Coastal Areas That Saw The Biggest Increase In Water Temperature

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2023 has brought unusually high temperatures to the world’s waters—and with them, major impacts on marine life and coastal communities.

Global sea surface temperatures through early November 2023 have averaged 69.5 degrees Fahrenheit, well above the long-term historical average. Several factors have contributed to this year’s record temperatures. Water temperatures spiked suddenly early in the spring, and in June, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared the arrival of El Nino, which creates warmer-than-usual water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. But the ongoing impact of global warming has perhaps been most significant: experts estimate that 90% of excess atmospheric warming is absorbed in the world’s oceans.

The effects have created eye-popping weather and climate events in 2023. Earlier this year, waters off the coast of South Florida reached more than 100 degrees—approximately the temperature of the water in a hot tub. Coral reefs have begun to experience bleaching at levels previously thought impossible, endangering one of the most important ecosystems for marine life. During this year’s hurricane season, hurricanes Lee and Otis became some of the fastest-intensifying storms in recorded history on their way to Category 5 strength.

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Global average sea water surface temperatures reached the highest average temperatures on record earlier in 2023, peaking at 69.97 degrees Fahrenheit in late August. And while some of the conditions creating this year’s record temperatures may be atypical, the overall pace of temperature increases has appeared to accelerate over time. Average sea surface temperatures for the years 1990 and 2000 were roughly on par throughout the year. But by 2010, sea water temperatures for every day of the year exceeded the corresponding dates in 2000 by an average of 0.51 degrees Fahrenheit. 2020’s daily temperatures subsequently topped 2010’s by an average of 0.44 degrees.

However, the effects of these trends are not evenly distributed across regions of the world. For coastal communities in the U.S., that means that some areas are more likely to be exposed to rising water temperatures than others. Communities that have experienced rapid increases in water temperatures may find themselves more vulnerable to extreme weather events—and with them, risks of extensive property damage, diminished economic activity, and the loss of human life.

In the U.S., concerns are greatest for residents living near the Gulf of Mexico in states like Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. Over the last decade, the Gulf Coast has seen the greatest increase in water temperatures as measured in the summer, led by the Galveston Bay area in Texas with an 8.9 degree increase. In contrast, many locations in the Pacific Coast, northern Atlantic Coast, and Great Lakes regions saw minimal increases—or in some cases, declines—in summer surface water temperatures between 2013 and 2023.

Below is a list of the coastal areas that saw the biggest increase in water temperature over the last 10 years—from 2013 to 2023. The analysis was conducted by researchers at Captain Experiences, an online platform that helps people find and book fishing and hunting trips, using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. For more information on how each statistic was computed, refer to the methodology section below.

Coastal Areas That Saw the Biggest Increase in Water Temperature

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15. Portland-South Portland, ME

• Summer water temperature change (2013–2023): +3.2 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2023): 62.2 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2013): 59.1 °F
• Peak summer water temperature (2023): 62.8 °F (July)

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14. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL

• Summer water temperature change (2013–2023): +3.2 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2023): 88.2 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2013): 85.0 °F
• Peak summer water temperature (2023): 89.4 °F (July)

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13. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL

• Summer water temperature change (2013–2023): +3.2 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2023): 89.5 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2013): 86.4 °F
• Peak summer water temperature (2023): 93.3 °F (August)

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12. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL

• Summer water temperature change (2013–2023): +3.5 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2023): 88.3 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2013): 84.8 °F
• Peak summer water temperature (2023): 89.4 °F (July)

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11. Houma-Thibodaux, LA

• Summer water temperature change (2013–2023): +3.5 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2023): 88.4 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2013): 84.8 °F
• Peak summer water temperature (2023): 89.5 °F (August)

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10. Toledo, OH

• Summer water temperature change (2013–2023): +3.7 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2023): 75.0 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2013): 71.2 °F
• Peak summer water temperature (2023): 76.3 °F (August)

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9. Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI

• Summer water temperature change (2013–2023): +3.8 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2023): 69.2 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2013): 65.4 °F
• Peak summer water temperature (2023): 71.4 °F (July)

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8. Key West, FL

• Summer water temperature change (2013–2023): +3.8 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2023): 89.5 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2013): 85.6 °F
• Peak summer water temperature (2023): 90.8 °F (July)

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7. Lake Charles, LA

• Summer water temperature change (2013–2023): +3.8 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2023): 91.8 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2013): 88.0 °F
• Peak summer water temperature (2023): 95.7 °F (August)

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6. Kingsville, TX

• Summer water temperature change (2013–2023): +4.3 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2023): 89.0 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2013): 84.7 °F
• Peak summer water temperature (2023): 90.4 °F (August)

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5. Morgan City, LA

• Summer water temperature change (2013–2023): +4.5 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2023): 87.6 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2013): 83.1 °F
• Peak summer water temperature (2023): 88.7 °F (July)

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4. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX

• Summer water temperature change (2013–2023): +4.6 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2023): 88.5 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2013): 83.9 °F
• Peak summer water temperature (2023): 92.7 °F (August)

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3. Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL

• Summer water temperature change (2013–2023): +5.5 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2023): 87.9 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2013): 82.3 °F
• Peak summer water temperature (2023): 88.7 °F (September)

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2. Savannah, GA

• Summer water temperature change (2013–2023): +6.3 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2023): 84.2 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2013): 77.9 °F
• Peak summer water temperature (2023): 86.3 °F (August)

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1. Raymondville, TX

• Summer water temperature change (2013–2023): +6.5 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2023): 91.1 °F
• Average summer water temperature (2013): 84.5 °F
• Peak summer water temperature (2023): 91.8 °F (August)

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Methodology & Detailed Findings

The data used in this study is from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Tides and Currents series. To determine the coastal areas that saw the biggest increase in water temperature, researchers at Captain Experiences calculated the average summer water temperature change from 2013 to 2023 across each coastal metropolitan and micropolitan area. Average summer water temperatures were calculated by averaging hourly surface water temperatures for July, August, and September, and peak summer water temperatures were calculated using the largest average monthly water temperature for any given meteorological or physical oceanographical station located within each coastal area. Additionally, only metropolitan and micropolitan areas with sufficient coastal sea water temperature data were included.