Santa Catarina Water Temperature and Wetsuit Guide

The water temperature (16 °C) at Santa Catarina is quite cool. If the sun shines as we have forecast, it should feel warm enough to surf in a good spring wetsuit. Effective windchill factor of (15 °C) will make the air and water feel about the same temperature.

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

Map of current Portugal 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 Santa Catarina. 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.

Santa Catarina sea temperatures peak in the range 22 to 25°C (72 to 77°F) on around the 16th of August and are at their coldest on about the 4th of March, in the range 14 to 17°C (57 to 63°F). Santa Catarina sea temperatures are always warm reach their highest in the middle of August. You'll need a 2mm neoprene top or a shorty at dawn/dusk or if it's windy. The coldest seasonal sea temperatures at Santa Catarina in early March lend themselves to a 4/3mm wetsuit or a 3/2mm suit and 3mm neoprene boots.

Actual sea surface water temperatures close to shore at Santa Catarina 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 Santa Catarina. Refer to our detailed weather forecasts for this information.