Santa Cruz Beach Water Temperature
Sea-surface temperature at Santa Cruz Beach, California · times in PDT
Updated 4:03 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Aug 28 | 78° / 60° | 7 | 9% |
| Sat, Aug 29 | 77° / 54° | 7 | 1% |
| Sun, Aug 30 | 68° / 57° | 7 | 0% |
| Mon, Aug 31 | 66° / 56° | 7 | 0% |
| Tue, Sep 1 | 69° / 59° | 7 | 1% |
| Wed, Sep 2 | 76° / 58° | 7 | 2% |
| Thu, Sep 3 | 70° / 59° | 7 | 5% |
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 61°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 1° above the August average of 60°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 61°F. That is 1° above the August average of 60°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.