Water temperature · South Carolina
Myrtle Beach water temperature
68°F20°C
No reading from the sensor in the last 12 hours: see the satellite reading.
Read Oct 30, 12:00 PM EDT at Springmaid Pier, 3.0 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, 0.7 mi from town. Satellites read the top millimeter of water; a sensor a few feet down can differ by a degree or two.
Myrtle Beach water temperature by month
Warmest in July (83°F on average), coolest in January (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 | 57°F 14°C | Very cold: a 4/3 mm wetsuit and booties |
| April | 65°F 18°C | Cold: a 3/2 mm full wetsuit |
| May | 73°F 23°C | Comfortable for most swimmers |
| June | 79°F 26°C | Comfortable for most swimmers |
| July | 83°F 28°C | Warm: a swimsuit is plenty |
| August | 83°F 28°C | Warm: a swimsuit is plenty |
| September | 80°F 27°C | Warm: a swimsuit is plenty |
| October | 73°F 23°C | Comfortable for most swimmers |
| November | 64°F 18°C | Cold: a 3/2 mm full wetsuit |
| December | 56°F 13°C | Very cold: a 4/3 mm wetsuit and booties |
Tides at Myrtle Beach
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 Myrtle Beach today?
The nearest sensor, Springmaid Pier (3.0 mi away), read 68°F at Oct 30, 12:00 PM EDT. This page updates every hour.
Is the water warmer or colder than usual?
The satellite reading on Oct 28 was 67°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 Myrtle Beach?
July, at about 83°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 Springmaid Pier (NOAA CO-OPS 8661070), 3.0 mi SW of Myrtle Beach, 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