Above Normal Temperatures, Strong Thunderstorms, Tropical Development Being Monitored

Well above normal temperatures are forecast to shift from the northern Plains through the Northeast U.S. over the long holiday weekend. A few strong to severe thunderstorm will be possible as well along with a potential for excessive rainfall. A tropical or subtropical depression could form off the Southeast U.S. coast over the weekend while drifting northward to northeastward. 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 EDT Thu Jul 3 2025 The water temperature off Buffalo is 72 degrees.

1003 AM EDT Thu Jul 3 2025 The water temperature off Rochester is 55 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

038
FZUS51 KBUF 040203
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1003 PM EDT Thu Jul 3 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.

LEZ020-040900-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
1003 PM EDT Thu Jul 3 2025

.REST OF TONIGHT...North winds less than 10 knots. Clear.
.FRIDAY...Light and variable winds. Sunny.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Light and variable winds. Partly cloudy.
.SATURDAY...South winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest.
Mostly sunny.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Becoming mainly
clear.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Mainly clear, then
becoming partly cloudy.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming light and
variable. A chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...North winds less than 10 knots. Partly to mostly
cloudy.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 72 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-040900-
Lower Niagara River-
1003 PM EDT Thu Jul 3 2025

.REST OF TONIGHT...Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots diminishing to
less than 10 knots. Clear.
.FRIDAY...Light and variable winds. Sunny.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Light and variable winds. Partly cloudy.
.SATURDAY...South winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest.
Partly to mostly sunny.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Partly cloudy.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Mainly clear, then
becoming partly cloudy.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming north. A
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
.TUESDAY...North winds 10 knots or less becoming northeast.
Partly cloudy, then becoming mostly cloudy.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LEZ040-041-040900-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
1003 PM EDT Thu Jul 3 2025

.REST OF TONIGHT...North winds 10 knots or less. Clear. Waves
1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...East winds less than 10 knots. Sunny. Waves 1 foot or
less.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Light and variable winds. Partly cloudy. Waves
1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. Mostly
sunny. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming
south. Mainly clear. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south. Mainly
clear, then becoming partly cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming north. A chance
of showers and thunderstorms. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TUESDAY...North winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast.
Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ042-040900-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
1003 PM EDT Thu Jul 3 2025

.REST OF TONIGHT...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north.
Mainly clear. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to 2 feet.
.FRIDAY...North winds less than 10 knots becoming west. Sunny.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...South winds 10 knots or less. Partly cloudy.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Partly to mostly sunny.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...South winds around 10 knots becoming southwest.
Partly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Partly cloudy. Waves
1 to 3 feet.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming north. A chance
of showers and thunderstorms. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TUESDAY...North winds 5 to 10 knots. Partly cloudy. Waves 2 feet
or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ043-044-040900-
Hamlin Beach to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
1003 PM EDT Thu Jul 3 2025

.REST OF TONIGHT...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north.
Becoming mainly clear. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to
2 feet.
.FRIDAY...North winds 10 knots or less becoming west. Sunny.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming south.
Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Partly to mostly sunny.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Partly cloudy. Waves
1 foot or less.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south. Partly
cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest. A
chance of showers and thunderstorms. Waves 1 foot or less.
.TUESDAY...North winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of showers during the day. Waves 2 feet or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Rochester is 55 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-040900-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
1003 PM EDT Thu Jul 3 2025

.REST OF TONIGHT...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming north.
Partly cloudy late this evening, then becoming mainly clear.
Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.FRIDAY...North winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. Sunny.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south.
Mainly clear in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. Waves
1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots. Partly sunny. Waves 1 foot
or less.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...South winds 5 to 15 knots. Partly to mostly
cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SUNDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of showers Sunday
night. Waves 2 feet or less.
.MONDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming north. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY...North winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northeast. A chance
of showers during the day. Waves 1 foot or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

Radar