Tracking Two Storms Impacting the Northern U.S. Through Thanksgiving and into This Weekend

Heavy lake effect snow, gusty winds, and localized blizzard conditions will persist through Thanksgiving near and downwind of the Great Lakes. Rain and mountain snow are forecast for the Pacific Northwest. Confidence is increasing for another winter storm to develop over the northern and central Rockies Friday and track across the central Plains through the Midwest and Great Lakes this weekend. Read More >

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 Nov 27 2025 The water temperature off Buffalo is 46 degrees.

1003 AM EST Thu Nov 27 2025 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

616
FZUS51 KBUF 280303
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1003 PM EST Thu Nov 27 2025

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.

LEZ020-281000-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
1003 PM EST Thu Nov 27 2025

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

.REST OF TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots. Lake effect snow
showers likely.
.FRIDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of snow showers.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. Partly to mostly cloudy.
.SATURDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest.
Partly sunny in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 10 knots or less becoming south
10 to 15 knots. A chance of snow showers in the evening, then
snow showers overnight.
.SUNDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 10 to
15 knots. Rain and snow showers during the day, then rain showers
with a chance of snow showers Sunday night.
.MONDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming south. A chance of
snow showers Monday night.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds less than 10 knots becoming northwest.
A chance of snow showers.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 46 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-281000-
Lower Niagara River-
1003 PM EST Thu Nov 27 2025

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

.REST OF TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots. Lake effect snow
showers.
.FRIDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of snow showers.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to
15 knots. Partly to mostly cloudy.
.SATURDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest.
Partly sunny in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Light and variable winds becoming southeast
around 10 knots. A chance of snow showers in the evening, then
snow showers overnight.
.SUNDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. Rain and snow
showers during the day, then rain showers with a chance of snow
showers Sunday night.
.MONDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming south. A chance of
snow showers Monday night.
.TUESDAY...Southeast winds 10 knots or less becoming northwest. A
chance of snow showers.

$$

LEZ040-041-281000-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
1003 PM EST Thu Nov 27 2025

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST FRIDAY...

.REST OF TONIGHT...West gales to 35 knots. Lake effect snow
showers. Waves 10 to 14 feet. Waves occasionally around 18 feet.
.FRIDAY...West gales to 35 knots diminishing to 30 knots. Lake
effect snow showers. Waves 8 to 12 feet. Waves occasionally
around 15 feet.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...West winds to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to
20 knots. Lake effect snow showers likely. Waves 6 to 10 feet
subsiding to 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around 13 feet.
.SATURDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. A chance
of snow showers in the morning. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to
1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...South winds 5 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
25 knots. Snow showers likely in the evening, then snow showers
overnight. Waves 2 feet or less building to 2 to 4 feet.
.SUNDAY...Southwest gales to 35 knots becoming west. Rain and
snow showers. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 7 to 11 feet, then
subsiding to 6 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally around 14 feet.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south and
diminishing to 10 knots or less. A chance of snow showers. Waves
3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less. Waves occasionally
around 6 feet.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of snow showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet.

$$

LOZ042-281000-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
1003 PM EST Thu Nov 27 2025

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

.REST OF TONIGHT...West winds to 30 knots. Lake effect snow
showers. Waves 8 to 11 feet. Waves occasionally around 14 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds to 30 knots. Lake effect snow showers in the
morning, then a chance of snow showers in the afternoon. Waves
8 to 12 feet. Waves occasionally around 15 feet.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...West winds to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to
25 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves 6 to 10 feet subsiding
to 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around 13 feet.
.SATURDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest 5 to
15 knots. Partly sunny in the morning, then becoming mostly
cloudy. Waves 3 to 6 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves
occasionally around 7 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...South winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast
and increasing to 15 to 20 knots overnight. A chance of snow
showers in the evening, then snow showers overnight. Waves 1 to
3 feet.
.SUNDAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. Rain and snow
showers during the day, then rain showers with a chance of snow
showers Sunday night. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 5 to 9 feet.
Waves occasionally around 11 feet.
.MONDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south 5 to 15 knots.
A chance of snow showers Monday night. Waves 4 to 7 feet
subsiding to 2 feet or less. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of snow showers. Waves 2 feet or less.

$$

LOZ043-281000-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
1003 PM EST Thu Nov 27 2025

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

.REST OF TONIGHT...West winds to 30 knots. Lake effect snow
showers with a few rumbles of thunder possible. Waves 7 to
11 feet building to 9 to 12 feet. Waves occasionally around
15 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds to 30 knots increasing to 35 knot gales.
Lake effect snow showers. Waves 10 to 14 feet. Waves occasionally
around 18 feet.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...West winds to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to
25 knots. Lake effect snow showers. Waves 9 to 13 feet subsiding
to 6 to 10 feet. Waves occasionally around 16 feet.
.SATURDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to
15 knots. Snow showers likely in the morning, then a chance of
snow showers in the afternoon. Waves 5 to 8 feet subsiding to
1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming
southeast and increasing to 15 to 20 knots overnight. A chance of
snow showers in the evening, then snow showers overnight. Waves
1 to 3 feet.
.SUNDAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west to 30 knots.
Rain and snow showers during the day, then rain showers with a
chance of snow showers Sunday night. Waves 2 to 4 feet building
to 5 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally around 11 feet.
.MONDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming south and
diminishing to 5 to 10 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves
6 to 9 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less. Waves occasionally
around 11 feet.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of snow showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet.

The water temperature off Rochester is 48 degrees.

$$

LOZ044-281000-
Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario-
1003 PM EST Thu Nov 27 2025

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

.REST OF TONIGHT...West gales to 35 knots diminishing to 30 knots
after midnight. Lake effect snow and rain showers with a few
rumbles of thunder possible, then lake effect snow showers with a
few rumbles of thunder possible late. Waves 10 to 15 feet. Waves
occasionally around 19 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds to 30 knots. Lake effect snow showers. Waves
10 to 15 feet. Waves occasionally around 19 feet.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to
25 knots. Lake effect snow and rain showers in the evening, then
lake effect snow showers overnight. Waves 10 to 14 feet subsiding
to 7 to 11 feet. Waves occasionally around 18 feet.
.SATURDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 5 to
15 knots. Snow showers in the morning, then a chance of snow
showers in the afternoon. Waves 5 to 8 feet subsiding to 2 to
3 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming
southeast and increasing to 15 to 20 knots overnight. Snow
showers overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.SUNDAY...South winds to 30 knots becoming west. Rain and snow
showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 7 to 11 feet. Waves
occasionally around 14 feet.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming south and
diminishing to 5 to 10 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves
7 to 10 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around
13 feet.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north. Snow showers
likely during the day, then a chance of snow showers Tuesday
night. Waves 1 foot or less building to 1 to 3 feet.

$$

LOZ045-281000-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
1003 PM EST Thu Nov 27 2025

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

.REST OF TONIGHT...West winds to 30 knots. Lake effect snow and
rain showers with a few rumbles of thunder possible late this
evening, then lake effect snow showers with a few rumbles of
thunder possible after midnight. Lake effect snow showers likely
late. Waves 10 to 14 feet. Waves occasionally around 18 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds to 30 knots. Snow showers likely in the
morning, then a chance of snow showers in the afternoon. Waves
10 to 14 feet. Waves occasionally around 18 feet.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...West gales to 35 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to 15 to 25 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves
9 to 13 feet subsiding to 6 to 10 feet. Waves occasionally around
16 feet.
.SATURDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 5 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers in the morning. Waves 4 to
7 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around
9 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast
and increasing to 15 to 25 knots overnight. Snow showers
overnight. Waves 2 feet or less building to 2 to 4 feet.
.SUNDAY...South gales to 35 knots becoming southwest. Rain and
snow showers. Waves 4 to 7 feet building to 8 to 11 feet. Waves
occasionally around 14 feet.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southeast and
diminishing to 5 to 15 knots. Snow showers likely during the day,
then a chance of snow showers Monday night. Waves 6 to 9 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 11 feet.
.TUESDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north. Snow showers
likely. Waves 2 feet or less.

$$

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