National Weather Service Marine Forecast FZUS61 KBUF

FZUS61 KBUF 212102
GLFLO

Open Lake Forecast for Lake Ontario
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
402 PM EST Wed Jan 21 2026

For waters beyond five nautical miles of shore on Lake Ontario

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.

SYNOPSIS
A 29.8 inch low will move from the upper Great Lakes to central Quebec through Thursday, then to the Canadian Maritimes Friday. This low will push a series of cold fronts across the Lake, with the first passing this evenin, a second arctic cold front across the lake Thursday morning, followed by a reinforcing tertiary front late Thursday night into Friday morning. At the same time, a large 31.1 inch high will build from northwestern Canada to the northern Plains states, with the high then weakening to 30.7 inches as it slides eastward across the Great Lakes and New England over the weekend and into Monday.

LOZ062-220400
Lake Ontario open waters from the Niagara River to Hamlin Beach
402 PM EST Wed Jan 21 2026

GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM EST THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING

TONIGHT
Southwest winds to 30 knots. Snow showers likely this evening, then a chance of snow showers after midnight. Waves 7 to 11 feet. Waves occasionally around 14 feet.

THURSDAY
West winds to 30 knots increasing to 40 knot gales. A chance of snow showers. Waves 8 to 11 feet building to 12 to 16 feet. Waves occasionally around 20 feet.

THURSDAY NIGHT
West gales to 35 knots. A chance of snow showers in the evening, then lake effect snow showers likely overnight. Waves 10 to 15 feet. Waves occasionally around 19 feet.

FRIDAY
West gales to 35 knots becoming northwest and diminishing to 30 knots in the afternoon. Lake effect snow showers likely. Waves 10 to 14 feet. Waves occasionally around 18 feet.

FRIDAY NIGHT
Northwest winds to 30 knots diminishing to 15 to 20 knots. Snow showers likely in the evening, then a chance of snow showers overnight. Waves 8 to 11 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet. Waves occasionally around 14 feet.

SATURDAY
North winds 5 to 15 knots becoming east. A chance of snow showers during the day, then a chance of snow Saturday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet.

SUNDAY
East winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northeast. Snow likely. Waves 3 to 6 feet.

MONDAY
North winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west. A chance of snow showers during the day. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet.

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LOZ063>065-220400
Lake Ontario open waters from Hamlin Beach to the Saint Lawrence River
402 PM EST Wed Jan 21 2026

GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM EST THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING

TONIGHT
South winds to 30 knots becoming southwest. Snow showers likely through the early overnight, then a chance of snow showers late. Waves 7 to 11 feet building to 10 to 13 feet. Waves occasionally around 16 feet.

THURSDAY
Southwest gales to 35 knots becoming west to 40 knots. A chance of lake effect snow showers early, then lake effect snow showers likely from late morning on. Waves 10 to 15 feet building to 14 to 19 feet. Waves occasionally around 24 feet.

THURSDAY NIGHT
West gales to 40 knots diminishing to 35 knots. Lake effect snow. Waves 14 to 19 feet subsiding to 13 to 17 feet. Waves occasionally around 24 feet.

FRIDAY
West gales to 35 knots. Lake effect snow showers. Waves 12 to 17 feet. Waves occasionally around 22 feet.

FRIDAY NIGHT
Northwest gales to 35 knots diminishing to 15 to 25 knots overnight. Lake effect snow showers. Waves 11 to 15 feet subsiding to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally around 19 feet.

SATURDAY
North winds 15 to 20 knots becoming east 5 to 15 knots. A chance of snow showers during the day, then a chance of snow Saturday night. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet.

SUNDAY
East winds 15 to 20 knots. Snow likely. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 3 to 6 feet.

MONDAY
North winds 15 to 25 knots becoming west to 30 knots. A chance of snow showers. Waves 3 to 5 feet building to 6 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally around 11 feet.

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LOZ061-220400
MAFOR 2122/ ONTARIO WEST 1/2...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT...12547 13540 13650. Waves 7 to 10 feet building to 9 to 12 feet, and occasionally around 15 feet tonight. Waves 10 to 14 feet building to 12 to 17 feet, and occasionally around 22 feet Thursday.

ONTARIO EAST 1/2...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT...12440 11547 11540 11550 13650. Waves 6 to 10 feet building to 10 to 13 feet, and occasionally around 16 feet tonight. Waves 10 to 15 feet building to 14 to 18 feet, and occasionally around 23 feet Thursday.