Water temperature in Alta
Sea surface temperature · updated today, Thursday, October 29, at 12:31 am (CET)- Today
- 40.8–41.2 °F
- Air today
- 33 / 40 °F
- Wed 4
- 38.9 °F
- Wetsuit
- 6/5 mm with hood, booties and gloves
Today the water in Alta is 41.2 °F and ranges 40.8–41.2 °F through the day, with the air between 33 °F and 40 °F. It cools over the next few days: about 38.9 °F by Wednesday 4.
Measured by satellite
This is the temperature satellites measured 2 days ago in the water just below the surface, at the nearest point of sea to Alta (0.9 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.
Big gap with the model, which gives 41.2 °F right now (5.6 °F lower). The forecast is a calculation and this is a measurement: the water is probably warmer than the model says.
Satellite: NASA MUR (JPL MUR MEaSUREs, PO.DAAC), doi:10.5067/GHGMR-4FJ04. Sources and licenses
The water over the next few days
- Today
- Fri 30
- Sat 31
- Sun 1
- Mon 2
- Tue 3
- Wed 4
- Thu 5
- Fri 6
- Sat 7
Water over the last 60 days
Over these days it has dropped 14.4 °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 Alta is colder than normal for late October today (−1.5 °F).
- 40.1° 40°JanJ
- 38.3° 38°FebF
- 36.9° 37°MarM
- 36.6° 37°AprA
- 39.6° 40°MayM
- 44.7° 45°JunJ
- 49.7° 50°JulJ
- 50.5° 51°AugA
- 48.3° 48°SepS
- 46.1° 46°OctO
- 43.8° 44°NovN
- 42.5° 42°DecD
- Monthly normal
- Today
- Best time
In Alta the water is cold all year: it is warmest in August (50.5 °F on average). For a long swim, wear a wetsuit.
The water is warmest in August (50.5 °F on average) and coldest in April (36.6 °F).
Monthly averages for 1991–2020 (NOAA OISST, from satellites and buoys; nearest data point 31 mi away). Right by the shore, the water can be a little colder or warmer. Sources and licenses
Water and air, day by day
| Day | Water | Air | Max wave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 40.8–41.2 °F | 33 / 40 °F | — |
| Fri 30 | 40.3–40.8 °F | 33 / 40 °F | — |
| Sat 31 | 40.3–40.6 °F | 35 / 46 °F | — |
| Sun 1 | 40.1–40.5 °F | 33 / 37 °F | — |
| Mon 2 | 39.6–39.9 °F | 37 / 38 °F | — |
| Tue 3 | 39.2–39.6 °F | 31 / 36 °F | — |
| Wed 4 | 38.7–39.2 °F | 31 / 38 °F | — |
Which wetsuit to wear
| Water | Wetsuit | How it feels |
|---|---|---|
| < 52 °F | 6/5 mm with hood, booties and gloves | Very cold: full kit only |
| 52°–57 °F | 5/4 mm with booties | Cold: takes your breath away |
| 57°–63 °F | 4/3 mm | Cool |
| 63°–66 °F | 3/2 mm | Mild |
| 66°–72 °F | Shorty (springsuit) | Pleasant |
| 72°–75 °F | Rash guard or top | Very pleasant |
| > 75 °F | No wetsuit | Warm |
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.
| Day | Water | Low / high |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 28 | 41.5 °F | 41.4–41.7 °F |
| Tue 27 | 41.7 °F | 41.4–42.1 °F |
| Mon 26 | 41.9 °F | 41.9–42.1 °F |
| Sun 25 | 41.9 °F | 41.9–42.1 °F |
| Sat 24 | 42.1 °F | 42.1–42.1 °F |
| Fri 23 | 42.3 °F | 42.1–42.3 °F |
| Thu 22 | 42.1 °F | 41.9–42.1 °F |
Show all 60 days
| Day | Water | Low / high |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 21 | 41.9 °F | 41.2–42.3 °F |
| Tue 20 | 41.4 °F | 41.4–41.5 °F |
| Mon 19 | 41.0 °F | 40.8–41.4 °F |
| Sun 18 | 40.8 °F | 40.6–41.2 °F |
| Sat 17 | 41.4 °F | 41.2–41.7 °F |
| Fri 16 | 42.1 °F | 41.7–42.3 °F |
| Thu 15 | 42.4 °F | 42.3–42.4 °F |
| Wed 14 | 43.0 °F | 42.4–43.5 °F |
| Tue 13 | 44.1 °F | 43.5–44.2 °F |
| Mon 12 | 44.6 °F | 44.2–44.8 °F |
| Sun 11 | 45.5 °F | 44.8–45.9 °F |
| Sat 10 | 45.5 °F | 45.0–46.0 °F |
| Fri 9 | 45.7 °F | 45.1–46.6 °F |
| Thu 8 | 47.3 °F | 46.6–47.8 °F |
| Wed 7 | 48.2 °F | 47.8–48.7 °F |
| Tue 6 | 48.7 °F | 48.6–48.7 °F |
| Mon 5 | 48.9 °F | 48.7–48.9 °F |
| Sun 4 | 48.9 °F | 48.6–49.1 °F |
| Sat 3 | 48.9 °F | 48.7–49.1 °F |
| Fri 2 | 48.9 °F | 48.7–48.9 °F |
| Thu 1 | 48.9 °F | 48.6–49.1 °F |
| Wed 30 | 49.6 °F | 49.1–50.0 °F |
| Tue 29 | 50.2 °F | 50.0–50.4 °F |
| Mon 28 | 50.4 °F | 50.2–50.5 °F |
| Sun 27 | 50.4 °F | 50.4–50.5 °F |
| Sat 26 | 51.1 °F | 50.5–51.1 °F |
| Fri 25 | 50.7 °F | 50.2–51.3 °F |
| Thu 24 | 50.9 °F | 50.5–51.1 °F |
| Wed 23 | 51.3 °F | 50.7–51.6 °F |
| Tue 22 | 49.8 °F | 49.3–50.7 °F |
| Mon 21 | 49.8 °F | 49.5–50.0 °F |
| Sun 20 | 50.0 °F | 49.8–50.5 °F |
| Sat 19 | 50.5 °F | 50.4–50.7 °F |
| Fri 18 | 51.3 °F | 50.7–51.6 °F |
| Thu 17 | 52.0 °F | 51.8–52.2 °F |
| Wed 16 | 52.3 °F | 52.0–52.7 °F |
| Tue 15 | 52.5 °F | 52.2–52.7 °F |
| Mon 14 | 52.9 °F | 52.7–53.2 °F |
| Sun 13 | 53.2 °F | 53.1–53.4 °F |
| Sat 12 | 53.2 °F | 53.1–53.4 °F |
| Fri 11 | 53.1 °F | 52.7–53.4 °F |
| Thu 10 | 53.2 °F | 52.9–53.4 °F |
| Wed 9 | 53.4 °F | 53.2–53.8 °F |
| Tue 8 | 54.1 °F | 53.8–54.5 °F |
| Mon 7 | 54.0 °F | 53.4–54.5 °F |
| Sun 6 | 54.1 °F | 53.6–54.5 °F |
| Sat 5 | 54.9 °F | 54.5–55.4 °F |
| Fri 4 | 55.9 °F | 55.4–56.1 °F |
| Thu 3 | 56.1 °F | 55.9–56.3 °F |
| Wed 2 | 56.1 °F | 55.6–56.3 °F |
| Tue 1 | 55.6 °F | 55.4–55.8 °F |
| Mon 31 | 55.9 °F | 55.8–56.1 °F |
| Sun 30 | 55.9 °F | 55.9–56.1 °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 AltaQuestions
What's the water temperature today in Alta?
41.2 °F; through the day it ranges 40.8–41.2 °F.
Will the water get warmer or colder?
It cools over the next few days: about 38.9 °F by Wednesday 4.
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 Alta in October?
In October, the water in Alta averages 46.1 °F (1991–2020). For a long swim: 6/5 mm with hood, booties and gloves (very cold: full kit only).
How warm is the water in Alta in August?
In August, the water in Alta averages 50.5 °F (1991–2020), the warmest of the year. For a long swim: 6/5 mm with hood, booties and gloves (very cold: full kit only).
When is the best time to swim in Alta?
In Alta the water is cold all year: it is warmest in August (50.5 °F on average). For a long swim, wear a wetsuit. The water is warmest in August (50.5 °F on average) and coldest in April (36.6 °F).
Is the water warmer or colder than normal?
The water off Alta is colder than normal for late October today (−1.5 °F).
More about Alta today
Water temperature near Alta
- Øksfjord 48.4 °F · 29 mi
- Burfjord 38.8 °F · 29 mi
- Langfjordhamn 39.9 °F · 35 mi
- Kvalsund 45.5 °F · 41 mi
- Lakselv 41.2 °F · 41 mi
- Hasvik 48.0 °F · 44 mi
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 1.7 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 12:31 am (local time).
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