Cold Temperatures Continue in the Central U.S. Today; Pacific Storm to Impact the Pacific Northwest

Persistent arctic air is forecast to break numerous daily records and produce dangerously cold sub-zero wind chills across the Central and Southern Plains, Lower Mississippi Valley, and the Southeast U.S. today. An atmospheric river will bring heavy rain and mountain snow to the Pacific Northwest states and northern Rockies today through at least Tuesday. 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

928 AM EST Fri Feb 21 2025 The water temperature off Buffalo is 32 degrees.

928 AM EST Fri Feb 21 2025 The water temperature off Rochester is 34 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

490
FZUS51 KBUF 211428
NSHBUF

Nearshore Marine Forecast
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
928 AM EST Fri Feb 21 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.

LEZ020-212215-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
928 AM EST Fri Feb 21 2025

.REST OF TODAY...Northwest winds around 10 knots becoming west. A
chance of snow showers.
.TONIGHT...West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest. A chance
of snow showers in the evening.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. Partly sunny.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots. A chance of
snow showers overnight.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south. A chance
of snow showers during the day.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of rain and
snow showers.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west. A chance
of rain and snow showers.

The water temperature off Buffalo is 32 degrees.

$$

LOZ030-212215-
Lower Niagara River-
928 AM EST Fri Feb 21 2025

.REST OF TODAY...Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. A
chance of snow showers.
.TONIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Mostly
cloudy.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to
20 knots. Partly sunny.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots diminishing to
10 to 15 knots. Mostly cloudy.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south. Mostly
cloudy.
.MONDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. Rain showers likely with
a chance of snow showers during the day, then rain and snow
showers likely Monday night.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west. A chance
of rain and snow showers during the day.

$$

LEZ040-041-212215-
Buffalo to Ripley along Lake Erie-
928 AM EST Fri Feb 21 2025

.REST OF TODAY...West winds 10 to 15 knots. Snow showers likely,
then a chance of snow showers late. The lake is mostly ice
covered.
.TONIGHT...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots. A chance of snow
showers in the evening.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots. Partly sunny.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots. A chance of
snow showers overnight.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south. A chance
of snow showers during the day.
.MONDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest 10 to
15 knots. A chance of rain and snow showers.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. A chance
of rain and snow showers.

Waves omitted due to the lake being mostly ice covered.

$$

LOZ042-212215-
Niagara River to Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario-
928 AM EST Fri Feb 21 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

.REST OF TODAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west. A
chance of snow showers. Waves 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally
around 7 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest. Mostly
cloudy. Waves 3 to 6 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves
occasionally around 7 feet.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots. Partly sunny. Waves
2 to 4 feet building to 3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around
6 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west.
Mostly cloudy. Waves 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around
7 feet.
.SUNDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south 10 to
15 knots. Mostly cloudy. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to
3 feet.
.MONDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest 10 to
15 knots. Rain showers likely with a chance of snow showers.
Waves 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet, then subsiding to 1 to
3 feet.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. A chance
of rain and snow showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet.

$$

LOZ043-044-212215-
Hamlin Beach to Mexico Bay along Lake Ontario
including Irondequoit Bay-
928 AM EST Fri Feb 21 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

.REST OF TODAY...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots. Lake effect
snow. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 4 to 7 feet. Waves
occasionally around 9 feet.
.TONIGHT...Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest.
Lake effect snow showers likely in the evening, then a chance of
snow showers overnight. Waves 4 to 7 feet subsiding to 2 to
4 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.SATURDAY...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots. Partly sunny. Waves
2 to 4 feet building to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around
7 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots. A chance of snow
showers overnight. Waves 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around
10 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming south 5 to 15 knots.
A chance of snow showers during the day. Waves 3 to 6 feet
subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally around 7 feet.
.MONDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Rain
showers likely with a chance of snow showers. Waves 2 feet or
less.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. A chance
of rain and snow showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet.

The water temperature off Rochester is 34 degrees.

$$

LOZ045-212215-
Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River along Lake Ontario-
928 AM EST Fri Feb 21 2025

.REST OF TODAY...Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. A
chance of snow showers late this morning. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
.TONIGHT...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south. Scattered
snow showers overnight. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to
3 feet.
.SATURDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest 15 to
20 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves 1 to 3 feet building to
3 to 5 feet. Waves occasionally around 6 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west
10 to 15 knots. A chance of snow showers in the evening, then
lake effect snow overnight. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 4 to
7 feet. Waves occasionally around 9 feet.
.SUNDAY...West winds 5 to 15 knots becoming south. Lake effect
snow during the day, then a chance of snow showers Sunday night.
Waves 3 to 6 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. Waves occasionally
around 7 feet.
.MONDAY...South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest. Snow and
rain showers likely. Waves 2 feet or less.
.TUESDAY...Southwest winds 5 to 15 knots becoming west. A chance
of rain and snow showers during the day, then a chance of snow
showers Tuesday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet.

$$

Radar