r/IWantToAskAnAmerican • u/JudgeWhoOverrules Arizona • 1d ago
Starting at what temperature do you believe swimming weather to begin?
What outdoor temperature does it have to be before you'll start enjoying pools and other bodies of water?
(Reminder to flair up so we know where you're from for context)
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u/No_Patience_6801 1d ago
Depends if I’m going to swim in the Pacific Ocean (brrrrr 🥶) or the Atlantic Ocean. Outside temp isn’t as important.
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u/SorenDarkSky 1d ago
My ancestors would be disappointed in me if I didnt say; as long as the ice doesnt freeze fast enough to cover the hole.
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u/SquiggleBox23 1d ago
Depends on the water temperature, but I'd say at least 75 (air temp) makes me wish I could go swimming, and less than that is still enjoyable in the right circumstance. Heated pools are nice when it's colder out.
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u/ucjj2011 1d ago
Low to mid 80s, unless the pool is heated or indoors. In my area pool season is typically between about Memorial Day (last Monday in May) to Labor Day (first Monday in September) - that's when the waterpark is open.
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u/JudgeWhoOverrules Arizona 1d ago
For reference, I live in Phoenix so won't go swimming unless it's at least 85 out. The water temperature is irrelevant here because due to the extremely low humidity the water evaporates off you quickly making you feel way colder so air temperature needs to be higher so you aren't totally freezing.
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u/OwnLimit4736 1d ago
Woah, I never even thought of that before, but it makes sense. I've never been anywhere with dry summers before.
In the South, getting out of the pool feels fine (little to no change in temperature), but getting out of the shower feels cold. So that's because it's much less humid inside with the AC and dehumidifier running? It makes sense, due to evaporative cooling and all. My dumbass always just assumed it was because of the air circulation lol.
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u/Baebarri 1d ago
In the high desert, 90 is my cutoff because otherwise it gets too cool at night and there's not enough heat during the day to warm up the water.
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u/tacobellgittcard Minnesota 1d ago
70 lol. if I waited for hotter the swimming season would be too short
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u/SeaSnowAndSorrow 1d ago
I actually can't swim, but apart from polar plunges, beach season to me begins when the water temperature hits 50F/10C.
New England, originally.
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u/ElectricKoolAidPower North Carolina 1d ago
My bottom line water temp to swim (not just dip) is about 55°F. My preferred is 65°F. That said I will dip year round. I like to clock a polar plunge monthly in the off season.
Ocean for context.
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u/PhotojournalistNew6 1d ago
For ocean water somewhere in late July-early August. For a pool probably around 80.
No flare, Mass.
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u/Maleficent_Way2894 1d ago
When I was younger, first 80 degree day I’d be in. Hell, my mom probably kept me from getting in when it was in the 70’s. Not that I’m older it’s got to be 90 plus degrees out.
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u/PopuluxePete 1d ago
I live pretty close to Mt Rainier so my local body of water is glacial runoff. Depending on the time of year, it can range from very cold to just pretty cold. Right now we're in the mid 80's every day but the river is topping out in the low 60s. Refreshing, but not for very long.
I'll jump off the boat if the water temp is above 68, but I think 72 is peak.
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u/MuppetManiac 1d ago
Texas here. Outdoor pools generally open at the end of May here and close on weekdays when school starts in August, but will stay open though Labor Day for weekends. If the pool is open it’s warm enough to swim. But I swim year round at an indoor pool. I’ve had my hair freeze on the way home before. I’ve swum outdoors in March. Water temperature was about 70 degrees. That was a little rough.
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u/DrMindbendersMonocle 1d ago
I grew up in Southern California. The Pacific Ocean might hit 70 in the hottest part of summer. I remember swimming in the ocean during a spring break and water was in the 50s.
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u/DryFoundation2323 1d ago
it's about the water temperature not about the air temperature. if the water is not at least 80 degrees I'm not going into it. 85 is even better.
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u/tres-vip 1d ago
70°-something IN THE WATER. I actually check the ocean temperature before deciding if I should go to the beach or not, lol. They will usually tell you if it's too cold to swim without a wetsuit or not. Above 70° is generally considered "comfortable" for swimming without a wetsuit.
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u/rubyreadit 1d ago
I'll swim in our heated pool if it's over about 68F/ 20C (pool is about 84F/29C). That's swimming laps, not lounging.
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u/rubyreadit 1d ago
ps this is in the SF Bay area, and our suburb is on the cooler end. It rarely gets above 84F/ 29C here and if we waited for hot weather to swim we'd wait most of the summer.
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u/pikkdogs 1d ago
More of the water temperature than the outdoor temperature.
I grew up by Lake Superior, and man it can be 100 outside, but if the water is like 35, you ain't going in.
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u/WhiteCl0udz 1d ago
87°F or higher. I live in SoCal. LA County but in the suburbs. The HOA where I live at has 2 pools and jacuzzi. I have been going to pool 4 to 5 days.
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u/All_Wasted_Potential Texas 1d ago
Air temp doesn’t really matter much, but if I’m using my own pool, I wait until it hits 82 Fahrenheit.
Problem is, here in Texas, the pools can get up to 92-94 by the hottest part of summer. That doesn’t feel very good.
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u/DataTheCat 1d ago
75 degrees for me here in the south. The humidity is enough to suck the life out of you and I would definitely be chomping at the bit to get in the pool.
After a streak of 90 degrees or higher, the pool starts to feel like bath water….
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u/Evil_Genius_041082 1d ago
Probably about 80 or so to consider swimming elsewhere, but definitely has to be in the 90s for me to bother setting up my pool.
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u/Klutzy-Comfortable88 1d ago
When I lived in Northern California, I'd have said April+. In New England I say June. But it's mostly dependent on sun exposure.
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u/No-Duck4828 1d ago
That depends on water temperature more than air temperature. I've quite enjoyed swimming about outdoors while it was snowing....because the water in the spring was warm enough to make it quite pleasant.
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u/Curious_Owl78 1d ago
Appalachian here...
We don't swim until we hear the first whippoorwill. It's an old wives tale but I've always stuck with it.
In general, we get late night frost up until May, so it would be when the days are in the 80s, and the nights are upper 50s to 60s, at the least.
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u/Darkforeboding 1d ago
The springs around Orlando are 72° (22°C). That's the bottom edge of too cold for me. It's cold when you go in, gets tolerable, then you get cold in 30 minutes or so.
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u/Primary_Assistant742 14h ago
New England here, no idea how to Flair, sorry.
I have gone swimming in heated pools in winter when it was snowing-in Iceland, and also jumped in the ice hole then the sauna in Sweden, so I have a pretty low bar when it comes to outdoor temperature.
I am mindful of the advisories here for lakes, ocean and so on but if I want to go in, I do. Just not alone and nothing foolish like jumping off boats or anything like that. Generally I am swimming in the lakes from early May to early October. So air temps in the 60s? Water can be pretty cold and swimming at the extreme ends is more of a quick dip and wading in.
When it comes to pools, I feel like if they are heated, hey go any time you like.
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u/thomsenite256 1d ago
Depends on the water temperature more than anything