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All things Siesta Key. Stories, news, and event information about Sarasota, Florida's beautiful beach.
Is the Water in the Gulf Cold?
Even as the U.S. crawls into its winter months, Florida’s tropical climate makes it a great escape from cold weather, allowing people who are used to the below-freezing temperatures up north to have some fun in the sun this holiday season. Northerners coming down to visit the white sand beaches of Florida’s west coast also raises the question of what temperature in the Gulf of Mexico is too cold, and what the optimal temperatures for swimming are. The experts at Best Western Siesta Key want to make sure that people always know what temperature in the gulf is too cold for swimming, what temperature is good for different ocean activities, and if make makes a difference that some people are used to cold weather.
How Cold Is Too Cold?
The main topic this time of the year is what temperature in the Gulf of Mexico is too cold for humans to be swimming and doing other activities in. The National Centers for Environmental Information states that any temperature from a 90 to 65 degrees is fine for swimming, although most people feel more comfortable in the temperature from 70 to 78 degrees. Any lower than 70 degrees though, and the body is at risk of hypothermia, where the body loses its heat due to the cold water. According to the experts at Best Western Siesta Key, a good way to check gulf temperatures is to look at the NCEI web page and check the recent water temperatures for your area.
Are Certain Activities Better in Colder Temperatures?
It is always important to consider what type of activity you will be doing when going out into the Gulf. For leisurely swimming a wide range of temperatures will do, as you are not exerting a lot of energy. When the intensity of the activity increases, the range of temperatures you should be in decreases. High heat causes easy exhaustion and dehydration, while being extremely active in cold water can cause a faster loss of body heat. For high intensity swimming the temperature should be between 78 and 82 degrees F. For activities like fishing where fish only remain active in certain temperatures, it is important to pay attention to the thermometer, the ideal temperatures for fishing in the gulf are between 68 and 76 degrees.
Sandy Boardwalk
What If I’m Used to Cold Weather?
An important question for northerners is if it makes a difference in how low the temperature is when they are used to the cold weather. It is important to realize that no matter if you feel comfortable in the water if the temperature is below 60-65 degrees, your body is still losing heat, and could potentially be affected by hypothermia. Always make sure to check the temperatures in these winter months before going swimming.
The locals and staff at Best Western Siesta Key want everyone to have a fun, safe, and healthy holiday season, and always recommend checking the temperature of the Gulf before doing any water activites.