Alert archive / New York / Small Craft Advisories in 2026
Small Craft Advisory 42, NWS Buffalo, NY
NWS Buffalo, NY issued this small craft advisory at May 5, 2026, 12:35 PM EDT. It was in force for 10 hr.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- May 5, 2026, 12:35 PM EDT (16:35 UTC)
- Expired
- May 5, 2026, 10:41 PM EDT
- In force
- 10 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Buffalo, NY
The text
As transmitted.
275 WHUS71 KBUF 051635 MWWBUF URGENT - MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Buffalo NY 1235 PM EDT Tue May 5 2026 LEZ040-041-060000- /O.NEW.KBUF.SC.Y.0042.260505T1635Z-260506T0000Z/ Lake Erie nearshore waters from Ripley to Dunkirk- Lake Erie nearshore waters from Dunkirk to Buffalo- 1235 PM EDT Tue May 5 2026 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots and waves 4 to 7 feet. * WHERE...The nearshore waters of Lake Erie from Ripley to Buffalo. * WHEN...Until 8 PM EDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Winds and/or waves will cause hazardous conditions that could capsize or damage small craft. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions. && $$ LEZ020-LOZ030-060000- /O.NEW.KBUF.SC.Y.0042.260505T1635Z-260506T0000Z/ Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-Lower Niagara River- 1235 PM EDT Tue May 5 2026 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...West winds 15 to 25 knots. * WHERE...The Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor. * WHEN...Until 8 PM EDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Winds and/or waves will cause hazardous conditions that could capsize or damage small craft. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions. && $$ LOZ042-043-060000- /O.NEW.KBUF.SC.Y.0042.260505T1635Z-260506T0000Z/ Lake Ontario nearshore waters from the Niagara River to Hamlin Beach- Lake Ontario nearshore waters from Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay- 1235 PM EDT Tue May 5 2026 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...West winds 15 to 25 knots. * WHERE...The nearshore waters of Lake Ontario from the Niagara River to Sodus Bay. * WHEN...Until 8 PM EDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Winds and/or waves will cause hazardous conditions that could capsize or damage small craft. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions. && $$ LOZ044-045-060000- /O.NEW.KBUF.SC.Y.0042.260505T1635Z-260506T0000Z/ Lake Ontario nearshore waters from Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay- Lake Ontario nearshore waters from Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River- 1235 PM EDT Tue May 5 2026 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...West winds 15 to 25 knots. * WHERE...The nearshore waters of Lake Ontario from Sodus Bay to the Saint Lawrence River. * WHEN...Until 8 PM EDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Winds and/or waves will cause hazardous conditions that could capsize or damage small craft. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions. && $$ SLZ022-024-060000- /O.NEW.KBUF.SC.Y.0042.260505T1635Z-260506T0000Z/ Saint Lawrence River from Cape Vincent to Ogdensburg- Saint Lawrence River from Ogdensburg to Saint Regis- 1235 PM EDT Tue May 5 2026 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots. * WHERE...The Saint Lawrence River from Cape Vincent to Saint Regis. * WHEN...Until 8 PM EDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Winds and/or waves will cause hazardous conditions that could capsize or damage small craft. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions. && $$
3 follow-up statements
219 WHUS71 KBUF 051957 MWWBUF URGENT - MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Buffalo NY 357 PM EDT Tue May 5 2026 LEZ040-041-060200- /O.EXT.KBUF.SC.Y.0042.000000T0000Z-260506T0200Z/ Lake Erie nearshore waters from Ripley to Dunkirk- Lake Erie nearshore waters from Dunkirk to Buffalo- 357 PM EDT Tue May 5 2026 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots and waves 3 to 5 feet. * WHERE...The nearshore waters of Lake Erie from Ripley to Buffalo. * WHEN...Until 10 PM EDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Winds and/or waves will cause hazardous conditions that could capsize or damage small craft. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions. && $$ LOZ042-043-060200- /O.EXT.KBUF.SC.Y.0042.000000T0000Z-260506T0200Z/ Lake Ontario nearshore waters from the Niagara River to Hamlin Beach- Lake Ontario nearshore waters from Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay- 357 PM EDT Tue May 5 2026 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...West winds 15 to 25 knots and waves 3 to 6 feet. * WHERE...The nearshore waters of Lake Ontario from the Niagara River to Sodus Bay. * WHEN...Until 10 PM EDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Winds and/or waves will cause hazardous conditions that could capsize or damage small craft. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions. && $$ LOZ044-045-060400- /O.EXT.KBUF.SC.Y.0042.000000T0000Z-260506T0400Z/ Lake Ontario nearshore waters from Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay- Lake Ontario nearshore waters from Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River- 357 PM EDT Tue May 5 2026 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT... * WHAT...West winds 15 to 25 knots and waves 3 to 6 feet. * WHERE...The nearshore waters of Lake Ontario from Sodus Bay to the Saint Lawrence River. * WHEN...Until midnight EDT tonight. * IMPACTS...Winds and/or waves will cause hazardous conditions that could capsize or damage small craft. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions. && $$ LEZ020-LOZ030-060000- /O.CON.KBUF.SC.Y.0042.000000T0000Z-260506T0000Z/ Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-Lower Niagara River- 357 PM EDT Tue May 5 2026 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...West winds 15 to 20 knots. * WHERE...The Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor. * WHEN...Until 8 PM EDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Winds and/or waves will cause hazardous conditions that could capsize or damage small craft. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions. && $$ SLZ022-024-060000- /O.CON.KBUF.SC.Y.0042.000000T0000Z-260506T0000Z/ Saint Lawrence River from Cape Vincent to Ogdensburg- Saint Lawrence River from Ogdensburg to Saint Regis- 357 PM EDT Tue May 5 2026 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...West winds 15 to 20 knots. * WHERE...The Saint Lawrence River from Cape Vincent to Saint Regis. * WHEN...Until 8 PM EDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Winds and/or waves will cause hazardous conditions that could capsize or damage small craft. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions. && $$
244 WHUS71 KBUF 060156 MWWBUF URGENT - MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Buffalo NY 956 PM EDT Tue May 5 2026 LEZ040-041-060300- /O.EXP.KBUF.SC.Y.0042.000000T0000Z-260506T0200Z/ Lake Erie nearshore waters from Ripley to Dunkirk- Lake Erie nearshore waters from Dunkirk to Buffalo- 956 PM EDT Tue May 5 2026 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING... $$ LOZ042-043-060300- /O.EXP.KBUF.SC.Y.0042.000000T0000Z-260506T0200Z/ Lake Ontario nearshore waters from the Niagara River to Hamlin Beach- Lake Ontario nearshore waters from Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay- 956 PM EDT Tue May 5 2026 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING... $$ LOZ044-045-060400- /O.CON.KBUF.SC.Y.0042.000000T0000Z-260506T0400Z/ Lake Ontario nearshore waters from Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay- Lake Ontario nearshore waters from Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River- 956 PM EDT Tue May 5 2026 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT... * WHAT...West winds 15 to 20 knots and waves 3 to 5 feet. * WHERE...The nearshore waters of Lake Ontario from Sodus Bay to the Saint Lawrence River. * WHEN...Until midnight EDT tonight. * IMPACTS...Winds and/or waves will cause hazardous conditions that could capsize or damage small craft. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions. && $$
563 WHUS71 KBUF 060241 MWWBUF URGENT - MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Buffalo NY 1041 PM EDT Tue May 5 2026 LOZ044-045-060345- /O.CAN.KBUF.SC.Y.0042.000000T0000Z-260506T0400Z/ Lake Ontario nearshore waters from Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay- Lake Ontario nearshore waters from Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River- 1041 PM EDT Tue May 5 2026 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS CANCELLED... Winds and waves will continue to diminish overnight. $$
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this small craft advisory went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Buffalo, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before this small craft advisory went out at May 5, 5:59 AM EDT, 6 hours 36 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) Gusty winds into this afternoon. 2) Soaking rainfall this afternoon into Wednesday. 3) Frost possible Thursday night.
Area forecast discussion, May 5, 5:59 AM EDT, 6 hours 36 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Buffalo NY 559 AM EDT Tue May 5 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... No significant changes have been made with this update. && .KEY MESSAGES... 1) Gusty winds into this afternoon. 2) Soaking rainfall this afternoon into Wednesday. 3) Frost possible Thursday night. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1...Gusty winds into this afternoon. A low level jet of 40 to 50 knots will focus across the region today. Warm advective pattern will limit degree of mixing, but momentum transfer schemes suggesting most areas looking at 25 to 35 mph gusts, with gusts to near 45 mph possible downwind of the lakes. The strongest wind gusts likely through mid afternoon, before lowering as a cold front eases into the region and the low level jet shifts east. KEY MESSAGE 2...Soaking rainfall this afternoon into Wednesday. Cold front across the central Great Lakes early this morning will approach the region today. The progress of the front through the region will be gradual as the upper flow is nearly parallel to the front. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms this morning within the warm sector will increase later in the day as the cold front approaches. Shear and instability look very marginal which will limit severe potential. Showers and embedded thunderstorms will become widespread tonight into Wednesday as the front slowly pushes through the region. The primary threat will be the potential for heavy rainfall as a deep plume of precipitable water values of 1- 1.5" surge into the region. Rainfall amounts from today through Wednesday are expected to average between 0.75-1.25" in most areas, though there will likely be a swath of totals closer to 1.5" in the corridor between the Southern Tier, Finger Lakes and Tug Hill region. Locally higher totals will be possible deepening on how convection evolves. KEY MESSAGE 3...Frost possible Thursday night. Much cooler air will settle into the region through mid week. Overnight low temperatures Thursday night likely drop into the 30s. There is the potential for frost, though this will be highly dependent on the amount of cloud cover in place and the resulting radiational cooling. && .AVIATION /09Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... Lingering LLWS owing to a 40-45 knot jet at 1.5-2 kft off the deck will quickly diminish with increasing diurnal mixing during the first couple hours of the TAF period...with the increased mixing also allowing surface wind gusts to quickly climb into the 25-30 knot range in many areas...and to 30-35 knots downwind of the lakes out ahead of the approaching cold front. The winds will be strongest from mid-morning through about mid-afternoon...then will markedly fall off from NW-SE with the arrival of the cold front. Otherwise we can expect a relative lull in precipitation into midday with just a few scattered showers and predominantly VFR conditions...with some MVFR ceilings possibly developing across far western New York. Conditions will then trend notably downhill through the afternoon and early evening hours as the cold front arrives...with deepening moisture and lift along it generating increasingly widespread showers along with some scattered thunderstorms. The greatest chances for any storms look to extend from the interior of the Southern Tier northeastward across the Finger Lakes and central New York...where some modest instability looks to develop out ahead of the cold front. As all this occurs...ceilings will lower to mainly MVFR with some IFR possible across the Southern Tier...with reductions in visibility to MVFR/IFR also possible within any heavier showers and storms. While the cold front itself will slide off to our southeast this evening and bring an end to any instability/potential for thunder... another wave of low pressure will ripple northeastward along the slow-moving boundary and generate additional widespread light to moderate rainfall through the rest of the night. The resultant continued moistening of the low levels and developing upslope northeasterly flow will result in flight conditions further deteriorating to widespread IFR across the lower elevations... and to LIFR across the higher terrain. Outlook... Wednesday...Widespread rain tapering off from northwest to southeast...with morning IFR/LIFR improving to low-end VFR across the lower elevations and MVFR across the higher terrain. Thursday...VFR/MVFR with a chance of showers across the Southern Tier. Friday through Saturday...Restrictions possible with increasing chances for showers in the afternoon both days. && .MARINE... High pressure will track off the mid-Atlantic coast today. A tight pressure gradient will remain through this afternoon before weakening tonight. A cold front moving through today will aid in bringing some higher winds to the surface for the marine areas with weak cold air advection, but the low level jet is expected to weaken behind the front. This will result in a moderate to fresh breeze lasting through early afternoon. In general, winds and waves will remain just below Small Craft Advisory criteria most of the time, but it will be very choppy on both lakes. Showers with a few thunderstorms will also be possible, especially this afternoon and tonight. A few storms may contain locally gusty winds. && .BUF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NY...None. MARINE...None. && DISCUSSION...TMA AVIATION...JJR MARINE...TMA
Hazardous weather outlook, May 5, 2:26 AM EDT, 10 hours 9 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Buffalo NY 226 AM EDT Tue May 5 2026 NYZ001>003-010>013-019>021-085-060630- Niagara-Orleans-Monroe-Northern Erie-Genesee-Wyoming-Livingston- Chautauqua-Cattaraugus-Allegany-Southern Erie- 226 AM EDT Tue May 5 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western New York. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. This product, along with other watches, warnings, advisories, and statements issued by the National Weather Service office in Buffalo can be found on the internet at http://www.weather.gov/buf LEZ020-040-041-LOZ030-042-043-062-063-060630- Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor- Lake Erie nearshore waters from Ripley to Dunkirk- Lake Erie nearshore waters from Dunkirk to Buffalo- Lower Niagara River- Lake Ontario nearshore waters from the Niagara River to Hamlin Beach- Lake Ontario nearshore waters from Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay- Lake Ontario open waters from the Niagara River to Hamlin Beach- Lake Ontario open waters from Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay- 226 AM EDT Tue May 5 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. This product, along with other watches, warnings, advisories, and statements issued by the National Weather Service office in Buffalo can be found on the internet at http://www.weather.gov/buf NYZ004>008-014-060630- Wayne-Northern Cayuga-Oswego-Jefferson-Lewis-Ontario- 226 AM EDT Tue May 5 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western and north central New York. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. There is a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. The primary hazard being damaging wind gusts. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. This product, along with other watches, warnings, advisories, and statements issued by the National Weather Service office in Buffalo can be found on the internet at http://www.weather.gov/buf LOZ044-045-064-065-SLZ022-024-060630- Lake Ontario nearshore waters from Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay- Lake Ontario nearshore waters from Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River-Lake Ontario open waters from Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay- Lake Ontario open waters from Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River- Saint Lawrence River from Cape Vincent to Ogdensburg- Saint Lawrence River from Ogdensburg to Saint Regis- 226 AM EDT Tue May 5 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Lake Ontario and Saint Lawrence River. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. There is a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. The primary hazard being damaging wind gusts. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. This product, along with other watches, warnings, advisories, and statements issued by the National Weather Service office in Buffalo can be found on the internet at http://www.weather.gov/buf
Nearby
Small Craft Advisories in New York, 2026Every small craft advisory in 2026
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.