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 EDT Wed May 20 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 55 degrees.

1003 AM EDT Wed May 20 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 50 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

191
FZUS51 KBUF 201403
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1003 AM EDT Wed May 20 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-LOZ030-202100-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-Lower Niagara River-
1003 AM EDT Wed May 20 2026

.REST OF TODAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest.
Partly sunny.
.TONIGHT...North winds less than 10 knots. Mostly cloudy.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Mostly sunny.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 10 knots or less becoming east.
Partly to mostly cloudy.
.FRIDAY...East winds 5 to 10 knots. Showers likely Friday night.
.SATURDAY...East winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southeast. Showers.
.SUNDAY...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming light and variable.
A chance of showers.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 55 degrees.

$$

LEZ040-041-202100-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
1003 AM EDT Wed May 20 2026

.REST OF TODAY...West winds 10 knots or less. Mostly cloudy late
this morning, then becoming partly sunny. Waves 1 to 2 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds 10 knots or less becoming northeast. Mostly
cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Mostly sunny. Waves
1 to 3 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming east.
Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.
.FRIDAY...East winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of showers during
the day, then showers Friday night. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms. Waves 2 feet or
less.
.SUNDAY...South winds 10 knots or less. A chance of showers
during the day, then showers likely Sunday night. Waves 1 foot or
less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

$$

LOZ042-202100-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
1003 AM EDT Wed May 20 2026

.REST OF TODAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northwest.
Mostly sunny. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TONIGHT...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northeast.
Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming east. Mostly
sunny. Waves 1 to 2 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...East winds less than 10 knots. Partly cloudy.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...East winds 15 to 20 knots. Showers likely Friday night.
Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet, then subsiding to 1 to
3 feet.
.SATURDAY...East winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southeast. Showers
during the day, then showers likely Saturday night. Waves 3 to
6 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around
7 feet.
.SUNDAY...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south. Showers
likely during the day, then a chance of showers Sunday night.
Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to 1 foot or less.

$$

LOZ043-044-202100-
Hamlin Beach to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
1003 AM EDT Wed May 20 2026

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

.REST OF TODAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots. Partly to mostly
sunny. Waves 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northeast 10 to
15 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 3 to 6 feet subsiding to 2 to
4 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north. Mostly
sunny. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds less than 10 knots. Partly
cloudy. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...East winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of showers Friday
night. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.SATURDAY...Southeast winds 15 to 25 knots. Showers. Waves 3 to
6 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around
7 feet.
.SUNDAY...Southeast winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. Showers likely. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to
3 feet.

The water temperature off Rochester is 50 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-202100-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
1003 AM EDT Wed May 20 2026

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

.REST OF TODAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots. Mostly sunny. Waves
3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming north. Partly to
mostly cloudy. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.THURSDAY...Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots becoming north 5 to
15 knots. Mostly sunny. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds less than 10 knots becoming
east. Mainly clear in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy.
Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...East winds 10 knots or less. A chance of showers Friday
night. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southeast and
increasing to 15 to 25 knots. Showers likely. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 2 to 4 feet.
.SUNDAY...Southeast winds 15 to 25 knots becoming south. Showers
likely. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.

$$