Lake levels
Lake Ontario, NY
- water level
- 245.84 ft
- Condition
- High for this time of year
- 7-day change
- -0.16 ft
- 30-day change
- -0.85 ft
- 1-year change
- +0.89 ft
Reading as of 2026-09-30 | NOAA CO-OPS (IGLD 1985)
- Since yesterday
- -0.03 ft
- 7-day change
- -0.16 ft
- 30-day change
- -0.85 ft
- 1-year change
- +0.89 ft
- Record high
- 249.06 ft
In brief
Lake Ontario stood at 245.84 feet on Sep 30, 2026. That is higher than 85% of September readings since 1990.
Source: NOAA CO-OPS (IGLD 1985)
Lake level timeline
Records and averages
| Current level | 245.84 ft |
|---|---|
| Record high | 249.06 ft (2019-06-14) |
| Record low | 243.51 ft (2012-12-01) |
| Average of all readings | 245.50 ft |
| Data span | 36 years (13,422 readings) |
Level schematic
Trout stocking on Lake Ontario
NYSDEC's 2026 spring schedule lists 2 trout releases on Lake Ontario, 51,100 fish in total, the first in May. Brown Trout at 8 inches. NYSDEC's published figures for 2025, the most recent season it has confirmed, record 53,020 trout actually released here across 2 visits.
| Species | Fish | When |
|---|---|---|
| Brown Trout | 29,260 | May |
| Brown Trout | 21,840 | May |
NYSDEC lists a week or a month rather than a date, and notes that actual stocking can differ with fish availability and weather. Released at Sodus, Williamson, Wayne County. Full New York stocking schedule →
Frequently asked questions
Is Lake Ontario full right now?
As of 2026-09-30, Lake Ontario sits at 245.84 ft, which is high for this time of year. Over the past 30 days the level has fallen 0.85 ft.
What is the water level at Lake Ontario today?
The most recent reading at Lake Ontario is 245.84 ft (2026-09-30), sourced from NOAA CO-OPS (IGLD 1985). Readings on this page refresh automatically as the agency publishes new data.
What is the highest Lake Ontario has ever been?
The highest level for Lake Ontario in our records is 249.06 ft on 2019-06-14. The lowest is 243.51 ft on 2012-12-01. Our record covers about 36 years of readings.
Is Lake Ontario low for this time of year?
Compared with every September in our records, the current level is higher than 85% of them, which we classify as high for this time of year. Seasonal comparison matters more than the raw number, because most reservoirs draw down predictably through late summer and refill over winter and spring.
Why is Lake Ontario low right now?
Great Lakes levels move for three main reasons: rainfall and runoff into the basin, releases through the dam for downstream water supply, power generation or flood control, evaporation during hot months, and seasonal drawdown schedules set by the operating agency. Lake Ontario has fallen 0.85 ft over the past 30 days. For the operational reason on any given week, check NOAA CO-OPS (IGLD 1985) directly.
How much has Lake Ontario changed over the past year?
Lake Ontario is +0.89 ft compared with this date last year (245.84 ft today). The full-history chart above covers 36 years, with a record high of 249.06 ft and a record low of 243.51 ft.
Download and cite
Quote this reading
Lake Ontario stood at 245.84 feet on Sep 30, 2026. That is higher than 85% of September readings since 1990.
Download the full record
lake-ontario-ny-water-level-history.csv
How to cite
MyWaterLevel, “Lake Ontario water level, 1990 to 2026,” data from NOAA CO-OPS (IGLD 1985), https://mywaterlevel.com/lake/ny/lake-ontario/, accessed Oct 13, 2026.
Source: NOAA CO-OPS (IGLD 1985). All New York lake levels. Readings are provisional and may be revised. About our data and methods.