76°F Water Reports Give San Diego Surfers a November Twist

Reports of 76°F ocean water are giving Southern California surfers a November wardrobe puzzle. BeachGrit’s latest account describes a morning session at an unnamed Southern California beach where a friend reported that temperature—and the writer found a 2-millimeter full suit uncomfortably warm. Sunny Mornings San Diego also lists 76°F in its latest surf-report episode notes.

I’m Bodi, and that gets my attention faster than somebody announcing unattended breakfast burritos. But before we declare November the new August, there’s an important distinction: these are published temperature reports, not a verified coastwide record. For surfers, the immediate takeaway is to check local water conditions rather than choose neoprene by the calendar.

Warm-water news, with a record-sized caveat

According to BeachGrit, the writer had recently encountered water in the 73°F range and had been surfing in trunks during afternoons before the warmer morning session. The publication also describes a small swell pulse following weekend rain.

That is a useful account of what one surfer experienced, but BeachGrit does not identify a measuring station, instrument or precise beach for the 76°F figure. Sunny Mornings San Diego’s episode notes likewise provide no station or measurement method. I would not treat the two matching numbers as independent scientific confirmation.

Despite BeachGrit’s record-breaking headline, the supplied report does not establish a November temperature record. Nor does it provide the evidence needed to explain the warmth or say how long it will last. I’m keeping the stoke; I’m leaving the record certificate unsigned.

The local waves still deserve their own check

Warm-water reports are one part of session planning. Here is how I’m pairing that news with the Surfing Tomorrow forecast for November 4, without pretending the temperature was measured at these breaks.

At Pacific Beach, my BODI forecast favors 8–10 a.m.: Good, 3–4 feet, 74/100, with 3-knot wind and a falling tide. The Surfing Tomorrow forecast lists a 12.35-second period and 239° swell direction—within the break’s preferred south-through-west exposure. For a surfer comfortable in that size range, Pacific Beach is a more useful target than simply chasing the warmest-sounding water report.

For a smaller-wave comparison, La Jolla Shores has a Fair, 2–3-foot afternoon window, scoring 49/100, with 4-knot wind and rising tide, according to Surfing Tomorrow. The model labels that window 4–6 p.m., but Sunny Mornings San Diego lists sunset at 4:55 p.m. I would use only the daylight portion—not mistake a model window for permission to extend a beginner session into darkness.

Looking ahead to Thursday, the Surfing Tomorrow forecast puts Windansea at Good, 3–4 feet around 8 a.m., with light, glassy wind and a falling tide. Its cobblestone-over-reef bottom, documented in our break data, makes Windansea a different proposition from the sandy, gentle peaks at La Jolla Shores. Comfortable water does not make the bottom softer.

What it means for surfers

My practical call: bring options, not assumptions. Check the temperature at your actual beach before committing to trunks or a full suit, and choose for your own comfort and session length. One parking-lot report should not pack everybody’s surf bag.

I would steer less-experienced surfers toward checking the smaller sandy peaks rather than choosing a reef just because the water sounds inviting. Watch several sets, assess your entry and exit, and stay within your ability.

Finally, BeachGrit’s mention of weekend rain is not a water-quality clearance. Neither temperature report establishes that a beach is safe to enter. Check current local advisories before paddling out.

Warm-water stoke? Absolutely. A coastwide record, guaranteed clean water or automatic barrels? Those require separate evidence, amigos.