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

1013 AM EDT Fri Apr 3 2026 The water temperature off Buffalo is 33 degrees.

1013 AM EDT Fri Apr 3 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

396
FZUS51 KBUF 031413
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1013 AM EDT Fri Apr 3 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.

LEZ020-032100-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
1013 AM EDT Fri Apr 3 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON...

.REST OF TODAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots. Mostly cloudy
late this morning, then becoming partly sunny.
.TONIGHT...West winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northeast less than
10 knots. Partly to mostly cloudy.
.SATURDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southeast.
Rain showers likely in the morning, then rain showers in the
afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Showers.
.SUNDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots. Rain showers during the day.
.MONDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots. A chance of rain and snow
showers.
.TUESDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming light and
variable. A chance of snow showers during the day.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 33 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-032100-
Lower Niagara River-
1013 AM EDT Fri Apr 3 2026

.REST OF TODAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west.
Partly to mostly sunny.
.TONIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northeast less than
10 knots. Partly cloudy.
.SATURDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Rain showers likely in
the morning, then rain showers in the afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming
southwest. Showers.
.SUNDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots. Rain showers likely during
the day.
.MONDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of rain and snow showers.
.TUESDAY...North winds 5 to 15 knots diminishing to less than
10 knots. A chance of snow showers during the day.

$$

LEZ040-041-032100-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
1013 AM EDT Fri Apr 3 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON...

.REST OF TODAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of
showers early this afternoon. Waves in ice free areas 1 to 3 feet
building to 2 to 4 feet.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming northeast
10 knots or less. Mostly cloudy. Waves 1 to 3 feet subsiding to
1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south. Rain
showers in the morning, then rain showers with a chance of
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...South winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest
15 to 20 knots. Rain showers with a chance of thunderstorms in
the evening, then rain showers overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 2 to 4 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. Rain showers during the day. Waves 3 to 6 feet
subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.MONDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of rain and snow
showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TUESDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming north less than
10 knots. A chance of snow showers during the day. Waves 2 feet
or less.

Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms.

Wave heights are for ice free areas.

$$

LOZ042-032100-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
1013 AM EDT Fri Apr 3 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

.REST OF TODAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west.
Partly sunny. Waves 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming north 5 to
15 knots. Partly cloudy. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to
3 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.SATURDAY...East winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. Rain showers likely in the morning, then rain showers
in the afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west 15 to
20 knots. Showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. Rain showers during the day.
Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally
around 9 feet.
.MONDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of rain and snow showers Monday night. Waves 3 to 6 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.TUESDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest 10 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers during the day. Waves 3 to
5 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.

$$

LOZ043-032100-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
1013 AM EDT Fri Apr 3 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

.REST OF TODAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west. A
chance of showers early this afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 2 to 4 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to less than 10 knots overnight. Partly to mostly
cloudy. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.SATURDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 15 knots becoming east. A chance
of rain showers in the morning, then rain showers likely in the
afternoon. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming
southwest 15 to 20 knots. Showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to
2 to 4 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. Rain showers during the day.
Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally
around 10 feet.
.MONDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of snow showers Monday night. Waves 4 to 7 feet subsiding to 2 to
4 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.TUESDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest 10 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers during the day. Waves 3 to
5 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.

The water temperature off Rochester is 40 degrees.

$$

LOZ044-032100-
Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario-
1013 AM EDT Fri Apr 3 2026

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

.REST OF TODAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest. A
chance of showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest and
diminishing to less than 10 knots overnight. Mostly cloudy. Waves
3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.
.SATURDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming east. A chance
of rain showers in the morning, then rain showers likely in the
afternoon. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 15 to 25 knots becoming
southwest. Showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. Rain showers during the day.
Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 5 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally
around 11 feet.
.MONDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest. A chance
of snow showers Monday night. Waves 5 to 8 feet subsiding to 2 to
4 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet.
.TUESDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest 10 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers during the day. Waves 3 to
5 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.

$$

LOZ045-032100-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
1013 AM EDT Fri Apr 3 2026

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

.REST OF TODAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest. A
chance of showers. Waves 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around
7 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming north 5 to
15 knots. Partly to mostly cloudy. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to
1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.SATURDAY...Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming east. Rain
showers likely in the afternoon. Waves 2 feet or less.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 15 to 20 knots becoming
southwest and increasing to 30 knots. Showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. Rain
showers during the day. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 5 to
9 feet. Waves occasionally around 11 feet.
.MONDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming north. A chance of
snow showers Monday night. Waves 5 to 8 feet subsiding to 1 to
3 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet.
.TUESDAY...North winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest 5 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers during the day. Waves 2 to
4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.

$$