Santa Monica Beach Conditions Today
Live water temperature, tides, waves, and UV for Santa Monica Beach, California
Updated 12:53 AM PDT
Current conditions
Best time to go today
Morning
6 AM – 11 AM
85/100
- 60°F, wind 6 mph
- Low UV (3)
- Clear skies
Midday
11 AM – 3 PM
93/100
- 70°F, wind 9 mph
- Clear skies
Afternoon
3 PM – 7 PM
95/100
- 70°F, wind 9 mph
- Moderate UV (5)
- Clear skies
Best for
Today's tide schedule
| Tide | Time PDT | Height |
|---|---|---|
| ⬇️ Low | 4:23 AM | 2.2 ft |
| ⬆️ High | 10:42 AM | 5.8 ft |
| ⬇️ Low | 6:00 PM | 0.2 ft |
Predictions from NOAA station Santa Monica, Municipal Pier · 0.1 km away.
Water quality
Where you swim changes the answer here — we score this beach 30 at its worst monitored point and 95 at its best.
Cleanest today
- Montana 50 yards south of storm drainA+
- Strand St. (in front of the restrooms)A
Avoid today
- Santa Monica Municipal PierF
These are storm drains and piers, which are sampled precisely because they are the worst spots on a beach.
All 7 monitoring points
| Monitoring point | Distance | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Monica Municipal Pier storm drain / pier | 0.1 km | F |
| Pico/Kenter storm drain storm drain / pier | 0.6 km | C |
| Wilshire 50 yards south of storm drain | 0.8 km | C |
| Wilshire Blvd. drain storm drain / pier | 0.9 km | B |
| Strand St. (in front of the restrooms) | 1 km | A |
| Montana 50 yards south of storm drain | 1.6 km | A+ |
| Montana Ave. drain storm drain / pier | 1.7 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 Monica Beach
Santa Monica Beach sits on the California coast, where the water runs from about 58°F in January to 71°F in August.
The water averages above 70°F in August and September — 2 months of the year — peaking around 71°F in August and dropping to about 58°F in January.
Today it is 73°F. That is 6° above the October average of 67°F here.
Tide predictions come from NOAA station Santa Monica, Municipal Pier about 0.1 km away on the open coast.
Frequently asked questions
Is today a good beach day at Santa Monica Beach?
We score today 95 out of 100 — great. The best window is afternoon (3 PM – 7 PM).
How warm is the water at Santa Monica Beach?
About 73°F. That is 6° above the October average of 67°F here.
Where do the tide times on this page come from?
Tide predictions come from NOAA station Santa Monica, Municipal Pier about 0.1 km away on the open coast.