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Coldest beach in California in May

404 coastal locations in California ranked by their typical May sea temperature. State-wide average in May: 13.4°C.

Coldest in May

Green Cove

10.2°C

State May average

13.4°C

across 404 coastal locations in California

Vs annual mean

-1.1°C

below the year-round state average

What the California water feels like in May

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 May fits in the year

May 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 May 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 May

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

# Location May mean
1 Drakes Bay California 11.7°C
2 Southeast Farallon Island California 11.5°C
3 Blakes Landing, Tomales Bay California 11.3°C
4 Drakes Bay, Point Reyes California 11.3°C
5 Inverness, Tomales Bay California 11.3°C
6 Marshall, Tomales Bay California 11.3°C
7 Reynolds, Tomales Bay California 11.3°C
8 Tomales Bay entrance California 11.3°C
9 Bayview California 11.1°C
10 Eureka California 11.1°C
11 King Salmon California 11.1°C
12 Trinidad Harbor California 11.1°C
13 Arcata Wharf, Humboldt Bay California 11.0°C
14 Bucksport, Humboldt Bay California 11.0°C
15 Elk River Railroad Bridge, Humboldt Bay California 11.0°C
16 Eureka, Humboldt Bay California 11.0°C
17 Eureka Slough Bridge, Humboldt Bay California 11.0°C
18 Fields Landing, Humboldt Bay California 11.0°C
19 Hookton Slough, Humboldt Bay California 11.0°C
20 Mad River Slough, Arcata Bay, Humboldt Bay California 11.0°C
21 North Spit, Humboldt Bay California 11.0°C
22 Samoa, Humboldt Bay California 11.0°C
23 Trinidad California 10.9°C
24 Fort Bragg California 10.9°C
25 Glass Beach California 10.9°C
Show 25 more ▸
26 Mendocino California 10.9°C
27 Bodega Bay California 10.9°C
28 Jenner California 10.9°C
29 Salmon Creek California 10.9°C
30 Shelter Cove California 10.8°C
31 Sea Ranch California 10.8°C
32 Shasta Lake California 10.7°C
33 Dillon Beach California 10.7°C
34 Lake Almanor California 10.7°C
35 Mendocino, Mendocino Bay California 10.7°C
36 Noyo Harbor, Fort Bragg California 10.7°C
37 Noyo River California 10.7°C
38 Crescent City California 10.7°C
39 Pyramid Point, Smith River California 10.7°C
40 Requa Dock California 10.7°C
41 Cockrobin Island Bridge, Eel River, San Francisco California 10.7°C
42 Westport California 10.6°C
43 Clear Lake California 10.6°C
44 Lake Sonoma California 10.6°C
45 Lakeport California 10.6°C
46 Arena Cove California 10.4°C
47 Point Arena California 10.4°C
48 Bodega Harbor entrance California 10.3°C
49 Fort Ross California 10.3°C
50 Green Cove California 10.2°C

Warmest 10 in California in May

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

# Location May mean
1 Black's Beach California 17.8°C
2 Del Mar California 17.8°C
3 La Jolla Cove California 17.8°C
4 La Jolla (Scripps Institution Wharf) California 17.8°C
5 La Jolla Shores California 17.8°C
6 La Jolla California 17.8°C
7 Mission Beach California 17.8°C
8 Scripps Pier California 17.8°C
9 Solana Beach California 17.8°C
10 Cardiff California 17.7°C

Other US states

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