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

1003 AM EST Sun Jan 11 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 33 degrees.

1003 AM EST Sun Jan 11 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 37 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

482
FZUS51 KBUF 120903
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
403 AM EST Mon Jan 12 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.

LEZ020-121600-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
403 AM EST Mon Jan 12 2026

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

.TODAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of snow showers
early, then lake effect snow showers likely. A chance of snow
showers late.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south 15 to
20 knots. A chance of rain showers in the afternoon.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots. Rain showers
likely.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming north 5 to
15 knots. Rain and snow showers likely during the day, then snow
showers Wednesday night.
.THURSDAY...North winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. Snow
showers likely during the day, then a chance of snow showers
Thursday night.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south. A chance of
snow showers Friday night.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 33 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-121600-
Lower Niagara River-
403 AM EST Mon Jan 12 2026

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

.TODAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of snow
showers.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers in the evening.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south 15 to
20 knots. A chance of rain showers in the afternoon.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of rain
showers.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming north. Rain
and snow showers likely during the day, then snow showers likely
Wednesday night.
.THURSDAY...North winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest. Snow
showers likely during the day.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south. A chance of
snow showers Friday night.

$$

LEZ040-041-121600-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
403 AM EST Mon Jan 12 2026

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...

.TODAY...Southwest winds to 30 knots increasing to 35 knot gales.
Lake effect snow showers likely. Waves 7 to 10 feet building to
9 to 12 feet. Waves occasionally around 15 feet.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to
25 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves 8 to 11 feet subsiding
to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 14 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming south. A
chance of rain showers in the afternoon. Waves 3 to 5 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds to 30 knots. Rain showers
likely. Waves 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming north. Rain
and snow showers. Waves 3 to 6 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet.
Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.THURSDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest 10 to
15 knots. Snow showers during the day, then a chance of snow
showers Thursday night. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to
3 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south 15 to
20 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to
2 to 4 feet, then subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.

$$

LOZ042-121600-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
403 AM EST Mon Jan 12 2026

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

.TODAY...Southwest winds to 30 knots. A chance of snow showers
late. Waves 5 to 8 feet building to 6 to 9 feet. Waves
occasionally around 11 feet.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of snow
showers in the evening. Waves 4 to 7 feet subsiding to 3 to
6 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming south to
30 knots. A chance of rain showers in the afternoon. Waves 2 to
4 feet building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds to 30 knots. A chance of rain
showers. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 4 to 7 feet, then
subsiding to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming north. Rain
and snow showers likely during the day, then snow showers likely
Wednesday night. Waves 3 to 5 feet building to 3 to 6 feet. Waves
occasionally around 7 feet.
.THURSDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest 10 to
15 knots. Snow showers likely during the day. Waves 3 to 6 feet
subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south 15 to
20 knots. A chance of snow showers Friday night. Waves 1 to
3 feet.

$$

LOZ043-121600-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
403 AM EST Mon Jan 12 2026

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

.TODAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots increasing to 30 knots. A
chance of snow showers late. Waves 5 to 8 feet. Waves
occasionally around 10 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest. A chance
of snow showers in the evening. Waves 4 to 7 feet subsiding to
3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south. A
chance of rain showers in the afternoon. Waves 2 to 4 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...South winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest. A
chance of rain showers. Waves 2 feet or less building to 3 to
5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming north. A
chance of rain showers during the day, then snow and rain showers
likely Wednesday night. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 3 to
6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.THURSDAY...North winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest. Snow
showers likely during the day, then a chance of snow showers
Thursday night. Waves 4 to 7 feet subsiding to 3 to 6 feet. Waves
occasionally around 9 feet.
.FRIDAY...Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south. A chance
of snow showers Friday night. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to
3 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.

The water temperature off Rochester is 37 degrees.

$$

LOZ044-121600-
Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario-
403 AM EST Mon Jan 12 2026

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

.TODAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest. A chance
of snow showers this morning, then lake effect snow showers
likely this afternoon. Waves 5 to 9 feet building to 7 to
10 feet. Waves occasionally around 13 feet.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots. Lake effect snow
showers likely in the evening, then a chance of snow showers
overnight. Waves 6 to 10 feet subsiding to 5 to 8 feet. Waves
occasionally around 13 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south 15 to
20 knots. A chance of rain showers in the afternoon. Waves 3 to
5 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest.
Rain showers likely. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming north. Rain
showers during the day, then snow and rain showers Wednesday
night. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 3 to 6 feet. Waves
occasionally around 7 feet.
.THURSDAY...North winds 15 to 25 knots. Snow showers during the
day, then a chance of snow showers Thursday night. Waves 4 to
7 feet subsiding to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around
9 feet.
.FRIDAY...Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south. A chance
of snow showers. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet.
Waves occasionally around 6 feet.

$$

LOZ045-121600-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
403 AM EST Mon Jan 12 2026

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

.TODAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest. Lake
effect snow showers likely early, then lake effect snow from late
morning on. Waves 5 to 9 feet building to 7 to 11 feet. Waves
occasionally around 14 feet.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots. Lake effect snow in
the evening, then lake effect snow showers likely overnight.
Waves 7 to 10 feet subsiding to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally
around 13 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south 15 to
20 knots. A chance of snow showers in the morning, then a chance
of rain showers in the afternoon. Waves 3 to 6 feet subsiding to
2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...South winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest.
Rain showers likely. Waves 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around
7 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming north. Rain
and snow showers. Waves 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.
.THURSDAY...North winds 15 to 25 knots. Snow showers during the
day, then a chance of snow showers Thursday night. Waves 3 to
5 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.
.FRIDAY...Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south 15 to
20 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to
2 to 4 feet.

$$