers late. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest
10 to 15 knots. Rain showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to
4 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to 20 knots.
Rain and snow showers likely in the morning, then a chance of
snow showers in the afternoon. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 3 to
6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots. Partly cloudy. Waves
3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 5 to
15 knots. Partly cloudy, then becoming mainly clear. Waves 3 to
6 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around
7 feet.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. A chance
of rain showers. Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY...North winds 5 to 15 knots diminishing to less than
10 knots. Becoming mainly clear. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to
1 foot or less.

$$

LOZ045-181500-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
405 AM EDT Sat Apr 18 2026

.TODAY...Southeast winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south. A chance
of showers late. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.
.TONIGHT...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 10 to
15 knots. Rain showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to 20 knots.
Rain showers with snow showers likely in the morning, then a
chance of rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Waves 1 to
3 feet building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest.
Partly cloudy. Waves 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around
7 feet.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 5 to
15 knots. Becoming mainly clear. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to
1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.TUESDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots. A chance of rain showers.
Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY...North winds 10 knots or less. Becoming mainly clear.
Waves 2 feet or less.

$$