Santa Monica Beach Water Temperature
Sea-surface temperature at Santa Monica 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 | 84° / 71° | 8 | 2% |
| Sat, Aug 29 | 81° / 71° | 8 | 1% |
| Sun, Aug 30 | 84° / 74° | 8 | 0% |
| Mon, Aug 31 | 83° / 72° | 8 | 1% |
| Tue, Sep 1 | 83° / 70° | 8 | 13% |
| Wed, Sep 2 | 83° / 73° | 8 | 20% |
| Thu, Sep 3 | 81° / 73° | 7 | 13% |
Sea-surface temperature and wave data from the Open-Meteo marine model; weather from Open-Meteo.
Is Santa Monica Beach warm enough to swim?
At 74°F, the water at Santa Monica Beach is comfortable. 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 August average of 71°F here.
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.
Frequently asked questions
How warm is the water at Santa Monica Beach right now?
The sea-surface temperature is about 74°F. That is 3° above the August average of 71°F here.
When is the water warm enough to swim at Santa Monica Beach?
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.
What is the warmest the water gets at Santa Monica Beach?
Around 71°F in August, based on 2023–2025 records. The coolest month is January at roughly 58°F.