Santa Cruz Beach Water Temperature
Sea-surface temperature at Santa Cruz Beach, California · times in PDT
Updated 1:00 AM PDT
How it compares today
Water temperature through the year
Monthly normals computed from 2023–2025 daily sea-surface temperature history.
Nearby water right now
7-day outlook
| Day | Air high / low | Max UV | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Oct 13 | 77° / 48° | 5 | 0% |
| Wed, Oct 14 | 72° / 51° | 5 | 0% |
| Thu, Oct 15 | 80° / 63° | 5 | 0% |
| Fri, Oct 16 | 81° / 67° | 5 | 0% |
| Sat, Oct 17 | 79° / 65° | 5 | 0% |
| Sun, Oct 18 | 72° / 59° | 5 | 0% |
| Mon, Oct 19 | 65° / 55° | 4 | 11% |
Sea-surface temperature and wave data from the Open-Meteo marine model; weather from Open-Meteo.
Is Santa Cruz Beach warm enough to swim?
At 64°F, the water at Santa Cruz Beach is chilly — wetsuit recommended. Most swimmers are comfortable without a wetsuit above 72°F; below 62°F, cold-water shock becomes a real risk for unprotected swimmers.
That is 3° above the October average of 61°F here.
The water here never averages above 70°F — even in September, the warmest month, it sits around 62°F. Most people wear a wetsuit.
Frequently asked questions
How warm is the water at Santa Cruz Beach right now?
The sea-surface temperature is about 64°F. That is 3° above the October average of 61°F here.
When is the water warm enough to swim at Santa Cruz Beach?
The water here never averages above 70°F — even in September, the warmest month, it sits around 62°F. Most people wear a wetsuit.
What is the warmest the water gets at Santa Cruz Beach?
Around 62°F in September, based on 2023–2025 records. The coolest month is January at roughly 55°F.