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 Wed Apr 15 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 41 degrees.

1012 AM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 41 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

127
FZUS51 KBUF 160214
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1013 PM EDT Wed Apr 15 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.

LEZ020-160900-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
1013 PM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026

.REST OF TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms late.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of showers in
the morning, then showers in the afternoon.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west
less than 10 knots. Showers likely in the evening, then a chance
of showers overnight.
.FRIDAY...Northwest winds less than 10 knots becoming southeast.
A chance of showers in the morning.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Light and variable winds. Partly cloudy.
.SATURDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west around
10 knots. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots. A chance of rain and snow
showers during the day, then a chance of snow showers Sunday
night.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest.
Mostly cloudy, then clearing.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 41 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-160900-
Lower Niagara River-
1013 PM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026

.REST OF TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms late.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of showers in
the morning, then showers in the afternoon.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west
less than 10 knots. Showers likely in the evening, then a chance
of showers overnight.
.FRIDAY...Northwest winds less than 10 knots becoming northeast.
Mostly cloudy in the morning, then becoming partly sunny.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Light and variable winds. Partly to mostly
cloudy.
.SATURDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms.
.SUNDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of rain and snow showers during the day.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest.
Partly cloudy, then becoming mainly clear.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LEZ040-041-160900-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
1013 PM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026

.REST OF TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms late this evening, then showers likely
with a chance of thunderstorms after midnight. Waves 2 feet or
less.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of showers in
the morning, then showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the
afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots diminishing to
less than 10 knots. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the
evening, then a chance of showers overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet
subsiding to 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...West winds less than 10 knots becoming northwest. A
chance of showers in the morning. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Light and variable winds becoming southeast 5 to
10 knots. Partly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of rain and snow showers during the day, then a chance of snow
showers Sunday night. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 3 to 5 feet,
then subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south. Becoming
mainly clear. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ042-160900-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
1013 PM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026

.REST OF TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of
showers late this evening, then a chance of showers and
thunderstorms after midnight. Showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms late. Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers in the
afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west.
Showers likely in the evening, then a chance of showers
overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming northeast. A
chance of showers in the morning. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast.
Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west 15 to
20 knots. Showers likely. Waves 1 foot or less building to 3 to
5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of rain and snow showers during the day, then a chance of rain
showers Sunday night. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 5 to 8 feet.
Waves occasionally around 10 feet.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest and
diminishing to 10 to 15 knots. Becoming mainly clear. Waves 4 to
7 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around
9 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ043-044-160900-
Hamlin Beach to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
1013 PM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026

.REST OF TONIGHT...South winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of
showers, then showers likely late. Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. Showers
likely in the morning, then showers with a chance of
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then
showers likely overnight. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of showers in the morning. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...North winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast.
Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest
15 to 20 knots. Showers likely. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to
3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest and
increasing to 30 knots. Rain showers likely during the day, then
a chance of snow and rain showers Sunday night. Waves 4 to 7 feet
building to 6 to 10 feet. Waves occasionally around 13 feet.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. Partly
cloudy, then becoming mainly clear. Waves 5 to 9 feet subsiding
to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 11 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Rochester is 41 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-160900-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
1013 PM EDT Wed Apr 15 2026

.REST OF TONIGHT...South winds 10 knots or less. A chance of
showers. Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. Showers
likely in the morning, then showers with a chance of
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming west.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then
showers likely overnight. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of showers in
the morning. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming
southeast. Partly cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest. A
chance of showers during the day, then showers likely Saturday
night. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 4 to 7 feet. Waves
occasionally around 9 feet.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. Rain
showers likely during the day, then a chance of snow and rain
showers Sunday night. Waves 4 to 7 feet building to 6 to 10 feet.
Waves occasionally around 13 feet.
.MONDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west and
diminishing to 10 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy, then clearing.
Waves 5 to 8 feet subsiding to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally
around 10 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$