Water temperature · Virginia
Chincoteague water temperature
64°F18°C
No reading from the sensor in the last 12 hours: see the satellite reading.
Read Oct 30, 12:00 PM EDT at Wachapreague, 28 mi SW
The sea is 3°F cooler than usual for late October.
- Cold: a 3/2 mm full wetsuit
The last 35 days
Daily satellite sea-surface temperature (NASA MUR, 1 km) at the nearest ocean point, 0.2 mi from town. Satellites read the top millimeter of water; a sensor a few feet down can differ by a degree or two.
Chincoteague water temperature by month
Warmest in July (77°F on average), coolest in February (42°F). The water averages 75°F or more from July to August.
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 | 43°F 6°C | A 5/4 mm wetsuit, booties, gloves and hood |
| February | 42°F 6°C | A 6 mm wetsuit with a hood, or stay out |
| March | 46°F 8°C | A 5/4 mm wetsuit, booties, gloves and hood |
| April | 52°F 11°C | A 5/4 mm wetsuit, booties, gloves and hood |
| May | 61°F 16°C | Cold: a 3/2 mm full wetsuit |
| June | 71°F 21°C | Cool: a 2 mm shorty or spring suit |
| July | 77°F 25°C | Comfortable for most swimmers |
| August | 76°F 25°C | Comfortable for most swimmers |
| September | 74°F 24°C | Comfortable for most swimmers |
| October | 68°F 20°C | Cool: a 2 mm shorty or spring suit |
| November | 58°F 15°C | Cold: a 3/2 mm full wetsuit |
| December | 49°F 9°C | A 5/4 mm wetsuit, booties, gloves and hood |
Tides at Chincoteague
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 Chincoteague today?
The nearest sensor, Wachapreague (28 mi away), read 64°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 61°F, 3°F cooler than usual for late October (64°F is the 2016–2025 average for the date).
When is the water warmest in Chincoteague?
July, at about 77°F on average (2016–2025).
Is the water warm enough to swim in October?
The October average is 68°F: cool: a 2 mm shorty or spring suit.
Where the readings come from
The live reading is from Wachapreague (NOAA CO-OPS 8631044), 28 mi SW of Chincoteague, 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