Clearwater Beach Water Temp: A Complete Guide to Visiting the Clearwater Beaches in 2024

LOOKING FOR SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE CLEARWATER BEACH WATER TEMP? 

You’ve come to the right place! We’ve been traveling as a family since 2015, and we have spent months in Florida. We love the Clearwater area because of the great beaches and nice ocean conditions.

There are so many fun things to do in Clearwater, and the beach is perfect for swimming. If you want to spend lots of time swimming in the ocean, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the Clearwater Beach water temp to ensure you’re prepared for a fun vacation to the beach.

The sea temperatures can have a big impact on how you spend your time at the beach.

Even if you are visiting Clearwater during the cooler winter months, you can still have a great time at the beaches there. The average temperature is still warm enough for swimming for most people throughout the year if you visit on a sunny day.

The average sea temperature does fluctuate throughout the year, but the water typically never gets below 64 F, with the average ocean temperatures above 70 F year-round. If you aren’t going to be swimming out far, the sea surface temperature will also be quite warm.

Clearwater Beach Water Temp Overview

The Clearwater, FL water temp can vary greatly throughout the year, so depending on what time you are visiting, may play a factor in how much you are swimming in the Gulf of Mexico.

However, we visited Florida in January and had lots of fun swimming in the ocean. Playing at the beach is one of our favorite things to do in Clearwater with kids. It was a bit chilly but not enough to keep us out of the water.

Our kids could have played in the warm gulf water all day, even with the cloud cover present on some of the days.

• Warmest Clearwater Beach Water Temp: July-September at 86° Fahrenheit
• Coldest Clearwater Beach Water Temp: January-February at 64° Fahrenheit
• Warmest Air Temperature: August with an average high of 87.6° Fahrenheit and an average low of 80.6° Fahrenheit
• Coldest Air Temperature: January with an average high of 65.8° Fahrenheit and an average low of 55.9° Fahrenheit
• Highest Humidity: December at 77%
• Lowest Humidity: October at 72% 

Clearwater Beach Water Temperature by Month

Clearwater Beach Water Temperature in January

• Average Water Temperature: 64° F
• Minimum Water Temperature: 57° F
• Maximum Water Temperature: 70° F

Clearwater Beach Water Temperature in February

• Average Water Temperature: 64° F
• Minimum Water Temperature: 57° F
• Maximum Water Temperature: 73° F

Clearwater Beach Water Temperature in March

• Average Water Temperature: 68° F
• Minimum Water Temperature: 63° F
• Maximum Water Temperature: 75° F

You can read more about what to expect in Clearwater in March in our Clearwater in March guide.

Clearwater Beach Water Temperature in April

• Average Water Temperature: 73° F
• Minimum Water Temperature: 70° F
• Maximum Water Temperature: 77° F

You can read more about what to expect in Clearwater in April in our Clearwater in April guide.

Clearwater Beach Water Temperature in May

• Average Water Temperature: 79° F
• Minimum Water Temperature: 73° F
• Maximum Water Temperature: 82° F

Clearwater Beach Water Temperature in June

• Average Water Temperature: 84° F
• Minimum Water Temperature: 79° F
• Maximum Water Temperature: 88° F

Clearwater Beach Water Temperature in July

• Average Water Temperature: 86° F
• Minimum Water Temperature: 82° F
• Maximum Water Temperature: 88° F

Clearwater Beach Water Temperature in August

• Average Water Temperature: 86° F
• Minimum Water Temperature: 82° F
• Maximum Water Temperature: 90° F

Clearwater Beach Water Temperature in September

• Average Water Temperature: 86° F
• Minimum Water Temperature: 81° F
• Maximum Water Temperature: 89° F

Clearwater Beach Water Temperature in October

• Average Water Temperature: 81° F
• Minimum Water Temperature: 73° F
• Maximum Water Temperature: 86° F

Clearwater Beach Water Temperature in November

• Average Water Temperature: 75° F
• Minimum Water Temperature: 66° F
• Maximum Water Temperature: 81° F

Clearwater Beach Water Temperature in December

• Average Water Temperature: 70° F
• Minimum Water Temperature: 63° F
• Maximum Water Temperature: 73° F

You can read more about what to expect in Clearwater in December in our Clearwater in December guide.

Clearwater Beach Water Conditions

Clearwater Beach is a great beach to visit if you’re looking for calm waves and beautiful views. The warmest water temperature is usually in August, and the coldest water temperatures usually show up in January.

You can surf in Clearwater, as evident by the many surfing shops found in town. However, you will not get the big waves you will find in the Atlantic Ocean in Daytona and Miami. The best time to find the biggest waves in Clearwater is during the winter. Surfing is allowed at the north end of the beach.

Clearwater Beach is a great beach to visit if you want to swim, especially if you are visiting with kids. The waves are very calm here, making it easy for kids to enjoy spending time in the water.

You can also keep an eye on the beach conditions in Florida’s Gulf Coast by paying attention to the flags posted at the beach.

🟥🟥 Double Red Flag: Very high hazard and water closed to the public
🟥 Red Flag: High hazard with high surf and strong currents
🟨 Yellow Flag: Medium hazard with moderate surf and/or strong currents
🟩 Green Flag: Low hazard with calm conditions, but caution still advised
🟪 Purple Flag: Dangerous marine life

Tide Levels in Clearwater

Tide levels can have an impact on your visit to the beach. You can check the current and future tide levels in Clearwater here.

Public Beach Access in Clearwater

There is lots of public access in Clearwater for the beach. Public entrances start at South Gulfview Boulevard by Opal Sands and continue through Eldorado Avenue near the Carlouel Yacht Club. You can park in one of the public parking lots, or there are some paid parking garages as well.

Pier 60 is a very popular place to enjoy the beach, with lots of nearby restaurants and local shops. Here you will also find a playground and the Clearwater Beach Marina. There are also beach rentals here, like umbrellas, chairs, and cabanas.

If you’re looking for somewhere to head to the beach outside of Pier 60, check out Sand Key Park. The white-sandy Florida beaches and clear water are beautiful, and a place you will enjoy spending time at the beach. There’s a dog park here as well as a boardwalk, nature trail, and picnic area.

Other Things to Do Near Clearwater Beach

Aside from the beach, there are lots of other fun things to do in Clearwater. During our last trip through Florida, we spent about a week enjoying all the fun things to do in Clearwater and nearby Tampa. Here are some other ideas for other things to do in the area.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a working marine hospital that works to rehabilitate and rescue marine animals. It is home to many dolphins, which my kids loved seeing. There are also a few other exhibits you can enjoy there.

If your family loves dolphins as much as we do, this is a great opportunity to keep up close to these beautiful animals.

Dolphin Boat Tour

Another really fun activity to enjoy in Clearwater is a dolphin adventure. We did this during our last visit to Clearwater and had a great time. We got to see so many dolphins, and it was so fun to be out on the water. The views of the city were beautiful!

▶ BOOK Dolphin Tour

Explore Tarpon Springs

Tarpon Springs is a very charming and cute Greek city about 30 minutes north of Clearwater. The sponge docks are a fun area to window-shop, and there are some delicious restaurants there. Be sure to stop by some of the Greek bakeries for some delicious treats.

We had a lot of fun exploring this part of Clearwater and seeing all of the amazing sponges that come out of the ocean.

Clearwater Sunset Sailing Cruise

Another great way to enjoy time on the water in Clearwater is on a sunset sailing cruise. There are many different Clearwater sunset cruises to choose from. We love spending time on the water and at the beach at sunset. It is so beautiful and a perfect way to end your day.

Kids under five are not allowed on this tour.

▶ BOOK Clearwater Sunset Sailing Cruise

Kayaking in Tarpon Springs

If you’re looking for a more active and adventurous thing to do in Clearwater, a kayak trip through the bayous of Tarpon Springs is a lot of fun. Along with the bayous, you will get many large Victorian-style mansions, Craig Park, and Spring Bayou.

Spring Bayou is an area with warm waters where it is common to see manatees. We got to see quite a few manatees in the Florida springs during our last visit to Florida, and it is so cool to get to see them in their natural habitats.

Along with plenty of cool things to see, your knowledgeable guide will share all sorts of information about the local history, wildlife, Greek culture, and ecosystems.

▶ BOOK Kayaking Adventure

Johns Pass Boardwalk in Madeira Beach

Another fun area to do some window shopping and exploring is the Johns Pass Boardwalk. There are lots of great shops as well as restaurants. This old fishing village is a great place to spend the day near St. Pete’s.

This is a great place to spend the afternoon on the water and mix in some shopping and dining.

Escape Room in Clearwater

If you’ve found yourself in Clearwater on a rainy day or you’re looking for an activity away from the beach, check out the Pirate Ship Escape Room. We love escape rooms and are always so impressed by how the different clues relate back to each other, leading to your eventual escape.

There’s no better place to have a pirate escape room than at the beach!

▶ BOOK Pirate Ship Escape Room Experience

Things to Bring with You to Clearwater Beach

Having the right gear on your beach day can make your trip go much smoother to ensure you and your family have a great visit. Here are some of our must-haves when visiting the Gulf Coast beaches.

Along with the gear below, make sure to bring a swimming suit, sun protection like sunscreen or a wide-brimmed hat, and beach towels.

Yeti Cooler

Our Yeti backpack cooler is one of our favorite items to bring with us on our trips. We have used this at beaches across the country and love having it. It is a sturdy cooler that can keep your food cold all day. It is a perfect size to fit lunch and drinks for our family.

▶ SHOP Yeti Coolers

Shade Protection

Another important part of going to the beach is having shade protection. We have used both shade tents and umbrellas.

The shade tents are nice because they have a bottom if you need to keep items out of the sand. The shade tents also provide more consistent shade if you need to keep the elderly or babies out of the sun.

If it is hot outside, the umbrellas are nice because you can take advantage of the sea breeze to keep you cooler. The shade tents can get a little warm if there is no breeze going through them. However, many do come with windows of some sort that do help with air circulation.

Sand Toys

If you’re visiting the beach with kids, be sure to bring some sand toys. My kids can play for hours at the beach with a good set of sand toys.

👉 Click on Any Image Below to Shop Sand Toys 👈

Beach Chairs

If you’re going to spend your vacation at the beach, you will want to be comfortable. These beach chairs are super comfy and are perfect for enjoying the beautiful views of the ocean at Clearwater Beach.

▶ SHOP Beach Chairs

Shelling Bags

If you or your kids enjoy collecting treasures at the beach, these shelling bags are a must. We have been using them on our last couple of trips to the beach, and they are fantastic. They are really easy to use and are big enough to have some great treasures to bring home from your trip.

▶ SHOP Shelling Bags

FAQ: Clearwater Beach Water Temp

What is the Current Water Temp in Clearwater Beach?

You can check the current water temperature, weather reports, and current temperatures in Clearwater Beach here.

Is it Warm Enough to Swim at Clearwater Beach?

Throughout the year, the water is warm enough to swim at Clearwater Beach. During the winter months, the water will be cooler, but many still find it warm enough to swim. We visited in January, the coldest month, and had a great time swimming in the ocean, as did many of the other people at the beach.

During the summer months, the water gets plenty warm for swimming.

Is Clearwater Beach Water Cold?

Overall, the water temp in Clearwater Beach is warm enough for swimming. However, it is relative to the water temperature that you prefer. We swam at the beach in Clearwater in January, and it was a little chilly but not cold enough to keep us out of the water.

Conclusion: Clearwater Beach Water Temp

We hope this guide has been helpful in learning about the water temp at Clearwater Beach, Florida. It is such a beautiful part of the Gulf Coast and an area in the United States that we love visiting. The beaches are beautiful, and the ocean waves are perfect for swimming. 

If you are visiting from June through November, remember this is Atlantic hurricane season, so you may experience strong winds and strong currents if there is a hurricane during your visit. Long periods of strong offshore winds can cause a drop in actual sea surface water temperatures and your chance of showers.