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Wind, waves, currents, and water levels were measured near Lake Erie's southeastern shore during fall 1981. Data were recorded continuously at a wave research tower 6 km offshore at three Waverider buoys deployed around the tower and at three current meter moorings along a transect between the tower and the shore. During four storm episodes, wave and current data were also recorded from a dense array of instruments along a transect across the surf zone. A statistical analysis of the deep water data was performed, and histograms of meteorological parameters, wave parameters, and water level slope were plotted as a function of wind direction. The atmospheric boundary layer was usually unstable; on the average, the water was 2–3°C warmer than the air. This was true for all wind directions. At the tower the highest waves were associated with the greatest fetch distances to the WSW and WNW directions. The longest period waves were also associated with these wind directions. The mean water level slope was opposite the mean wind direction. This discrepancy is most likely due to small leveling errors in the water level gages. The variation of currents with wind direction was also examined. The currents are strongest when the winds are from the west, the quadrant with the strongest wind speeds. However, there are strong currents (5–10 cm/s) for all wind directions. The deep water currents are basically shore parallel, with the onshore/offshore component averaging 39% of the root mean square longshore component. Analysis of the four storm episodes reveals the influence of the offshore currents on the flow regime within the surf zone. Quantitative estimates of the longshore momentum balance outside the surf zone show wind stress and pressure gradient to be the dominant dynamic terms. Inside the surf zone, the radiation stress, wind stress, and bottom stress terms all have comparable effects and are usually larger than the acceleration and pressure gradient terms. In between, there is evidence of longshore flow reversals in the breaker zone and the effect of seiche‐induced offshore currents on the near‐shore flow regime.