With spring around the corner, many of us are looking forward to the start of prime paddling season. The days are getting longer and the air temperature is rising. What is happening to the Ocean temperature this time of year? When is it at its coldest? When is it at its warmest? I last paddled in late September, when will the water be that warm again? What is the ocean temperature today.

Fortunately, these questions can all be answered by the National data Buoy Center data station 44025, pictured below.

The buoy is stationed off of Long Island 33 NM South of Islip, NY, precisely at (40°15'N 73°10'W). It can be visited in cyberspace at http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.phtml?$station=44025

Data has been collected from the buoy since 1975 and is updated hourly. One study of the water temperature lasted nearly twenty years, extending from October 1975 through December 1993. The high, low and mean temperatures for each month of the year were computed from the data collected during that period of time. The results are shown in this chart:

The bars extend from the minimum to the maximum temperature for each month. The marker on each bar indicates the mean temperature for the month. The mean temperature is also displayed in text above the horizontal axis. March is the coldest month. August is the warmest month. It won’t be as warm as last September again until June .

The ocean temperature today at 4 p.m. on February 14, 1999 is a chilly 42.6 F°. I am in the process of buying a dry suit. Seems like necessary gear for the next few months.

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