TidePlanet

Water temperature in Hillsborough

Sea surface temperature · updated today, Thursday, October 29, at 6:39 am (ADT)
Water now 49.1 °F
Today
49.1–50.4 °F
Air today
40 / 63 °F
Wed 4
48.7 °F
Wetsuit
6/5 mm with hood, booties and gloves

Today the water in Hillsborough is 49.1 °F and ranges 49.1–50.4 °F through the day, with the air between 40 °F and 63 °F. It stays steady over the next few days.

Measured by satellite

2 days ago, 1.4 mi from Hillsborough 51.3 °F

This is the temperature satellites measured 2 days ago in the water just below the surface, at the nearest point of sea to Hillsborough (1.4 mi away), from NASA's MUR analysis, which sees the water in 1 km detail. It isn't a forecast: the big figure above is what a model gives for right now. On sunny afternoons the top of the water can be a little warmer.

Satellite: NASA MUR (JPL MUR MEaSUREs, PO.DAAC), doi:10.5067/GHGMR-4FJ04. Sources and licenses

The water over the next few days

Water over the last 60 days

Over these days it has dropped 14.6 °F (from August 30).

Daily average and its range (low and high). The dotted line is the forecast.

Water temperature by month vs. normal

The water off Hillsborough is colder than normal for late October today (−3.7 °F).

In Hillsborough the water is cold all year: it is warmest in September (58.5 °F on average). For a long swim, wear a wetsuit.

The water is warmest in September (58.5 °F on average) and coldest in March (32.8 °F).

Monthly averages for 1991–2020 (NOAA OISST, from satellites and buoys; nearest data point 22 mi away). Right by the shore, the water can be a little colder or warmer. Sources and licenses

Water and air, day by day

DayWaterAirMax wave
Today 49.1–50.4 °F 40 / 63 °F 2.4 ft
Fri 30 50.4–50.7 °F 48 / 60 °F 2.4 ft
Sat 31 49.8–50.5 °F 33 / 47 °F 0.9 ft
Sun 1 49.1–49.8 °F 31 / 47 °F 0.7 ft
Mon 2 48.9–49.3 °F 40 / 57 °F 1.1 ft
Tue 3 48.4–48.9 °F 29 / 42 °F 0.5 ft
Wed 4 48.4–48.9 °F 27 / 46 °F 2.6 ft

Which wetsuit to wear

WaterWetsuitHow it feels
< 52 °F6/5 mm with hood, booties and glovesVery cold: full kit only
52°–57 °F5/4 mm with bootiesCold: takes your breath away
57°–63 °F4/3 mmCool
63°–66 °F3/2 mmMild
66°–72 °FShorty (springsuit)Pleasant
72°–75 °FRash guard or topVery pleasant
> 75 °FNo wetsuitWarm

A rough guide: it depends on the wind, how long you stay in and each person.

Fish are cold-blooded: the water sets their activity. Sudden temperature changes usually put them off the bite; with steady water, activity is more regular.

Previous days

The water over the last 60 days.

DayWaterLow / high
Wed 28 49.6 °F49.3–50.0 °F
Tue 27 50.4 °F50.0–50.7 °F
Mon 26 50.7 °F50.5–50.9 °F
Sun 25 50.7 °F50.4–50.9 °F
Sat 24 51.1 °F50.7–51.4 °F
Fri 23 52.0 °F51.6–52.2 °F
Thu 22 52.2 °F52.2–52.3 °F
Show all 60 days
DayWaterLow / high
Wed 21 52.7 °F52.3–52.9 °F
Tue 20 52.9 °F52.7–53.1 °F
Mon 19 52.9 °F52.7–53.1 °F
Sun 18 53.4 °F53.2–54.0 °F
Sat 17 54.3 °F54.0–54.5 °F
Fri 16 54.7 °F54.5–55.0 °F
Thu 15 55.4 °F55.2–55.6 °F
Wed 14 55.8 °F55.6–55.8 °F
Tue 13 55.9 °F55.6–56.3 °F
Mon 12 56.3 °F56.1–56.7 °F
Sun 11 56.3 °F56.1–56.5 °F
Sat 10 56.8 °F56.7–57.0 °F
Fri 9 57.2 °F56.8–57.4 °F
Thu 8 57.2 °F57.0–57.2 °F
Wed 7 57.2 °F57.0–57.4 °F
Tue 6 57.7 °F57.4–58.6 °F
Mon 5 58.8 °F58.6–59.2 °F
Sun 4 59.2 °F58.8–59.7 °F
Sat 3 59.5 °F59.0–60.3 °F
Fri 2 59.2 °F58.8–59.5 °F
Thu 1 59.4 °F59.0–59.9 °F
Wed 30 59.9 °F59.5–60.3 °F
Tue 29 59.4 °F59.2–59.9 °F
Mon 28 59.5 °F59.4–59.9 °F
Sun 27 60.1 °F59.9–60.3 °F
Sat 26 60.1 °F59.7–60.4 °F
Fri 25 60.1 °F59.2–61.2 °F
Thu 24 60.3 °F59.4–61.0 °F
Wed 23 60.1 °F59.5–60.4 °F
Tue 22 59.9 °F59.5–60.3 °F
Mon 21 60.3 °F59.5–61.0 °F
Sun 20 60.3 °F60.1–60.6 °F
Sat 19 61.0 °F60.6–61.3 °F
Fri 18 61.7 °F61.5–62.1 °F
Thu 17 61.7 °F61.0–62.4 °F
Wed 16 61.3 °F61.0–61.7 °F
Tue 15 59.7 °F58.5–61.0 °F
Mon 14 59.4 °F58.6–60.3 °F
Sun 13 58.5 °F58.3–58.8 °F
Sat 12 58.8 °F57.9–59.7 °F
Fri 11 58.3 °F58.1–58.6 °F
Thu 10 58.3 °F58.1–58.8 °F
Wed 9 59.0 °F58.3–59.9 °F
Tue 8 58.6 °F58.1–59.0 °F
Mon 7 58.3 °F57.9–58.6 °F
Sun 6 59.4 °F58.5–60.3 °F
Sat 5 61.9 °F60.4–64.0 °F
Fri 4 63.7 °F63.0–64.8 °F
Thu 3 63.7 °F63.5–64.2 °F
Wed 2 64.2 °F63.5–64.9 °F
Tue 1 65.3 °F64.2–66.4 °F
Mon 31 64.2 °F63.5–65.3 °F
Sun 30 64.2 °F63.7–65.7 °F

It's the daily analysis from Météo-France / Copernicus Marine (satellites, buoys and model), not a buoy reading at this spot.

Questions about the water in HillsboroughQuestions

What's the water temperature today in Hillsborough?

49.1 °F; through the day it ranges 49.1–50.4 °F.

Will the water get warmer or colder?

It stays steady over the next few days.

Which wetsuit do I need today?

With the water as it is today, 6/5 mm with hood, booties and gloves (very cold: full kit only). It's a rough guide: it depends on the wind and each person.

How warm is the water in Hillsborough in October?

In October, the water in Hillsborough averages 55.7 °F (1991–2020). For a long swim: 5/4 mm with booties (cold: takes your breath away).

How warm is the water in Hillsborough in September?

In September, the water in Hillsborough averages 58.5 °F (1991–2020), the warmest of the year. For a long swim: 4/3 mm (cool).

When is the best time to swim in Hillsborough?

In Hillsborough the water is cold all year: it is warmest in September (58.5 °F on average). For a long swim, wear a wetsuit. The water is warmest in September (58.5 °F on average) and coldest in March (32.8 °F).

Is the water warmer or colder than normal?

The water off Hillsborough is colder than normal for late October today (−3.7 °F).

More about Hillsborough today

Water temperature near Hillsborough

Only places with a different forecast: spots a few miles apart share the same model cell and wouldn't add anything.

Learn more

Sea surface temperature: Open-Meteo with Météo-France / Copernicus Marine, CC BY 4.0; grid point 10 mi away. Near the shore, in coves and estuaries, the water can be a little colder or warmer.

Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 6:39 am (local time).

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