Topsail Island Water Temperature and Wetsuit Guide

The Topsail Island water temperature is warm (20 °C) and the air temperature not too different (windchill forecast 19 °C). A good quality summer wetsuit would be ideal though a shorty will suffice.

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 Topsail Island. 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.

Topsail Island water temperatures peak in the range 27 to 29°C (81 to 84°F) on around the 18th of July and are at their minimum on about the 15th of February, in the range 18 to 21°C (64 to 70°F). Year round warm water temperatures at Topsail Island climb to their warmest in the third week of July. Even then a rash vest and board shorts should be fine for surfing at any time of year. The minimum Topsail Island water temperatures in mid February require something like a 3/2mm fully sealed wetsuit.

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