Swimming at Monterey State Beach today
Monterey, California
Updated 1:00 AM PDT
What decides a swimming score
Water quality
Every monitored point along this beach currently grades B.
All 1 monitoring point
| Monitoring point | Distance | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| (at the commercial wharf)* | 0.6 km | B |
Dry-weather bacterial grades from the Heal the Bay Beach Report Card, updated 2026-09-04. Grades reflect the most recent agency sampling and can change after rain.
Before you swim
Surf is running 6.1 ft today, which makes shorebreak and currents stronger than usual.
Swim near a staffed lifeguard tower, and check the National Weather Service surf-zone forecast for the official rip-current outlook — we report conditions, we don't forecast rip currents.
Better nearby for swimming
Monterey State Beach is also scored for
About Monterey State Beach
Monterey State Beach sits on the California coast, where the water runs from about 55°F in February to 61°F in September.
The water here never averages above 70°F — even in September, the warmest month, it sits around 61°F. Most people wear a wetsuit.
Today it is 65°F. That is 4° above the October average of 61°F here.
Tide predictions come from NOAA station Monterey, Monterey Bay about 1 km away inside a bay.
Frequently asked questions
Is Monterey State Beach good for swimming today?
Poor for swimming — we score it 46 out of 100 today. The limiting factor is surf calmness at 6.1 ft.
What makes a good swimming day?
We weight water temperature (40%), surf calmness (25%), uv exposure (15%) and combine them into one score. Conditions we cannot read are left out rather than guessed.
When is the best time of year to swim at Monterey State Beach?
The water here never averages above 70°F — even in September, the warmest month, it sits around 61°F. Most people wear a wetsuit.