Water temperature · North Carolina
Surf City water temperature
70°F21°C
No reading from the sensor in the last 12 hours: see the satellite reading.
Read Oct 30, 12:06 PM EDT at Wrightsville Beach, 20 mi SW
The sea is 2°F cooler than usual for late October.
- Cool: a 2 mm shorty or spring suit
The last 35 days
Daily satellite sea-surface temperature (NASA MUR, 1 km) at the nearest ocean point, 0.3 mi from town. Satellites read the top millimeter of water; a sensor a few feet down can differ by a degree or two.
Surf City water temperature by month
Warmest in August (82°F on average), coolest in February (53°F). The water averages 75°F or more from June to September.
Bars: the 2016–2025 average of each month (outlined: this month). Lines: the coolest and warmest year’s monthly average.
Month-by-month numbers and what to wear
| Month | Average | In the water |
|---|---|---|
| January | 53°F 12°C | Very cold: a 4/3 mm wetsuit and booties |
| February | 53°F 12°C | Very cold: a 4/3 mm wetsuit and booties |
| March | 56°F 13°C | Very cold: a 4/3 mm wetsuit and booties |
| April | 63°F 17°C | Cold: a 3/2 mm full wetsuit |
| May | 71°F 22°C | Cool: a 2 mm shorty or spring suit |
| June | 78°F 26°C | Comfortable for most swimmers |
| July | 82°F 28°C | Warm: a swimsuit is plenty |
| August | 82°F 28°C | Warm: a swimsuit is plenty |
| September | 80°F 27°C | Comfortable for most swimmers |
| October | 73°F 23°C | Comfortable for most swimmers |
| November | 65°F 18°C | Cold: a 3/2 mm full wetsuit |
| December | 57°F 14°C | Very cold: a 4/3 mm wetsuit and booties |
Tides at Surf City
Low tide leaves more beach; the water near shore warms fastest on a sunny incoming tide over the flats.
Questions
What is the water temperature in Surf City today?
The nearest sensor, Wrightsville Beach (20 mi away), read 70°F at Oct 30, 12:06 PM EDT. This page updates every hour.
Is the water warmer or colder than usual?
The satellite reading on Oct 28 was 68°F, 2°F cooler than usual for late October (70°F is the 2016–2025 average for the date).
When is the water warmest in Surf City?
August, at about 82°F on average (2016–2025).
Is the water warm enough to swim in October?
The October average is 73°F: comfortable for most swimmers.
Where the readings come from
The live reading is from Wrightsville Beach (NOAA CO-OPS 8658163), 20 mi SW of Surf City, checked every hour. The daily and monthly figures are NASA JPL’s Multi-scale Ultra-high Resolution (MUR) sea-surface temperature, a 1 km satellite analysis, read through NOAA CoastWatch. All sources