How cold is cold?

it's california not cali... just like it's florida not flori.

but back to your question the coldest the pacific gets in the whole state is mid to upper 40s in the far northern reaches of the state (pelican bay area) in the depths of winter. i'd consider low 50s and below cold... here in san diego however, you will see people wearing booties in 60 degree water. unfortunately, there are a lot of californians who are spoiled pussies and don't travel much

 

The air and the water bottom out in the 50s, that's about as bad as it gets - and that's awesome if you ask me. As far as people wearing booties in 60 degree water, whatever. I see people walking around in parkas when it's 59 - it's just what you get used to. I took a dip on sunday and the water was about 60 and it felt great, but some grey windy mornings 60 feels a lot colder.

 

water and air temp California

Duck dive- i am originally from jersey- bradley beach area. I live in San Diego now. I do a lot of dawn patrols here. Anyone that tells you all you need in san diego is a 3/2 is a kook. I have surfed 12 degree air, 20 mile an hour offshore winds, 38 degree water in jersey and know what cold is. You need a 4/3 and booties here in the winter for dawn patrols. If you go to oceanside harbor in Feb- it will be offshore- it is almost always offshore. The air will be 45 the water will be 55, the sun will not be out. You need a 4/3 and booties for a 2 hour session. Yea you wont wear that 4/3 much after March but for the winter in the morning a 3/2 will not cut it at the harbor.

 

I'm originally from Oceanside. Moved to NJ 7 years ago. And yeah the water can get chilly. With that being said...... this past year was the warmest the water has been in 10 years.

 

Aguaholic -we are living parellel lives- I have lived in encinitas for the last 5 years. You like Jersey? Good food, not so good surf consistency huh? I was home over the holidays-some good waves out there but as you know it is all or nothing there. Did a woman steal you away from Oceanside or a job. I cant imagine a lot of people from California wanting to relocate to Jersey. Anyway were do you surf there?

 

ya, i came out to san diego a little while back, with only a 3/2 and was freezing my arse off.

a 4/3 and booties is good in the in winter, when water can drop in the low to mid 50s.

 

yeah. 4 mil is a must. I rock one most of the year. however, in 8 seasons surfing the reefs on sunset cliffs all winter, I never wear booties. none of the guys I surf with wear booties either. a lot of guys in 3 mils will do booties because they get chilly in their core area, but I always invest in a quality 4 mil and my feet never get cold. even in dawn patrol sessions. maybe that's just me, but none of the sd locals I surf with ever wear booties. ever. to each their own tho.

 

CA is for pussies.

Im from Red Bank bud. Moved to CA in early 08'

Air temps get close to 35 with wind chills, thats Jan through late Feb water temps aren't that cold, coldest I have felt here so far in 2 years is 49. Cold yes but not too bad comparatively speaking,

As far as what I consider cold? An early February day after a big noreaster in NJ, air temps 28 degrees 15-20 mph offshores, water temps 38 degrees and a dumping of snow on the beach.

 

Low 50's in southern California during the winter

 

Cold water

I have been surginf in water with a temperature under 10 degrees and I thought I was going to freeze and become an icecube.
I prefer warm water. I guess I need to practice more...

 

Bull****.... you would have to go to antartica for 10degree water. And in that kind of water i doubt even a 6/5 would keep you alive for very long.

 

10 degree water is ice. Even in Antarctica the water barely drops below 32 haha