Today's Sands sea temperature is 22.3 °C
(Slightly warmer than usual (0.8° above average))
| Mean: | 21.5 °C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Range: | 18.9 °C to 23.3 °C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics for 12 Jul (1981–2005) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Today, many surfers would wear a shorty .
Sunny with pleasantly warm air temperatures (feeling like 23 °C once we account for wind), and similar sea temperatures (22 °C). Wear boardshorts or a shorty, or better still a thin summer wetsuit to keep the UV off.
 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 Sands. 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.
Sands water temperatures peak in the range 22 to 24°C (72 to 75°F) on around the 9th of August and are at their minimum on about the 1st of March, in the range 1 to 4°C (34 to 39°F). Sands water temperatures are always warm reach their highest in early to mid August. You'll need a 2mm neoprene top or a shorty at dawn/dusk or if it's windy. The minimum water temperatures at Sands 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 at the beginning of March.
Actual sea surface water temperatures close to shore at Sands 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 Sands. Refer to our detailed weather forecasts for this information.
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