Average annual water temperature on the coast in Los Angeles is 62°F, by the seasons: in winter 59°F, in spring 59°F, in summer 66°F, in autumn 65°F.
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Tourists from around the globe complain about the winter and even summer temperatures of the Pacific Ocean in California. While the cool water temps help to provide some of the finest air temperatures along the coast throughout the seasons, the water is, indeed, chilly.
But on that same beach, it's not uncommon to see kids shivering as they run out of the water, or a surfer wearing a partial wetsuit as they jog out for a session. California's ocean water is pretty cold, even in the summer, and it often catches visitors off-guard.
The water temperature in the ocean in Los Angeles varies throughout the year, but generally, it is warm enough to swim from late spring to early fall. The warmest months are typically July, August, and September, when ocean temperatures can reach into the low 70s Fahrenheit (low 20s Celsius).
The upwelling further cools the already cool California Current. This is the mechanism that produces California's characteristic coastal fog and cool ocean waters. As a result, ocean surf temperatures are much colder along the Pacific coast than the Atlantic coast.
Even with 280 days of Santa Monica sunshine, the Pacific Ocean tends to be a little cold, so you may want to consider swimming during warmer months. Planning on heading out in winter and spring months? Wetsuits are recommended for all water activities.
La Jolla Cove is widely known to have some of the clearest water anywhere. Water here tends to be warmer and clearer because of its protected cove, with underwater visibility extending up to 30 feet.