BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Central Florida ocean temperatures are rising faster than other parts of the country, raising concerns about the impact of the warmer waters.
“It’s a very famous beach,” said Delson Horn, who was visiting Cocoa Beach with his family from Iowa. “(The water) is very warm. It’s very good.”
“The favorite thing I have loved was playing in the waves,” said Noah Octela, who was playing in the surf with his family visiting from West Palm Beach.
“(Water temperatures) are pegging numbers in the mid to upper 80s,” News 6 meteorologist Jonathan Kegges said. “Just off the Space Coast, we have 85-degree water temperature.”
Kegges said that 85-degree water temperature is what Brevard County usually sees in August and September, not July.
The fishing industry pays especially close attention to the water temperature.
Charter company Captain Experiences recently compiled the water temperature data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration over the last 10 years and ranked the areas with the largest summertime jump.
Brevard County ranked No. 2 on its list, with a temperature increase of 5.5 degrees.
Savannah ranked No. 1, with a 6.3-degree hike.
Miami ranked third.
| Coastal Area | Summer Water Temp. Change (2013-2023) | Peak Summer Water Temp (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Savannah, GA | +6.3 degrees | 86.3 degrees |
| 2. Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | +5.5 degrees | 88.7 degrees |
| 3. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL | +3.2 degrees | 89.4 degrees |
| 4. Portland-South Portland, ME | +3.2 degrees | 62.8 degrees |
| 5. Norwich-New London, CT | +3.1 degrees | 74 degrees |
For the complete list, click here.
Kegges said the trend is concerning, especially when it comes to hurricanes.
“There’s no question about it, and that’s the one thing when we get into all this,” he said. “The warmer ocean doesn’t typically impact the number of storms, it’s going to impact the strength of those storms.”
He said hurricanes feed off warm ocean water.
Other side effects include coral bleaching, which is killing large sections of reef off the Florida coast.
The warm water also confuses sea life, forcing them to find other places to live.
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