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Warmest 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.

Warmest in May

Black's Beach

17.8°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 warmest California beaches in May

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

# 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
11 Carlsbad California 17.7°C
12 Encinitas California 17.7°C
13 Moonlight Beach California 17.7°C
14 Oceanside California 17.7°C
15 Baby Beach California 17.6°C
16 Capistrano Beach California 17.6°C
17 Dana Point California 17.6°C
18 Doheny Beach California 17.6°C
19 Salt Creek Beach California 17.6°C
20 San Clemente California 17.6°C
21 San Onofre Beach California 17.6°C
22 Trestles Beach California 17.6°C
23 Big Bear Lake California 17.5°C
24 Laguna Niguel California 17.5°C
25 Lake Arrowhead California 17.5°C
Show 25 more ▸
26 Mission Bay California 17.5°C
27 Pacific Beach California 17.5°C
28 Salton Sea California 17.5°C
29 Torrey Pines California 17.5°C
30 Ballast Point California 17.5°C
31 Crown Point, Mission Bay California 17.5°C
32 National City, San Diego Bay California 17.5°C
33 Quivira Basin, Mission Bay California 17.5°C
34 San Diego, Quarantine Station California 17.5°C
35 San Diego, San Diego Bay California 17.5°C
36 South San Diego Bay California 17.5°C
37 Chula Vista California 17.3°C
38 Coronado California 17.3°C
39 Imperial Beach California 17.3°C
40 Ocean Beach San Diego California 17.3°C
41 Point Loma California 17.3°C
42 San Diego California 17.3°C
43 Balboa Pier, Newport Beach California 17.3°C
44 Newport Beach, Newport Bay Entrance, Corona del Mar California 17.3°C
45 Santa Ana River entrance (Inside) California 17.3°C
46 Balboa Island California 17.2°C
47 Corona Del Mar California 17.2°C
48 Crystal Cove California 17.2°C
49 Huntington Beach California 17.2°C
50 Irvine California 17.2°C

Coldest 10 in California in May

Same data the other way.

# Location May mean
1 Green Cove California 10.2°C
2 Bodega Harbor entrance California 10.3°C
3 Fort Ross California 10.3°C
4 Arena Cove California 10.4°C
5 Point Arena California 10.4°C
6 Clear Lake California 10.6°C
7 Lake Sonoma California 10.6°C
8 Lakeport California 10.6°C
9 Westport California 10.6°C
10 Cockrobin Island Bridge, Eel River, San Francisco California 10.7°C

Other US states

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