Gulf water temp

[JB]

Just FYI, but I just checked the NODC station at Pensacola and the gulf water temp is 77.5 degrees F. I cannot ever remember it being that warm this early in the year. Normally, it's mid-May before it gets that warm.

I have no idea what this means, but if the trend continues, the water will be 137 degrees by August.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I don't know where there thermometer is located, but in Blue Mtn Beach today, I would guess the Gulf temp in the surf to be around 68F degrees. The Lakes around here are around 77F-79F degrees at the surface and around 72F degrees 7 ft below. There is no way in heck that the Gulf temps in this area are near that temp as of today.

 

[JB]

I don't know where there thermometer is located, but in Blue Mtn Beach today, I would guess the Gulf temp in the surf to be around 68F degrees. The Lakes around here are around 77F-79F degrees at the surface and around 72F degrees 7 ft below. There is no way in heck that the Gulf temps in this area are near that temp as of today.

Well, Pcola is the closest observation station for SST's. I think NOAA probably knows what they are doing. No matter how you slice it, jOE, water temps are way above normal for late March. I'm sure it has to do with above-average air temps and no rain.

http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/egof.html

Also, pull up the images from late March over the last few years and compare for yourself.

http://fermi.jhuapl.edu/avhrr/gm/averages/index.html

 

[Smiling JOe]

I'm not suggesting that NOAA doesn't know how to take temperature readings, but maybe they are getting some really warm water hitting that particular bouy. I do think the water temps are a little warmer right now than norm, but April is only a couple of days away, plus, I never test the Gulf temps with a thermometer. Lake temps are in line with the norm. The Gulf is still too cold for my booty to be jumping in over my head, although I thought about jumping in today, clothes and all, it looked so gorgeous.

 

[Jdarg]

PCB news stations are saying temps are 70-71. That's about what it feels like- and way too cold for me too! But it didn't seem to bother all the dumba$$es swimming and kayaking in Grayton today! Western Lake outflow was perfect, however.

 

[JB]

PCB news stations are saying temps are 70-71. That's about what it feels like- and way too cold for me too! But it didn't seem to bother all the dumba$$es swimming and kayaking in Grayton today! Western Lake outflow was perfect, however.

80 is my cutoff point. And I personally still find it a little cool. Perfect water temp for swimming (at least for me) is around 85.

 

[skippertoo]

http://www.weather.com/maps/boatbea...y/boatbeach/southeastuscoastalwatertemps.html

 

[Jdarg]

80 is my cutoff point. And I personally still find it a little cool. Perfect water temp for swimming (at least for me) is around 85.

I'm with ya. That is the temperature where I make like a manatee and float around in the warm water!

 

[Ocean Lover]

85 really is the ideal temp. The last time we were down in August the water didn't even cool you off. I still like it warmer rather than cooler any day. I'm sure Dylan will be skim boarding no matter what. That's his favorite activity to do at the beach. I don't know if the pool at the Palms is heated or not but I'm hoping so!

 

[chrisv]

Pensacola always warms up sooner than Destin, Walton and PCB. It's because of a natural current that runs onshore from the timberholes. So, while the temp reading of 77 is somewhat high for this time of year, it isn't out of line with the observed cooler temps further east -totally normal.

Related to this is the cobia season. Almost always, the first cobe will be caught between Navarre and the Pensacola pier. These fish are resident cobes, spending the winter in the timber holes and similar, deep-water areas. The reason is that these resident fish follow the warm water current inshore and along the beach. These fish are usually smaller than the migrating fish. The migrating fish that come up from the Dry Tortugas don't do so until a trigger is pulled, based on a combination of minutes of moonlight per night and water temp. When you see cobes caught between Destin and PCB, you know that the migrating fish are here, and that's when you'll see the 100+ lb'ers- the ones that win $100,000 for the angler.