NOAA observations
Ocean Water Temperature by City
Live readings from NOAA tide stations, the wetsuit each temperature calls for, and November's long-run average for comparison. Every number below is measured, not modelled.
| City | Water now | November avg | Wear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | 82.8°F / 28.2°C | 80°F | Boardshorts or a rashguard |
| Galveston, TX | 77.7°F / 25.4°C | 72.5°F | Boardshorts or a rashguard |
| Cocoa Beach, FL | 77.6°F / 25.3°Cavg | 77.6°F | Boardshorts or a rashguard |
| La Jolla, CA | 75.4°F / 24.1°C | 62.4°F | Boardshorts or a rashguard |
| San Diego, CA | 72.3°F / 22.4°C | 64.5°F | Springsuit or 2mm fullsuit |
| Santa Monica, CA | 71.4°F / 21.9°C | 62.1°F | Springsuit or 2mm fullsuit |
| Folly Beach, SC | 69.8°F / 21°C | 65°F | Springsuit or 2mm fullsuit |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 69.4°F / 20.8°C | 63.8°F | Springsuit or 2mm fullsuit |
| Wrightsville Beach, NC | 68.7°F / 20.4°C | 64°F | Springsuit or 2mm fullsuit |
| Ocean City, MD | 63°F / 17.2°C | 56.4°F | 3/2mm fullsuit |
Working out what to wear
The suit column above is the shortest possible answer. Wind, how long you are staying in and how hard you are working all shift it by a band — the wetsuit thickness chart has the full temperature-to-thickness table, the wetsuit temperature calculator takes a number and returns a suit, and the wetsuit guide covers fit, seams and what actually keeps you warm.
Learning somewhere warm first is the easier path: the best beginner surf spots weighs water temperature against wave size and crowds.
Source: NOAA CO-OPS water-temperature sensors. Monthly averages computed from four years of hourly observations per station.
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