Farmer Burgers Water Temperature and Wetsuit Guide

Sunny with very warm air temperatures. In contrast the sea remains relatively cold (15 °C). Surfers should wear a spring or summer wetsuit though no doubt some would wear less neoprene on such a warm day, no matter what temperature the sea is.

Map of current South Africa Surface Water Temperatures based on measurements from oceanographic satellites

Map of current South Africa Sea Water Temperature Anomalies (compared with long term averages at this time of year)

(click thumbnails to expand)

Below is a graph of Historical Sea Surface Temperature for Farmer Burgers. This has been derived from analysis of two decades of oceanographic satellite measurements of nearby open water. We have calculated the average water temperature variation around the year as well as the extremes that have been observed on each date.

All of the graphs for the surf breaks presented on Surf-Forecast.com are on the same scale to enable comparison between locations around the world.

Farmer Burgers sea temperatures peak in the range 17 to 21°C (63 to 70°F) on around the 1st of February and are at their lowest on about the 16th of July, in the range 14 to 16°C (57 to 61°F). The warmest Farmer Burgers sea temperatures at the beginning of February require something like a 3/2mm fully sealed wetsuit. The lowest sea temperatures at Farmer Burgers in the middle of July are ideally suited to a 4/3mm wetsuit + 3mm boots, although a 5/3mm wetsuit may be preferable for longer sessions and cold windy days.

Actual sea surface water temperatures close to shore at Farmer Burgers can vary by several degrees compared with these open water averages. This is especially true after heavy rain, close to river mouths or after long periods of strong offshore winds. Offshore winds cause colder deep water to replace surface water that has been warmed by the sun. Air temperature, wind-chill and sunshine should also be considered before deciding on the kind of wetsuit needed to stay warm when surfing at Farmer Burgers. Refer to our detailed weather forecasts for this information.