2025’s Ocean was so Warm in NJ, It Almost Broke a Record

The summer tide came rolling in this year much warmer than 2024. In fact, the water we enjoyed was tropical enough to be one of the warmest on record at the Jersey Shore.

From June to September, peak beach season, the ocean water temperature from the gauge at Atlantic City’s Steel Pier averaged 71.4 degrees. That is tied with 1951 for the fifth warmest season since records began in 1912.

This was exactly five degrees warmer than last year, at 66.4 degrees. Remember last year? The water was cold. You sweated on the sand but shivered in the ocean.

June and July had zero days with a water temperature above 75 degrees last year in Atlantic City. In fact, 11 July days were in the very chilly 50s, and 55 degrees was the 8 a.m. water temperature on July 18, 2024.

The old saying, “life’s at ease with an ocean breeze” is true. Wind direction all summer, and Locals’ Summer September long, play the critical role to this top five ranking.

There are three main factors that drive water temperatures.

The Sun: In spring and summer, the sun is higher in the sky, so it warms up the ocean water faster. In fall and winter, the sun is lower, so the water stays cooler.

The Currents: In New Jersey, there is a warm ocean current called the Gulf Stream. It starts near Florida and flows all the way to Europe. It does not always reach New Jersey, but sometimes its swirls, bringing warmer water to the shore.

Wind Direction: Winds that blow from the east, called onshore winds, push warmer ocean water toward the beach. But winds from the south or southwest bring colder water. When winds blow along the shore, they can cause something called Ekman Pumping. This pushes warm surface water away and pulls up colder water from the bottom of the ocean, where we swim.

While the sun and currents are constant, the wind direction varies day by day, month to month and, for purposes of this article, year by year. This is why it was warmer.

Onshore winds blew 30% of the time between June and August at Atlantic City International Airport in Egg Harbor Township this year, our closest NOAA weather station with wind direction to Atlantic City.

The average is 15%. In other words, we had double the number of onshore winds as usual.

September was the same, with onshore winds roughly 38% of the time in 2025. 27% is the average.

Those extra onshore winds pushed in some warmer water from the Gulf Stream and limited the amount of colder upwelling. It also led to an August that was cooler than average on land and just about average during September, according to New Jersey State Climatologist Dave Robinson, my other weather dad. Insert YouTube video here.

The average June to September water temperature is 68.6 degrees. June was the only one below average, at 65.8 degrees. That is not a surprise. However, July (72.9), August (74.8), September (72.1) were all above average.

If you had to compare it, the sea surface temperatures you experienced this season were more like an average season for Virginia Beach.

August 16 and 17 were the warmest water days, staying above 80 degrees. June 1 itself had the coldest water, staying below 60 degrees. No surprise there, as the sun is trying to heat up the water.

We are Going Live!

Also, I am extremely excited to say that the Jersey Shore’s first 24×7 livestreaming weather channel is going live soon! Thanks to Sparkable (who also runs the Shore Local Website), everything Jersey Shore weather, with a little drone, will be on my YouTube channel and website for your viewing pleasure.

Tide and marine forecasts, current conditions, forecast videos, radar, and support from our sponsors will all be on there. I also want to see your Jersey Shore photos! Submit your sunrises, snow, thunderstorms and fall foliage to be featured in a special shot on the livestream.

Keep it on your smart TV or computer all day long. Stay tuned for more details.