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

1014 AM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 37 degrees.

1014 AM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 40 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

505
FZUS51 KBUF 142012
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
412 PM EDT Tue Apr 14 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.

LEZ020-150300-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
412 PM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Showers with a chance
of thunderstorms late.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Showers with a chance
of thunderstorms.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Showers with a
chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Showers in the
morning, then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in
the afternoon.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Showers likely
with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then showers
likely overnight.
.FRIDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast. A
chance of showers during the day.
.SATURDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. Showers
likely.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. A chance
of rain showers.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 37 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-150300-
Lower Niagara River-
412 PM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south. A chance
of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Showers with a
chance of thunderstorms late.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots increasing to 10 to
15 knots. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the morning,
then a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Showers with a
chance of thunderstorms.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Showers likely in the
morning, then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in
the afternoon.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Showers likely
with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then showers
likely overnight.
.FRIDAY...West winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast. A
chance of showers during the day.
.SATURDAY...South winds 10 knots or less becoming southwest 10 to
15 knots. Showers likely.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west 15 to
20 knots. A chance of rain showers.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LEZ040-041-150300-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
412 PM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms this evening, then showers with a chance of
thunderstorms after midnight. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to
3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Showers with a
chance of thunderstorms. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Showers with a
chance of thunderstorms. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Showers likely in the
morning, then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 knots or less. Showers
likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then
showers likely overnight. Waves 2 feet or less.
.FRIDAY...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming south. A
chance of showers during the day. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest 15 to
20 knots. Showers likely. Waves 2 feet or less building to 2 to
4 feet.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west. A chance
of rain showers. Waves 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ042-150300-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
412 PM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southeast 5 to
15 knots. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms late. Waves 2 to
4 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the morning, then a
chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves
2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Showers with a
chance of thunderstorms. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Showers likely in the
morning, then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening,
then showers likely overnight. Waves 2 feet or less.
.FRIDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming southeast. A
chance of showers during the day. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest and
increasing to 15 to 25 knots. Showers likely. Waves 1 foot or
less building to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots increasing to 30 knots. A
chance of rain showers. Waves 5 to 8 feet building to 6 to
9 feet. Waves occasionally around 11 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ043-044-150300-
Hamlin Beach to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
412 PM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026

.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southeast 5 to
15 knots. A chance of showers and thunderstorms early. A chance
of showers and thunderstorms late. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west. Showers
with a chance of thunderstorms in the morning, then a chance of
showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Showers with a
chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then showers overnight.
Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west. Showers
likely in the morning, then showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening,
then showers likely overnight. Waves 2 feet or less.
.FRIDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. A
chance of showers. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest and
increasing to 15 to 25 knots. A chance of showers during the day,
then showers Saturday night. Waves 1 foot or less building to
3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots increasing to 30 knots. Rain
showers likely during the day, then a chance of rain and snow
showers Sunday night. Waves 4 to 7 feet building to 9 to 12 feet.
Waves occasionally around 15 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

The water temperature off Rochester is 40 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-150300-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
412 PM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026

.TONIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southeast less than
10 knots. A chance of showers and thunderstorms early. Waves 1 to
3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest.
Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the morning, then a
chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves
2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Showers with a
chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then showers overnight.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. Showers
in the morning, then showers likely with a chance of
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west.
Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening,
then showers likely overnight. Waves 2 feet or less.
.FRIDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming east. A
chance of showers. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south and
increasing to 15 to 25 knots. A chance of showers during the day,
then showers Saturday night. Waves 2 feet or less building to
3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west to
30 knots. Rain showers likely during the day, then a chance of
rain and snow showers Sunday night. Waves 5 to 9 feet building to
8 to 11 feet. Waves occasionally around 14 feet.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$