In the scorching summer heat, it’s common for people to seek relief in water. However, in certain parts of Florida, the ocean itself has turned into a hot tub. Sea surface temperatures in Manatee Bay reached a stunning 101.2 degrees Fahrenheit (38.4 degrees Celsius), according to the National Weather Service. This unusual spike in temperature has left beachgoers, like Chelsea Ward of Fort Myers, feeling as though there is no difference between the humidity of the air and the water.
Triple-digit ocean temperatures are especially surprising in Florida, a state accustomed to heat. Retirees often flock to Florida to escape the cold, northern winters. Other nearby areas also experienced high temperatures, with some reaching the mid-90s (about 35 Celsius). Fortunately, a storm rolled in, helping to cool the water back down to a more comfortable 80s (about 29 Celsius).
Normally, water provides a refreshing escape from the heat. Millions of people look forward to spending their summers on the beach, cooling off in the water, and enjoying a break from their everyday lives. Pools also offer relief and a place for friends to gather. However, when water temperatures rise too high, this appeal diminishes. Chelsea Ward, for example, has stopped keeping her beach bag in her car because the water is now too hot. When her friend invited her to the beach on Sunday, they decided against it after discovering the water temperature was around 90 degrees (32 degrees Celsius).
The human body naturally cools down by sweating and evaporating heat. Dipping into the ocean is typically refreshing because heat efficiently transfers from the body into the water. However, as water temperatures increase, this cooling effect diminishes, and the body loses heat more slowly. Michael Mullins, a toxicologist and emergency medicine physician, explains that when the water is hotter than body temperature, it reverses the transfer of heat, resulting in an unpleasant experience akin to “swimming in soup” on a humid day in Florida.
Although people tend to avoid swimming in extremely hot waters like those in Florida, high temperatures anywhere can make swimming less enjoyable. For example, Phoenix experienced temperatures above 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) every day this month. Pools become warm, prompting creative solutions like using ice blocks to cool the water. Stefanee Lynn Thompson, a resident of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, purchased 40 ice blocks and placed them in her pool for a party, dropping the temperature by a mere 4 degrees (7 degrees Celsius) in the scorching heat.
It’s not just humans who suffer when ocean temperatures rise. Coral reefs, which are sensitive to temperature changes, bleach and become vulnerable when water temperatures rise above the upper 80s (low 30 degrees Celsius). Scientists attribute the extreme heat to climate change, which is creating a hotter world, warming oceans, and intensifying storms. While sea surface temperatures off Florida remain above average, they are even higher in the North Atlantic near Newfoundland, where they are as much as 9 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius) hotter than usual.
The extremely high sea surface temperatures observed earlier this week in Manatee Bay may not be representative of the overall water temperature. Shallow waters heat up quickly, and sediment can contribute to higher temperatures. In contrast, places like the North Shore of Massachusetts have cooler pool and ocean temperatures, with water temperatures ranging from 78 to 80 degrees (26 to 27 degrees Celsius) in YMCA pools and the mid-70s (about 24 degrees Celsius) off Cape Cod.
While some people, like Maria Argueta, don’t mind the hot ocean water, others seek refuge in public facilities like the Venetian Pool in Coral Gables, which is fed by a cool aquifer. The cooler water provides much-needed relief from Florida’s humid weather, where sweat struggles to evaporate and cool the body. In South Florida, people rarely go into the ocean during summer for relief, as it is comfortable to swim but not refreshing.
Overall, the unusually high ocean temperatures in Florida are a cause for concern. As climate change continues to impact the planet, it’s important to address the underlying factors driving these extreme weather events.
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