Winter 2014 Ocean Temperatures

[bubba]

After a very warm December 2013 in Florida but a cooler than normal California, the roles flip/flopped this January. Air temperatures are one aspect. Ocean/Water temperatures are another issue. Here are some examples for Jan. 26, 2014:

1 Cape Canaveral, Fl.-65F.

2 Ft. Myers, Fl.-62F.

3 Pensacola, Fl.-52F.

4 Mobile, Ala.- 48F.

5 Grand Island, La.-52F.

6 Galveston, Tx.-50F.

7 Port Aransas, Tx.-53F.

8 Camp Pendleton, Ca.-60F.

9 Santa Monica, Ca.-60F.

10 Fernandina Beach, Fl,-50F.

11 Palm Beach Inlet, Fl.-75F.

12 Key West, Fl.-68F.

Interesting to note that the Ocean at the Palm Beach Inlet is a full seven degrees warmer than Key West, which is over one hundred and fifty miles South. The reason is that the Eastern Edge of the Gulf Stream is only two and one half miles from the Inlet today. I am not certain of the distance of the Gulf Stream from Key West but know it is not as close. It is a constant heater.

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

Those are some frigid temps for the Gulf. I am very suprised that the keys get that cold in the Winter. Temps in Southern California are unusually warm due to lack of upwelling given the unusual weather patterns.

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

From our local TV news, the coast from Monterey to Sf Bay is 54f right now.