I don’t remember ever being this cold in the middle of winter.

Every single time I’ve paddled out in the past few weeks – heck, the past few months – I’m hoping it will be warm enough to finally put my full suit away and dust off my spring suit, which has been collecting dust in the garage.

But every time I hit the water it’s the same drill – the chills, the shivers, the cursing.

Those who have been out in the water have been looking at each other confused, wondering why the water is freezing and sticking around in the mid-to-upper 50s as we wrap up August. Temps this time of year are usually in the upper 60s, even low 70s.

A surfer puts on his wetsuit at Salt Creek today, as water lingers in the 50s and low 60s.

We finally have our summer sunshine, and the super fun swells from the south. So when will this water warm up already?!!!

I hit up Surfline.com chief forecaster Sean Collins to find out what’s going on.

So, why do my hands and feet feel like they are about to fall off after getting out of the water?

The reason our water is still cold is because of what happened in the spring, Collins explains. We had really strong Northwest winds from March through June. Those winds caused currents bringing colder water down the coast, along with “upwelling,” which churns up deeper, chilly water to the surface.

“This is by far the coldest water temps in August I’ve ever seen here,” he said.

On warm summer days this year, the water is warmed up only on the surface, and just 10 feet below it can be 10 degrees colder. During our normal summers, the warmer water extends much deeper with less cold water underneath.

And because the ocean is colder, air temps between the cold ocean and hot land are vastly different, which in turn creates stronger winds along the coast, and that once again churns up colder water from below. It’s a bad cycle that feeds on itself until we can get another cycle to break it, like a long period of hot weather and calm coastal winds like a Santa Ana condition, Collins explains.

So how does the future look for my spring suit?

“Unfortunately, we’re not going to see warm water temps, I don’t think, this summer,” Collins explains. “Hopefully we’ll get our summer in the fall.”

You mean conditions could get nice just as the schools go back in session and all the tourists go home – that doesn’t sound so bad!

This guy says forget the suit and trunked it at Salt Creek today. He must be nuts

For a more detailed explanation, go to Surfline.com.

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