Queensland, Australia
Coral Sea27.19°S, 153.38°EStation AU-QUE-THE

The Desert Sea Water Temperature

A subtropical beach on the Coral Sea, warmest around February at about 26.7°C. Today's reading, 7-day forecast, and monthly averages below.

Live readings · auto-updating
Water Temperature NowBuoy & Sentinel-3 SST

The Desert water temperature

21.1
70°FComfortable (20°C – 24°C)

Pleasant and revitalizing. Great for most beachgoers and active recreational swimming.

+0°vs Sep avgCoral Sea27.19°S, 153.38°E
Activity Index:SwimmingSnorkelingSurfingTypical conditions
Marine Atmosphere Grid Live Marine Feed
Coastal Air
23°C
72.7°F onshore
Wind Speed
12 km/h
Surface wind
Wave Height
0.8 m
Slight shore chop
Swell
0.6 m
Deep water swell
Wave Period
6 s
Peak interval
UV Index
—
Daily maximum
Sunrise
—
First morning light
Sunset
—
Golden hour close

7-Day Water Temperature Forecast

Open-Meteo ocean model
Today
WedSep 30
21.1°C
70°F
Waves: 1m
Comfortable
ThuOct 1
21.4°C
70.5°F
Waves: 0.9m
Comfortable
FriOct 2
21.5°C
70.7°F
Waves: 0.7m
Comfortable
SatOct 3
21.4°C
70.5°F
Waves: 0.6m
Comfortable
SunOct 4
21.1°C
70°F
Waves: 0.7m
Comfortable
MonOct 5
20.8°C
69.4°F
Waves: 0.9m
Comfortable
TueOct 6
20.7°C
69.3°F
Waves: 1m
Comfortable
Forecast cooling trend: -0.4°C over 7 days at The Desert.
Confidence: High

The Desert Monthly Water Temperature Averages

Historical monthly climatology. The warmest water in The Desert occurs inJanuary, February, March, April, November, December — peaking at26.7°C (80.1°F) in February.

Year-Round Water Temperature Curve (°C / °F)

Hover a bar for details
Current month Comfortable (20–24°C) Warm (24°C+) Cool (<20°C)
26
Jan
27
Feb
26
Mar
25
Apr
23
May
22
Jun
21
Jul
20
Aug
Current
21
Sep
23
Oct
24
Nov
25
Dec
Full 12-month data table — min / avg / max & swimming comfort
MonthMin Water TempAverage Water TempMax Water TempSwimming Comfort
January24.1°C26.1°C27.7°CWarm & Ideal (24°C – 28°C)
February25.2°C26.7°C28.4°CWarm & Ideal (24°C – 28°C)
March24.3°C26.3°C28.2°CWarm & Ideal (24°C – 28°C)
April23.6°C25.1°C26.5°CWarm & Ideal (24°C – 28°C)
May21.7°C23.2°C24.5°CComfortable (20°C – 24°C)
June20.4°C21.8°C23.3°CComfortable (20°C – 24°C)
July18.9°C20.7°C22°CComfortable (20°C – 24°C)
August18.9°C20.3°C21.9°CComfortable (20°C – 24°C)
SeptemberCurrent19.8°C21.1°C22.7°CComfortable (20°C – 24°C)
October21°C22.5°C25°CComfortable (20°C – 24°C)
November22.6°C24°C25.5°CWarm & Ideal (24°C – 28°C)
December23.7°C25.3°C27.4°CWarm & Ideal (24°C – 28°C)

Swimming FAQs for The Desert

Is the sea warm enough to swim in The Desert today?

Typical sea surface temperature in The Desert this time of year is 21.1°C (70°F) — classified as Comfortable (20°C – 24°C). Pleasant and revitalizing. Great for most beachgoers and active recreational swimming. Live readings load automatically.

What are the warmest months for swimming in The Desert?

The highest water temperatures in The Desert typically occur duringJanuary, February, March, April, November, December, when monthly averages reach peak seasonal levels.

What is the typical water temperature in The Desert in September?

Historically in September, water temperatures in The Desert average around21.1°C (70.0°F), fluctuating between a recorded minimum of 19.8°C and a maximum of 22.7°C.

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The Desert Coastal Zone Map

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