I found this website the other day by accident when looking for surf
forecasts, and it would appear that the current sea temperature just
off the coast of Teignmouth in Lyme Bay is currently +15.7c, which is
1.1degC below the long term average of +16.8c (1981-2005).

http://wwww.surf-forecast.com/breaks/Teignmouth/seatemp

Link to channel light vessel http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast/b...co_channelbuoy

I must admit, there haven't been many beach days since the end of June
in South Devon this year.

Current sea surface temperatures at West Bay just over t'border in Dorset
are around 17°C.

http://www.channelcoast.org/data_man...t=83&tab=waves

I must admit, there haven't been many beach days since the end of June
in South Devon this year.

Well I've certainly got the best suntan since 2006, and I went down the
beach for a swim last Sunday as the weather was warm and sunny. Most swims
since 2006 though visits to the beach have declined since mid-July, when I
was having a swim a day.

A damp, drizzly ol' day today. A bit soggy for the nearby Beautiful Days
festival.
______________________
Nick
Otter Valley, Devon
83 m amsl
http:\\www.ottervalley.co.uk

On 20 Aug, 17:57, "Nick Gardner"
wrote:
Current sea surface temperatures at West Bay just over t'border in Dorset
are around 17°C.

http://www.channelcoast.org/data_man...ata/charts/?ch...

I must admit, there haven't been many beach days since the end of June
in South Devon this year.

Well I've certainly got the best suntan since 2006, and I went down the
beach for a swim last Sunday as the weather was warm and sunny. Most swims
since 2006 though visits to the beach have declined since mid-July, when I
was having a swim a day.

A damp, drizzly ol' day today. A bit soggy for the nearby Beautiful Days
festival.
______________________
Nick
Otter Valley, Devon
83 m amsl
http:\\www.ottervalley.co.uk

I've certainly been in the ocean a lot this year, but I don't need it
particularly sunny, just on the warm side. Sunday, Monday & Wednesday
were just fine this week.

I think the 1st link Teignmouth provides says it all in this extract

"Actual sea surface water temperatures close to shore at Teignmouth
can vary by several degrees compared with these open water averages.
This is especially true after heavy rain, close to river mouths or
after long periods of strong offshore winds. Offshore winds cause
colder deep water to replace surface water that has been warmed by the
sun."

East facing beaches are notoriously cold in a zonal summer. Most
people appreciate how much the sea temperature on beaches varies as
the wind switches offshore/onshore & vica versa, sometime 3 degrees in
an hour, but the heavy rain element is also important. The cold rain
water remains on the surface, as it is not salty.

I once made the mistake of going in shortly after a heavy hailstorm -
it felt like February!

Graham
Penzance