United States: where to swim in January?
United States, in January: the sea is at 14.4 °C on average along the coast, from 7.1 °C to 22.1 °C depending on the spot. Where the water is warmest (22.1 °C), it is pleasant. You can swim for a long time without shivering.
Sea temperature, month by month
| Month | Average temperature | Depending on the spot | Where it is warmest |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14.4 °C | 7.1 °C – 22.1 °C | pleasant |
| February | 13.8 °C | 5.4 °C – 21.7 °C | pleasant |
| March | 14.5 °C | 5.6 °C – 22.4 °C | pleasant |
| April | 16.1 °C | 7.5 °C – 24.2 °C | warm |
| May | 18.5 °C | 11.0 °C – 26.0 °C | warm |
| June | 21.2 °C | 12.5 °C – 28.8 °C | very warm |
| July | 23.2 °C | 13.8 °C – 29.9 °C | very warm |
| August | 23.8 °C | 14.7 °C – 30.4 °C | very warm |
| September | 23.0 °C | 14.5 °C – 29.4 °C | very warm |
| October | 21.2 °C | 13.5 °C – 28.2 °C | very warm |
| November | 18.2 °C | 11.5 °C – 25.6 °C | warm |
| December | 16.1 °C | 9.2 °C – 23.7 °C | warm |
Compared with December, the water cools down by 1.7 °C in January. The warmest month: August (23.8 °C). The coldest: February (13.8 °C).
Where the water is warmest in January
- Hawaii 24.9 °C · warm
- Florida 21.1 °C · warm
- Texas 18.2 °C · pleasant
- South Carolina 17.7 °C · pleasant
- Alabama 17.6 °C · pleasant
- Louisiana 17.2 °C · pleasant
- North Carolina 16.7 °C · warm
- Georgia 15.8 °C · pleasant
- California 13.3 °C · cool
- Oregon 10.4 °C · cold
- Washington 9.2 °C · very cold
- Virginia 8.5 °C · cold
- New York 7.7 °C · very cold
- New Jersey 7.5 °C · very cold
- Massachusetts 7.0 °C · very cold
- Maine 6.7 °C · very cold
- Maryland 6.0 °C · very cold
- Alaska 2.0 °C · very cold
And right now?
For the temperature measured right now, station by station and to the hour: United States: water temperature
Frequently asked questions
What is the sea temperature in January?
United States, in January: 14.4 °C on average along the coast, from 7.1 °C in the coolest waters to 22.1 °C in the warmest (average of the years 2011 to 2025).
Can you swim in January?
Where the water is warmest (22.1 °C), it is pleasant. You can swim for a long time without shivering.
What is the best month for swimming?
The water is warmest in August (23.8 °C on average) and coldest in February (13.8 °C). Where the water is warmest, it goes above 20 °C in these months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
Where is the water warmest in January?
The warmest in January: Hawaii (24.9 °C), Florida (21.1 °C), Texas (18.2 °C). The coolest: Alaska (2.0 °C).
Where do these temperatures come from?
These are averages of the sea surface temperature from 2011 to 2025, computed from NOAA satellite images (OISST, one value about every 50 km), in a 100 km strip along the coasts of the main country: distant territories (overseas, remote islands) are not counted. It is an estimate, not a measurement taken at the beach: lakes and rivers are not included.