Papatowai Water Temperature and Wetsuit Guide
(Catlins, New Zealand)
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Today's Papatowai sea temperature is 13.5 °C
(Which is 2.9°C warmer than normal for this time of year)
| Mean: | 10.6 °C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Range: | 8.9 °C to 12.3 °C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics for 10 May (1981–2005) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Today, many surfers would wear a spring wetsuit, a neoprene hood, gloves and boots.
The water temperature (13 °C) at Papatowai is not too cold today but the windchill (2 °C) will make the air temperature seem much colder than the sea and it is forecast to be cloudy too so a chilly prospect. You'll need at least a hooded spring wetsuit to keep surf at Papatowai today, maybe neoprene boots and gloves too.
Map of current New Zealand Surface Water Temperatures based on measurements from oceanographic satellites |
Map of current New Zealand 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 Papatowai. 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.
Papatowai water temperatures peak in the range 12 to 14°C (54 to 57°F) on around the 9th of February and are at their coldest on about the 5th of August, in the range 8 to 10°C (46 to 50°F). The highest water temperatures at Papatowai in early to mid February 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. At its coldest at the beginning of August, low water temperatures at Papatowai are suited to a 5/4mm or 5/3mm good quality wetsuit with neoprene gloves and 3mm boots. You will need a hood if it's windy or the air is cold.
Actual sea surface water temperatures close to shore at Papatowai 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 Papatowai. Refer to our detailed weather forecasts for this information.
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