FZUS61 KBUF 171410 GLFLO Open Lake Forecast for Lake Ontario National Weather Service Buffalo NY 1009 AM EDT Tue Mar 17 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 30.4 inch surface high centered over the lower Ohio Valley this late morning will ridge northward, across the Lake tonight. The high will then shift east of the lake Wednesday and reach the East Coast by Wednesday evening. A 30.2 inch high will move into the Great Lakes region Thursday. A 29.8 inch low will move from James Bay to the Canadian Maritimes Friday. This may result in a cold front crossing the Lake through Friday. LOZ062-172100- Lake Ontario open waters from the Niagara River to Hamlin Beach- 1009 AM EDT Tue Mar 17 2026 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM EDT THIS MORNING... .REST OF TODAY...West gales to 35 knots. Snow showers likely late this morning, then a chance of snow showers this afternoon. Waves 10 to 15 feet subsiding to 8 to 11 feet. Waves occasionally around 19 feet. .TONIGHT...West winds 15 to 25 knots diminishing to 10 to 15 knots. A chance of snow showers early. Waves 5 to 9 feet subsiding to 3 to 6 feet. Waves occasionally around 11 feet. .WEDNESDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south. Waves 1 to 3 feet. .WEDNESDAY NIGHT...South winds 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to 20 knots. A chance of snow showers overnight. Waves 1 to 3 feet. .THURSDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming west. A chance of rain and snow showers during the day, then a chance of rain showers Thursday night. Waves 1 to 3 feet. .FRIDAY...Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northeast 15 to 20 knots. A chance of rain and snow showers. Waves 1 to 2 feet building to 2 to 4 feet. .SATURDAY...Northeast winds 15 to 25 knots becoming north. A chance of rain and snow showers. Waves 3 to 5 feet building to 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet. $$ LOZ063>065-172100- Lake Ontario open waters from Hamlin Beach to the Saint Lawrence River- 1009 AM EDT Tue Mar 17 2026 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING... .REST OF TODAY...West gales to 40 knots diminishing to 35 knots. Lake effect snow showers. Waves 14 to 19 feet subsiding to 12 to 16 feet. Waves occasionally around 24 feet. .TONIGHT...West winds to 30 knots becoming northwest 15 to 25 knots. Lake effect snow showers in the evening, then a chance of lake effect snow showers after midnight. Waves 10 to 14 feet subsiding to 4 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally around 18 feet. .WEDNESDAY...Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south. Lake effect snow showers likely in the morning, then a chance of snow showers in the afternoon. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet. .WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots becoming south 15 to 20 knots. Waves 2 feet or less building to 3 to 5 feet. .THURSDAY...South winds 15 to 20 knots becoming west 10 to 15 knots. A chance of snow showers during the day, then a chance of rain showers Thursday night. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 2 feet or less. .FRIDAY...Southwest winds around 10 knots becoming north and increasing to 15 to 20 knots. A chance of rain and snow showers. Waves 2 feet or less building to 3 to 5 feet. .SATURDAY...Northeast winds 15 to 25 knots becoming south to 30 knots. A chance of rain and snow showers. Waves 3 to 6 feet building to 5 to 8 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet. $$ LOZ061-172100- MAFOR 1715/ ONTARIO WEST 1/2...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT...11650 12640 11630 12620 11610 11500. A chance of lake effect snow showers this afternoon. A chance of snow showers tonight. Waves 11 to 16 feet subsiding to 9 to 12 feet, and occasionally around 20 feet this afternoon. Waves 7 to 10 feet subsiding to 3 to 5 feet, and occasionally around 13 feet tonight. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 1 to 2 feet Wednesday morning. ONTARIO EAST 1/2...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT...12657 11647 11747 11737 11720 11710 11500. Waves 14 to 19 feet subsiding to 12 to 16 feet, and occasionally around 24 feet this afternoon. Waves 10 to 14 feet subsiding to 4 to 7 feet, and occasionally around 18 feet tonight. Waves 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet Wednesday morning. $$