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Coldest beach in California in December

404 coastal locations in California ranked by their typical December sea temperature. State-wide average in December: 13.7°C.

Coldest in December

Pyramid Point, Smith River

11.3°C

State December average

13.7°C

across 404 coastal locations in California

Vs annual mean

-0.8°C

below the year-round state average

What the California water feels like in December

Water at this temperature is cold and will feel very cold initially, but the body will get used to it and longer swims are possible. Experienced swimmers can manage several hours of swimming, however hypothermia is still a real risk.

California monthly average 12.9°C to 16.9°C
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  • Warmest month September 16.9°C
  • Coldest month March 12.9°C
  • Annual mean 14.5°C
  • Months above 20°C 0 of 12

Where December fits in the year

December sits inside the state pattern shown on the left. Browse a different month for a fresh ranking.

California sea temperature map (live)

Today's reading at every California beach we track. The list below uses the typical December mean from a decade of daily history.

Zoom in to see individual locations. Click a pin for water temperatures. View list →
°C -2 0 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 24 27 30 35

Top 50 coldest California beaches in December

Sorted by typical December mean. Click any beach for the full location page.

# Location December mean
1 Alameda Naval Air Station California 12.2°C
2 Alcatraz Island California 12.2°C
3 Angel Island, East Garrison California 12.2°C
4 Angel Island (west side) California 12.2°C
5 Antioch California 12.2°C
6 Benicia California 12.2°C
7 Bolinas, Bolinas Lagoon California 12.2°C
8 Brazos Drawbridge, Napa River California 12.2°C
9 Chevron Oil Company Pier, Richmond California 12.2°C
10 Clear Lake California 12.2°C
11 Collinsville California 12.2°C
12 Corte Madera Creek California 12.2°C
13 Crockett, Carquinez Strait California 12.2°C
14 Edgerley Island, Napa River California 12.2°C
15 Gallinas, Gallinas Creek, San Pablo Bay California 12.2°C
16 Hercules, Refugio Landing, San Pablo Bay California 12.2°C
17 Hog Island, San Antonio Creek, San Pablo Bay California 12.2°C
18 Joice Island, Suisun Slough California 12.2°C
19 Lake Sonoma California 12.2°C
20 Lakeport California 12.2°C
21 Lakeville, Petaluma River, San Pablo Bay California 12.2°C
22 Lakeville, Petaluma River California 12.2°C
23 Mallard Island Ferry Wharf California 12.2°C
24 Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Carquinez Strait California 12.2°C
25 Martinez-Amorco Pier California 12.2°C
Show 25 more ▸
26 Meins Landing, Montezuma Slough California 12.2°C
27 Montezuma Slough Bridge California 12.2°C
28 Dillon Beach California 12.1°C
29 Lake Almanor California 12.1°C
30 Bodega Harbor entrance California 12.1°C
31 Fort Ross California 12.1°C
32 Cockrobin Island Bridge, Eel River, San Francisco California 11.7°C
33 King Salmon California 11.6°C
34 Bayview California 11.6°C
35 Eureka California 11.6°C
36 Trinidad California 11.5°C
37 Arcata Wharf, Humboldt Bay California 11.4°C
38 Bucksport, Humboldt Bay California 11.4°C
39 Elk River Railroad Bridge, Humboldt Bay California 11.4°C
40 Eureka, Humboldt Bay California 11.4°C
41 Eureka Slough Bridge, Humboldt Bay California 11.4°C
42 Fields Landing, Humboldt Bay California 11.4°C
43 Hookton Slough, Humboldt Bay California 11.4°C
44 Mad River Slough, Arcata Bay, Humboldt Bay California 11.4°C
45 North Spit, Humboldt Bay California 11.4°C
46 Samoa, Humboldt Bay California 11.4°C
47 Crescent City California 11.4°C
48 Trinidad Harbor California 11.4°C
49 Pyramid Point, Smith River California 11.3°C
50 Requa Dock California 11.3°C

Warmest 10 in California in December

Same data flipped. The warmest spots in the state for this month.

# Location December mean
1 Baby Beach California 16.5°C
2 Capistrano Beach California 16.5°C
3 Dana Point California 16.5°C
4 Doheny Beach California 16.5°C
5 Salt Creek Beach California 16.5°C
6 San Clemente California 16.5°C
7 San Onofre Beach California 16.5°C
8 Trestles Beach California 16.5°C
9 Big Bear Lake California 16.5°C
10 Laguna Niguel California 16.5°C

Other US states

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