Major Winter Storm Ongoing in the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes; Severe Weather Along the East Coast

A major winter storm will continue to bring blizzard conditions, heavy snowfall, icing, and strong winds through today across the Upper Midwest and Upper Great Lakes. Widespread severe storms are expected across the entire eastern U.S. with the highest threat over the interior Mid-Atlantic, where there is a risk for damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes. Heat continues to build in the West. 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

1005 AM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 32 degrees.

1005 AM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026 The water temperature off Rochester is 38 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

858
FZUS51 KBUF 162005
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
405 PM EDT Mon Mar 16 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.

LEZ020-170300-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
405 PM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026

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

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 20 to 25 knots becoming west. Snow
this evening, then a chance of snow showers after midnight.
.TUESDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. Partly sunny in the
morning, then becoming mostly cloudy.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest less
than 10 knots. Partly cloudy.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 10 knots or less. Partly sunny in
the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...South winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of snow
showers overnight.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west. A chance
of rain showers.
.FRIDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest. A
chance of rain showers.
.SATURDAY...North winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west. A chance of
rain showers during the day, then a chance of rain and snow
showers Saturday night.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 32 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-170300-
Lower Niagara River-
405 PM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026

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

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds to 30 knots becoming west. Snow this
evening, then a chance of snow showers after midnight.
.TUESDAY...West winds to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to 20 knots.
A chance of snow showers.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to less
than 10 knots overnight. Mostly cloudy.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 10 knots or less. Partly sunny in
the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest.
A chance of snow showers in the evening, then a chance of snow
and rain showers overnight.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west. A chance
of rain showers.
.FRIDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming north. A chance
of rain showers.
.SATURDAY...Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. A
chance of rain showers during the day, then a chance of rain and
snow showers Saturday night.

$$

LEZ040-041-170300-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
405 PM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING...

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds to 30 knots becoming west and
increasing to 35 knot gales. Snow through the early overnight,
then a chance of snow showers late. Visibility one quarter mile
or less at times after midnight. Waves in ice free areas 9 to
13 feet building to 11 to 15 feet. Waves in ice free areas
occasionally around 19 feet.
.TUESDAY...West winds to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to 20 knots.
A chance of snow showers. Waves 10 to 13 feet subsiding to 5 to
8 feet. Waves occasionally around 16 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding
to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Partly sunny in the
morning, then becoming mostly cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...South winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of snow
and rain showers overnight. Waves 1 foot or less.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 10 knots or less. A chance of rain
showers. Waves 1 foot or less.
.FRIDAY...Southwest winds 10 knots or less becoming northwest
10 to 15 knots. A chance of rain showers. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SATURDAY...Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west 15 to
20 knots. A chance of rain showers during the day, then a chance
of rain and snow showers Saturday night. Waves 2 to 4 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.

Wave heights are for ice free areas.

$$

LOZ042-170300-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
405 PM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING...

.TONIGHT...Southwest winds to 30 knots becoming west and
increasing to 40 knot gales. Snow and rain early, then snow.
Waves 7 to 10 feet building to 9 to 13 feet. Waves occasionally
around 16 feet.
.TUESDAY...West gales to 35 knots diminishing to 30 knots. Lake
effect snow showers likely. Waves 10 to 14 feet subsiding to 8 to
11 feet. Waves occasionally around 18 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. Snow showers likely in the evening, then a chance of
snow showers overnight. Waves 7 to 10 feet subsiding to 2 to
4 feet. Waves occasionally around 13 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south. Partly
sunny in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to
3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...South winds 10 to 15 knots. A chance of snow
showers in the evening, then a chance of snow and rain showers
overnight. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. A
chance of rain showers during the day, then a chance of rain and
snow showers Thursday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north 15 to 20 knots.
A chance of rain and snow showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to
3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.SATURDAY...Northeast winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west to
30 knots. A chance of rain and snow showers. Waves 4 to 7 feet.
Waves occasionally around 9 feet.

$$

LOZ043-044-170300-
Hamlin Beach to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
405 PM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING THROUGH
TUESDAY EVENING...

.TONIGHT...West winds to 30 knots becoming southwest and
increasing to 35 knot gales after midnight. Snow, rain and sleet
this evening, then snow after midnight. Waves 5 to 8 feet
building to 10 to 14 feet. Waves occasionally around 18 feet.
.TUESDAY...West gales to 35 knots diminishing to 30 knots in the
afternoon. A chance of snow showers in the morning, then lake
effect snow showers in the afternoon. Waves 13 to 18 feet
subsiding to 12 to 16 feet. Waves occasionally around 23 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds to 30 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. Lake effect snow showers. Waves 10 to 14 feet subsiding
to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally around 18 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south. Snow
showers in the morning. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 foot or
less.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south
15 to 20 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 10 to
15 knots. A chance of rain showers during the day, then a chance
of rain and snow showers Thursday night. Waves 2 feet or less
building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north and increasing
to 15 to 25 knots. A chance of rain and snow showers. Waves 3 to
5 feet building to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.SATURDAY...North winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west to 30 knots.
A chance of rain and snow showers. Waves 5 to 8 feet building to
6 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally around 11 feet.

The water temperature off Rochester is 38 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-170300-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
405 PM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING THROUGH
TUESDAY EVENING...

.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest and
increasing to 40 knot gales. Rain early, then sleet, snow and
rain late this evening. Snow after midnight. Visibility one
quarter mile or less at times late. Waves in ice free areas 4 to
7 feet building to 11 to 15 feet. Waves in ice free areas
occasionally around 19 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southwest gales to 40 knots becoming west and
diminishing to 30 knots in the afternoon. Lake effect snow
showers. Visibility one quarter mile or less at times in the
morning. Waves 12 to 17 feet subsiding to 11 to 15 feet. Waves
occasionally around 22 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds to 30 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to 10 to 15 knots. A chance of snow showers in the
evening. Waves 10 to 14 feet subsiding to 3 to 6 feet. Waves
occasionally around 18 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south. A
chance of snow showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 foot or
less.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south
15 to 20 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.THURSDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 10 to
15 knots. A chance of rain and snow showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 2 to 4 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north 15 to 20 knots.
A chance of rain and snow showers. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to
2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.SATURDAY...North winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest to
30 knots. A chance of rain and snow showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.

Wave heights are for ice free areas.

$$

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