United States: where to swim in October?
United States, in October: the sea is at 21.2 °C on average along the coast, from 13.5 °C to 28.2 °C depending on the spot. Where the water is warmest (28.2 °C), it is very warm. Almost lukewarm: you can get in without any cold shock.
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 September, the water cools down by 1.8 °C in October. The warmest month: August (23.8 °C). The coldest: February (13.8 °C).
Where the water is warmest in October
- Florida 27.7 °C · very warm
- Texas 27.5 °C · very warm
- Hawaii 27.0 °C · very warm
- Louisiana 26.6 °C · very warm
- Alabama 26.4 °C · very warm
- Georgia 25.5 °C · warm
- South Carolina 25.3 °C · warm
- North Carolina 24.4 °C · very warm
- Virginia 20.5 °C · pleasant
- Maryland 19.6 °C · pleasant
- New Jersey 18.8 °C · pleasant
- New York 18.0 °C · cool
- California 16.5 °C · pleasant
- Massachusetts 15.9 °C · cool
- Oregon 13.6 °C · cold
- Maine 13.2 °C · cold
- Washington 13.1 °C · cold
- Alaska 6.7 °C · cold
And right now?
At sea, 19.0 °C on average across 687 stations, from 1.3 °C (9491094 - Red Dog Dock, AK) to 28.9 °C (Kawaihae, HI). In fresh water, 13.1 °C on average across 1950 stations, from -0.8 °C (NABESNA RIVER NEAR NORTHWAY 14SSW) to 32.9 °C (Hot C A Flume Nr Mammoth Lakes Ca). United States: water temperature
Frequently asked questions
What is the sea temperature in October?
United States, in October: 21.2 °C on average along the coast, from 13.5 °C in the coolest waters to 28.2 °C in the warmest (average of the years 2011 to 2025).
Can you swim in October?
Where the water is warmest (28.2 °C), it is very warm. Almost lukewarm: you can get in without any cold shock.
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 October?
The warmest in October: Florida (27.7 °C), Texas (27.5 °C), Hawaii (27.0 °C). The coolest: Alaska (6.7 °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.