Erie Water Temperature and Wetsuit Guide

Sunny with pleasant to warm air temperatures, yet the sea at Erie remains rather cold. Surfers will need a spring wetsuit and ideally neoprene hood, gloves and boots.

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

Map of current United States 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 Erie. 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.

Erie sea water temperatures peak in the range 20 to 25°C (68 to 77°F) on around the 1st of August and are at their lowest on about the 13th of February, in the range 0 to 2°C (32 to 36°F). Erie sea water temperatures are always warm reach their maximum at the beginning of August. You'll need a 2mm neoprene top or a shorty at dawn/dusk or if it's windy. The lowest sea water temperatures at Erie mean that you will need a flexible 6/5/4mm wetsuit or a well fitting 5/4mm wetsuit with gloves and 5mm neoprene booties and a hood to surf here in the third week of February.

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