Boating & Safety Forecast • Monroe County, NY

Lake Ontario Wind & Boating Forecast

Coordinates: 43.2560°N, -77.5870°W • Source: National Weather Service API

Full Go / No-Go Tool → Official NWS Point Forecast →
Dashboard Overview Water Detail & Climatology Wind & Weather Forecast

Can I Launch Today? Boat Type Safety Overview

Paddlers

Kayak & SUP

Caution

Check wind before launching.

Anglers

Bass Boats & Skiffs

Go

Check wind before launching.

Cruisers

Pontoons & Bowriders

Go

Check wind before launching.

PWC

Personal Watercraft

Caution

Check wind before launching.

Sailors

Daysailers & Dinghies

Go

Check wind before launching.

Hourly Boating Conditions & Wind Speed

Next 24 hours at Lake Ontario • Updated 5:22 PM UTC

Time Weather Temp Wind Speed Gusts Direction Boating Risk
5:00 PM
Sun, Oct 11
Chance Light Rain 59°F 10 mph 10 mph SE Favorable
6:00 PM
Sun, Oct 11
Chance Light Rain 59°F 10 mph 10 mph SE Favorable
7:00 PM
Sun, Oct 11
Chance Light Rain 60°F 10 mph 10 mph SE Favorable
8:00 PM
Sun, Oct 11
Chance Light Rain 59°F 10 mph 10 mph SE Favorable
9:00 PM
Sun, Oct 11
Rain Likely 59°F 9 mph 9 mph E Favorable
10:00 PM
Sun, Oct 11
Rain 59°F 8 mph 8 mph E Favorable
11:00 PM
Sun, Oct 11
Rain 59°F 8 mph 8 mph E Favorable
12:00 AM
Mon, Oct 12
Light Rain Likely 59°F 8 mph 8 mph E Favorable
1:00 AM
Mon, Oct 12
Chance Light Rain 59°F 8 mph 8 mph E Favorable
2:00 AM
Mon, Oct 12
Chance Light Rain 59°F 7 mph 7 mph E Favorable
3:00 AM
Mon, Oct 12
Slight Chance Light Rain 58°F 6 mph 6 mph E Favorable
4:00 AM
Mon, Oct 12
Slight Chance Light Rain 58°F 5 mph 5 mph E Favorable
5:00 AM
Mon, Oct 12
Slight Chance Light Rain 58°F 5 mph 5 mph E Favorable
6:00 AM
Mon, Oct 12
Mostly Cloudy 58°F 3 mph 3 mph E Favorable
7:00 AM
Mon, Oct 12
Mostly Cloudy 57°F 3 mph 3 mph E Favorable
8:00 AM
Mon, Oct 12
Mostly Cloudy 57°F 2 mph 2 mph E Favorable
9:00 AM
Mon, Oct 12
Mostly Cloudy 56°F 2 mph 2 mph SE Favorable
10:00 AM
Mon, Oct 12
Mostly Cloudy 56°F 3 mph 3 mph W Favorable
11:00 AM
Mon, Oct 12
Mostly Cloudy 56°F 3 mph 3 mph NW Favorable
12:00 PM
Mon, Oct 12
Mostly Cloudy 57°F 5 mph 5 mph W Favorable
1:00 PM
Mon, Oct 12
Mostly Cloudy 58°F 5 mph 5 mph W Favorable
2:00 PM
Mon, Oct 12
Mostly Cloudy 59°F 6 mph 6 mph W Favorable
3:00 PM
Mon, Oct 12
Mostly Cloudy 60°F 7 mph 7 mph W Favorable
4:00 PM
Mon, Oct 12
Partly Sunny 60°F 7 mph 7 mph W Favorable
5:00 PM
Mon, Oct 12
Partly Sunny 62°F 7 mph 7 mph W Favorable
6:00 PM
Mon, Oct 12
Partly Sunny 62°F 7 mph 7 mph W Favorable
7:00 PM
Mon, Oct 12
Partly Sunny 64°F 6 mph 6 mph W Favorable
8:00 PM
Mon, Oct 12
Partly Sunny 64°F 5 mph 5 mph NW Favorable
9:00 PM
Mon, Oct 12
Partly Sunny 64°F 3 mph 3 mph W Favorable
10:00 PM
Mon, Oct 12
Mostly Cloudy 64°F 3 mph 3 mph W Favorable
11:00 PM
Mon, Oct 12
Mostly Cloudy 63°F 3 mph 3 mph SW Favorable
12:00 AM
Tue, Oct 13
Mostly Cloudy 62°F 3 mph 3 mph SW Favorable
1:00 AM
Tue, Oct 13
Mostly Cloudy 62°F 3 mph 3 mph S Favorable
2:00 AM
Tue, Oct 13
Mostly Cloudy 61°F 5 mph 5 mph S Favorable
3:00 AM
Tue, Oct 13
Mostly Cloudy 60°F 6 mph 6 mph S Favorable
4:00 AM
Tue, Oct 13
Mostly Cloudy 60°F 6 mph 6 mph S Favorable
5:00 AM
Tue, Oct 13
Mostly Cloudy 61°F 7 mph 7 mph S Favorable
6:00 AM
Tue, Oct 13
Chance Rain Showers 61°F 7 mph 7 mph S Favorable
7:00 AM
Tue, Oct 13
Chance Rain Showers 61°F 8 mph 8 mph S Favorable
8:00 AM
Tue, Oct 13
Chance Rain Showers 61°F 8 mph 8 mph S Favorable
9:00 AM
Tue, Oct 13
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms ⚡ 61°F 9 mph 9 mph S Thunderstorms
10:00 AM
Tue, Oct 13
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms ⚡ 62°F 9 mph 9 mph S Thunderstorms
11:00 AM
Tue, Oct 13
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms ⚡ 62°F 10 mph 10 mph SW Thunderstorms
12:00 PM
Tue, Oct 13
Chance Rain Showers 62°F 10 mph 10 mph SW Favorable
1:00 PM
Tue, Oct 13
Chance Rain Showers 64°F 10 mph 10 mph SW Favorable
2:00 PM
Tue, Oct 13
Chance Rain Showers 65°F 12 mph 12 mph SW Favorable
3:00 PM
Tue, Oct 13
Chance Rain Showers 66°F 12 mph 12 mph SW Favorable
4:00 PM
Tue, Oct 13
Chance Rain Showers 68°F 12 mph 12 mph SW Favorable

Lake Weather & Wave Safety Rules

Understanding Reservoir Fetch

A 15 mph wind blowing across a sheltered 200-yard cove is calm, but the same 15 mph wind blowing over a 5-mile open stretch ("fetch") creates steep, short-period waves that easily swamp small vessels or capsize canoes. Always plan your return route along the upwind shore.

The 30/30 Lightning Rule

Water conducts electricity. If the time between seeing lightning and hearing thunder is less than 30 seconds, the storm is within 6 miles. Get off the open water immediately and seek shelter in a substantial building or hard-topped vehicle. Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunderclap before launching again.

Pontoon Windage & Docking

Pontoon boats have tall, flat aluminum fencing and large Bimini tops that act as sails. In crosswinds over 15 mph, docking requires a slow approach against the wind and plenty of fenders to protect neighboring hulls from getting pinned.