Travel
The best time to swim in California
From chilly NorCal upwelling to the warmest Southern California bays.
5 min read
California's coastline is not warm by global standards. Cold water upwelling keeps much of the coast in the teens even in summer, while the Southern California Bight and Channel Islands are the warmest options.
Month-by-month
- January–April: 13–16°C across most of the coast; wetsuit essential.
- May–July: 16–20°C in Southern California; central and northern coasts stay cooler.
- August–October: 19–23°C at San Diego, LA and Orange County beaches; the warmest window.
- November–December: cools back to 16–18°C in the south.