Santa Cruz Beach Conditions Today
Live water temperature, tides, waves, and UV for Santa Cruz Beach, California
Updated 1:00 AM PDT
Current conditions
Best time to go today
Morning
6 AM – 11 AM
72/100
- 53°F, wind 6 mph
- Low UV (2)
- Clear skies
Midday
11 AM – 3 PM
72/100
- 67°F, wind 12 mph
- Clear skies
Afternoon
3 PM – 7 PM
72/100
- 75°F, wind 9 mph
- Moderate UV (5)
- Clear skies
Best for
Today's tide schedule
| Tide | Time PDT | Height |
|---|---|---|
| ⬆️ High | 1:12 AM | 3.8 ft |
| ⬇️ Low | 5:44 AM | 2.7 ft |
| ⬆️ High | 11:56 AM | 5.4 ft |
| ⬇️ Low | 7:15 PM | 0.1 ft |
Predictions from NOAA station Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay · 0.9 km away. This station sits in a bay, so times and heights can differ from the open beach.
Water quality
Grades along this beach run from A to A+ — a spread, but not one that changes whether the water is safe to swim in.
Graded clean today
- West of the wharfA+
- The StairsA+
All 3 monitoring points
| Monitoring point | Distance | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| The San Lorenzo River storm drain / pier | 0.9 km | A |
| The Stairs | 0.7 km | A+ |
| West of the wharf | 0.3 km | A+ |
Dry-weather bacterial grades from the Heal the Bay Beach Report Card, updated 2026-10-09. Grades reflect the most recent agency sampling and can change after rain.
About Santa Cruz Beach
Santa Cruz Beach sits on the California coast, where the water runs from about 55°F in January to 62°F in September.
The water here never averages above 70°F — even in September, the warmest month, it sits around 62°F. Most people wear a wetsuit.
Today it is 64°F. That is 3° above the October average of 61°F here.
Tide predictions come from NOAA station Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay about 0.9 km away inside a bay.
Frequently asked questions
Is today a good beach day at Santa Cruz Beach?
We score today 72 out of 100 — good. The best window is morning (6 AM – 11 AM).
How warm is the water at Santa Cruz Beach?
About 64°F. That is 3° above the October average of 61°F here.
Where do the tide times on this page come from?
Tide predictions come from NOAA station Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay about 0.9 km away inside a bay.