Swimming in California in december 2024 Sea temperature by city in december
Do you want to go to the beach in California in december 2024? Is it the right month to go for pleasant temperatures and staying in the water for a long time? The answer is on this page with the sea temperatures in december in California by city and our opinion on the chances of enjoying pleasant sea conditions.
Sea temperature in California in december 2024
Here, find the average sea temperature in California in december in several coastal cities.
61°F
min: 59°F / max: 63°F
55°F
min: 53°F / max: 57°F
61°F
min: 59°F / max: 63°F
56°F
min: 54°F / max: 58°F
Cambria
58°F
min: 56°F / max: 60°F
56°F
min: 55°F / max: 58°F
Channel Islands National Park
59°F
min: 58°F / max: 60°F
Crescent City
52°F
min: 49°F / max: 56°F
Encinitas
61°F
min: 58°F / max: 63°F
53°F
min: 49°F / max: 57°F
Gaviota
59°F
min: 58°F / max: 61°F
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
55°F
min: 53°F / max: 57°F
Gualala
55°F
min: 52°F / max: 57°F
55°F
min: 53°F / max: 57°F
61°F
min: 59°F / max: 62°F
Jenner
54°F
min: 52°F / max: 57°F
Klamath
52°F
min: 49°F / max: 56°F
60°F
min: 59°F / max: 61°F
Manhattan Beach
61°F
min: 59°F / max: 63°F
McKinleyville
53°F
min: 49°F / max: 56°F
54°F
min: 52°F / max: 58°F
58°F
min: 56°F / max: 60°F
Moss Beach
55°F
min: 53°F / max: 57°F
Newport Beach
61°F
min: 59°F / max: 63°F
55°F
min: 53°F / max: 57°F
Oceanside
61°F
min: 59°F / max: 63°F
Oxnard
59°F
min: 58°F / max: 61°F
Pacific Grove
56°F
min: 54°F / max: 58°F
Pescadero
55°F
min: 53°F / max: 57°F
58°F
min: 56°F / max: 60°F
Point Reyes
55°F
min: 53°F / max: 57°F
61°F
min: 58°F / max: 63°F
59°F
min: 57°F / max: 60°F
56°F
min: 54°F / max: 58°F
61°F
min: 59°F / max: 63°F
Sea Ranch
54°F
min: 52°F / max: 57°F
Stinson Beach
55°F
min: 52°F / max: 57°F
Timber Cove
54°F
min: 52°F / max: 57°F
Topanga
60°F
min: 58°F / max: 61°F
59°F
min: 58°F / max: 61°F
54°F
min: 52°F / max: 57°F
61°F
min: 58°F / max: 63°F
Chula Vista
61°F
min: 58°F / max: 63°F
Fort Bragg
54°F
min: 52°F / max: 57°F
61°F
min: 59°F / max: 63°F
Where should you go swimming in California in the month of december?
Swimming in California in december is cold (in the best case scenario)
In december in California swimming conditions vary by city. Details below:
Swimming in december in Los Angeles , San Diego, Encinitas, Hollywood, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Newport Beach, Oceanside, Oxnard, San Clemente, Santa Monica, Topanga, Ventura, Carlsbad, Chula Vista and Huntington Beach is possible... with a wetsuit! Indeed, the water is cold at this time of year with an average temperature of 61°F (min: 59°F/max: 63°F).
Forget about swimming in San Francisco, Big Sur, Cambria, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Channel Islands National Park, Crescent City, Eureka, Gaviota, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Gualala, Half Moon Bay, Jenner, Klamath, McKinleyville, Mendocino, Morro Bay, Moss Beach, Oakland, Pacific Grove, Pescadero, Pismo Beach, Point Reyes, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz California, Sea Ranch, Stinson Beach, Timber Cove, Bodega Bay and Fort Bragg in december! The water temperature is freezing, reaching as low as 53°F (and only 57°F at the best of times). Our advice: plan on sightseeing, and don't bring your beach towel!
Where to go swimming in California in december: the map of sea temperatures
ideal swimming 
pleasant swimming 
cool swimming 
cold swimming 
freezing swimmingWater temperature and seasonal norms in december
Los Angeles
| December | |||
| Average sea temperature | 61°F | ||
| Minimum sea temperature | 59°F | ||
| Maximum sea temperature | 63°F | ||
| Average outside temperature | 61°F | ||
| Maximum outside temperature | 67°F | ||
| Minimum outside temperature | 54°F | ||
| Precipitation | 2.9in | ||
| Number of days of precipitation | 3 jour(s) (8%) | ||
| Cloud cover | 21% | ||
| Our opinion | cold swimming |
More information on swimming in Los Angeles in december
San Francisco
| December | |||
| Average sea temperature | 55°F | ||
| Minimum sea temperature | 53°F | ||
| Maximum sea temperature | 57°F | ||
| Average outside temperature | 54°F | ||
| Maximum outside temperature | 59°F | ||
| Minimum outside temperature | 49°F | ||
| Precipitation | 2.5in | ||
| Number of days of precipitation | 4 jour(s) (13%) | ||
| Cloud cover | 33% | ||
| Our opinion | freezing swimming |
More information on swimming in San Francisco in december
San Diego
| December | |||
| Average sea temperature | 61°F | ||
| Minimum sea temperature | 59°F | ||
| Maximum sea temperature | 63°F | ||
| Average outside temperature | 61°F | ||
| Maximum outside temperature | 67°F | ||
| Minimum outside temperature | 56°F | ||
| Precipitation | 2.6in | ||
| Number of days of precipitation | 3 jour(s) (9%) | ||
| Cloud cover | 22% | ||
| Our opinion | cold swimming |
More information on swimming in San Diego in december
Big Sur
| December | |||
| Average sea temperature | 56°F | ||
| Minimum sea temperature | 54°F | ||
| Maximum sea temperature | 58°F | ||
| Average outside temperature | 54°F | ||
| Maximum outside temperature | 59°F | ||
| Minimum outside temperature | 50°F | ||
| Precipitation | 4.3in | ||
| Number of days of precipitation | 5 jour(s) (17%) | ||
| Cloud cover | 31% | ||
| Our opinion | freezing swimming |
More information on swimming in Big Sur in december
Cambria
| December | |||
| Average sea temperature | 58°F | ||
| Minimum sea temperature | 56°F | ||
| Maximum sea temperature | 60°F | ||
| Average outside temperature | 56°F | ||
| Maximum outside temperature | 61°F | ||
| Minimum outside temperature | 49°F | ||
| Precipitation | 2.4in | ||
| Number of days of precipitation | 3 jour(s) (10%) | ||
| Cloud cover | 26% | ||
| Our opinion | freezing swimming |
List of coastal cities in California
| Los Angeles in december | cold swimming |
| San Francisco in december | freezing swimming |
| San Diego in december | cold swimming |
| Big Sur in december | freezing swimming |
| Cambria in december | freezing swimming |
| Carmel-by-the-Sea in december | freezing swimming |
| Channel Islands National Park in december | freezing swimming |
| Crescent City in december | freezing swimming |
| Encinitas in december | cold swimming |
| Eureka in december | freezing swimming |
| Gaviota in december | freezing swimming |
| Golden Gate National Recreation Area in december | freezing swimming |
| Gualala in december | freezing swimming |
| Half Moon Bay in december | freezing swimming |
| Hollywood in december | cold swimming |
| Jenner in december | freezing swimming |
| Klamath in december | freezing swimming |
| Malibu in december | cold swimming |
| Manhattan Beach in december | cold swimming |
| McKinleyville in december | freezing swimming |
| Mendocino in december | freezing swimming |
| Morro Bay in december | freezing swimming |
| Moss Beach in december | freezing swimming |
| Newport Beach in december | cold swimming |
| Oakland in december | freezing swimming |
| Oceanside in december | cold swimming |
| Oxnard in december | cold swimming |
| Pacific Grove in december | freezing swimming |
| Pescadero in december | freezing swimming |
| Pismo Beach in december | freezing swimming |
| Point Reyes in december | freezing swimming |
| San Clemente in december | cold swimming |
| Santa Barbara in december | freezing swimming |
| Santa Cruz California in december | freezing swimming |
| Santa Monica in december | cold swimming |
| Sea Ranch in december | freezing swimming |
| Stinson Beach in december | freezing swimming |
| Timber Cove in december | freezing swimming |
| Topanga in december | cold swimming |
| Ventura in december | cold swimming |
| Bodega Bay in december | freezing swimming |
| Carlsbad in december | cold swimming |
| Chula Vista in december | cold swimming |
| Fort Bragg in december | freezing swimming |
| Huntington Beach in december | cold swimming |