By Solomon Wiesen, TLV Beaches. Last reviewed October 2026.
Range of monthly sea averages and daytime air on the sand, by season.
In spring the sea lags behind the air; in autumn it holds its heat.
Source: SeaTemperature.org (NOAA satellite data), checked October 2026.
The sea off Tel Aviv is warmest in August, at around 29°C, and coldest in February and March, at around 17 to 18°C. Most people find it comfortable from May to November, which lines up roughly with the official bathing season.
Sea temperature in Tel Aviv, month by month
| Month | Long-term average (satellite) | Typical range in recent years | Swimming? |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18.8°C (66°F) | 18°C | Cold; wetsuit crowd and polar swimmers |
| February | 17.6°C (64°F) | 17 to 18°C | Coldest of the year |
| March | 17.8°C (64°F) | 17 to 18°C | Still cold; surfers in wetsuits |
| April | 18.6°C (65°F) | 18 to 20°C | Brisk but doable on warm days |
| May | 21.2°C (70°F) | 21 to 23°C | Season opens; fresh but pleasant |
| June | 24.9°C (77°F) | 24 to 26°C | Comfortable |
| July | 27.4°C (81°F) | 27 to 29°C | Warm; jellyfish weeks possible |
| August | 28.6°C (83°F) | 29 to 30°C | Bath-warm, the peak |
| September | 28.2°C (83°F) | 28 to 29°C | Warm and calmer; best month in the water |
| October | 26.3°C (79°F) | 25 to 27°C | Still lovely; season winds down |
| November | 23.2°C (74°F) | 22 to 24°C | Swimmable for the committed |
| December | 20.6°C (69°F) | 19 to 21°C | Cooling fast |
The long-term averages are satellite sea surface readings for Tel Aviv from SeaTemperature.org, based on NOAA data. The typical range reflects recent, warmer summers; August 2026 set a Mediterranean record.
How to check today’s sea temperature
For a same-day reading, check SeaTemperature.org’s Tel Aviv page. For official offshore measurements, the monitoring stations of ISRAMAR, the Israel Marine Data Center at Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, publish water temperature from Hadera and Ashkelon, the nearest stations to Tel Aviv.
Remember that lifeguards only work in the bathing season, which ended on 10 October in 2026. A winter swim is a swim with nobody watching.
Air temperature at the beach by season
- Summer (June to August): 28 to 32°C (82 to 90°F) on the sand, with a sea breeze that keeps the heat manageable.
- Autumn (September to November): 24 to 28°C (75 to 82°F). The water stays warmer than the air suggests well into November.
- Winter (December to February): 15 to 20°C (59 to 68°F) by day. Good for walking the promenade; swimming is for the hardy.
- Spring (March to May): 20 to 25°C (68 to 77°F), while the sea is still at its coldest.
What affects the temperature
The eastern Mediterranean off Tel Aviv warms steadily through spring and holds its heat deep into autumn, which is why October water is warmer than June air temperatures suggest. Winter storms mix and cool the water quickly; a few stormy days in December can drop it noticeably. The whole basin is also warming: in August 2026 the Mediterranean’s daily average hit a record 28.5°C, the highest since records began in 1940. Jellyfish swarms tend to arrive on the warm currents of mid-summer; see our jellyfish season guide. Scientists have been warning about the trend for years; the Times of Israel covered it.
Source: SeaTemperature.org (NOAA satellite data), checked October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
When is the sea warmest in Tel Aviv?
August, at around 29 to 30°C, with September close behind and often calmer.
Can you swim in Tel Aviv in winter?
The water sits around 17 to 18°C in February. Hardy swimmers do it; most people wait for May. See our guide to the Tel Aviv beach in winter.
Is the water warm enough in May?
Around 21 to 23°C: fresh when you get in, fine once you are moving. By mid-June the question disappears.
Sources: SeaTemperature.org monthly averages for Tel Aviv (NOAA satellite data), ISRAMAR. Checked October 2026.
Solomon (Shlomo) Wiesen is the author and photographer behind TLV Beaches. Originally from New York, he moved to Israel in 2011 and lives in Tel Aviv, a short walk from Frishman and Bograshov beaches. Every guide on the site is written from the beach, with more than 200 of his own photos of the Tel Aviv coast. He works in marketing, SEO and startups.
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