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

1019 AM EDT Sun Mar 23 2025 The water temperature off Buffalo is 33 degrees.

1019 AM EDT Sun Mar 23 2025 The water temperature off Rochester is 39 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

976
FZUS51 KBUF 231946
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
346 PM EDT Sun Mar 23 2025

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.

LEZ020-240330-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
346 PM EDT Sun Mar 23 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT
THROUGH LATE MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south and increasing
to 15 to 20 knots. Rain and snow showers late this evening. Rain
showers after midnight, then a chance of rain showers late.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of rain
showers in the morning.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west. A
chance of rain showers in the evening, then a chance of snow and
rain showers overnight.
.TUESDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers in the morning, then rain and
snow showers likely in the afternoon.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 to 15 knots diminishing to less
than 10 knots. Snow showers likely in the evening.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 10 knots or less. A chance of snow and
rain showers during the day, then a chance of snow showers
Wednesday night.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. Partly
to mostly cloudy.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming east. A chance of
rain and snow showers Friday night.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 33 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-240330-
Lower Niagara River-
346 PM EDT Sun Mar 23 2025

.TONIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south. Rain and
snow showers. Rain showers likely late.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of rain
showers in the morning.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west.
Mostly cloudy.
.TUESDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers in the morning, then rain and
snow showers likely in the afternoon.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots diminishing to less
than 10 knots. Snow and rain showers likely in the evening.
.WEDNESDAY...Northwest winds 10 knots or less becoming west. A
chance of snow and rain showers during the day, then a chance of
snow showers Wednesday night.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. Partly
cloudy.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming east. A chance of
rain and snow showers Friday night.

$$

LEZ040-041-240330-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
346 PM EDT Sun Mar 23 2025

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

.TONIGHT...East winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south and increasing
to 15 to 25 knots after midnight. Rain and snow showers this
evening, then rain showers after midnight. Waves in ice free
areas 2 feet or less building to 2 to 4 feet, then subsiding to
1 to 3 feet.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots increasing to 30 knots.
A chance of rain showers in the morning, then a chance of rain
and snow showers in the afternoon. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to
6 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally around 11 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds to 30 knots becoming west 15 to
25 knots. A chance of rain and snow showers. Waves 6 to 10 feet
subsiding to 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around 13 feet.
.TUESDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of snow showers in
the morning, then snow showers likely in the afternoon. Waves
4 to 7 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around
9 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 10 to 15 knots. Snow showers likely
in the evening, then a chance of snow showers overnight. Waves 2
to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of snow showers.
Waves 2 feet or less.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. A
chance of rain and snow showers Thursday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet.

.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming east. A chance of
rain and snow showers. Waves 2 feet or less.

Wave heights are for ice free areas.

$$

LOZ042-240330-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
346 PM EDT Sun Mar 23 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING
THROUGH LATE TUESDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...East winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southeast. Snow and
rain showers. Rain showers likely late. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots increasing to 30 knots.
A chance of showers in the morning. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to
4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds to 30 knots becoming west. Mostly
cloudy. Waves 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet.
.TUESDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of snow showers in
the morning, then a chance of rain and snow showers in the
afternoon. Waves 5 to 8 feet subsiding to 3 to 6 feet. Waves
occasionally around 10 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. A chance of snow and rain showers in the evening, then
a chance of snow showers overnight. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding
to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 10 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding
to 1 to 3 feet.
.THURSDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west 15 to
20 knots. Partly cloudy. Waves 1 to 2 feet building to 2 to
4 feet.
.FRIDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming east. A chance
of rain and snow showers Friday night. Waves 2 to 4 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.

$$

LOZ044-240330-
Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario-
346 PM EDT Sun Mar 23 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM EDT MONDAY THROUGH
LATE TUESDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...East winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southeast and
increasing to 15 to 25 knots. A chance of snow showers late this
evening. Snow and rain showers after midnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet
building to 2 to 4 feet.
.MONDAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west and
diminishing to 5 to 10 knots in the afternoon. Rain showers
likely in the morning, then a chance of rain showers in the
afternoon. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest. A
chance of rain showers in the evening, then a chance of rain and
snow showers overnight. Waves 3 to 5 feet building to 5 to
8 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. Snow
showers likely in the morning, then a chance of rain and snow
showers in the afternoon. Waves 5 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally
around 11 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. Snow showers likely with a chance of rain showers in
the evening, then snow showers likely overnight. Waves 4 to
7 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around
9 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest 10 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to
3 to 5 feet, then subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally
around 6 feet.
.THURSDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. A chance of rain showers Thursday night. Waves 1 to
3 feet building to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northeast 5 to
15 knots. A chance of rain and snow showers Friday night. Waves
3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to 2 feet. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.

$$

LOZ043-240330-
Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
346 PM EDT Sun Mar 23 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING
THROUGH LATE TUESDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...East winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southeast. A chance
of rain and snow showers late this evening. Rain and snow showers
after midnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.MONDAY...South winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. A chance of
rain showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves
occasionally around 6 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots becoming southwest. A
chance of rain showers in the evening. Waves 3 to 6 feet. Waves
occasionally around 7 feet.
.TUESDAY...West winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of snow showers in
the morning, then rain and snow showers likely in the afternoon.
Waves 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to
15 knots. Snow showers likely with a chance of rain showers in
the evening, then snow showers likely overnight. Waves 3 to
5 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots. A chance of snow showers.
Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 3 to 5 feet, then subsiding to 2 to
4 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.THURSDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. A chance of rain showers Thursday night. Waves 1 to
3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming east. A chance of
rain and snow showers Friday night. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding
to 1 to 3 feet.

The water temperature off Rochester is 39 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-240330-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
346 PM EDT Sun Mar 23 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM EDT MONDAY THROUGH
LATE TUESDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots increasing to 15 to
25 knots. Snow showers after midnight. Snow showers, rain showers
with a chance of freezing rain late. Waves 2 feet or less
building to 2 to 4 feet.
.MONDAY...South winds to 30 knots becoming southwest and
diminishing to 10 to 15 knots in the afternoon. Rain and snow
showers likely in the morning, then a chance of rain showers in
the afternoon. Waves 3 to 6 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves
occasionally around 7 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of rain
showers in the evening, then rain and snow showers likely
overnight. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 6 to 9 feet. Waves
occasionally around 11 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. Snow
showers in the morning, then snow and rain showers likely in the
afternoon. Waves 5 to 9 feet subsiding to 4 to 7 feet. Waves
occasionally around 11 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to
15 knots. Snow showers likely. Waves 4 to 7 feet subsiding to
2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northwest 10 to
15 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to
2 to 4 feet.
.THURSDAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. A chance of rain and snow showers Thursday night. Waves
1 to 3 feet building to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around
7 feet.
.FRIDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northeast 5 to
15 knots. A chance of snow and rain showers Friday night. Waves
3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.

$$