What is Southern California like in late March?

[Walt Disney1955]

I am planning a trip down that way the last week or so of March. Obviously Disneyland is on the itinerary but since there is a lot to do down in that area I was hoping the beaches would warm enough to swim.

Here are my questions:
Are the beaches busy that time of year?
Is the water warm enough to swim in?
Would you be insane to swim in it?

 

[TP2000]

Here are my questions:
Are the beaches busy that time of year?
Is the water warm enough to swim in?
Would you be insane to swim in it?

SoCal beaches are much cooler than East Coast beaches, any time of year.

In March, temps at OC beaches will be in the upper 50's. Even by August, the water temps are lucky to crest 70 degrees. Here's the averages for the last year at SoCal beaches. http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/spac.html

There's a reason why West Coast surfers wear wetsuits eight months out of the year; it's not to look cool, they'd die of hypothermia if they didn't.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

SoCal beaches are much cooler than East Coast beaches, any time of year.

In March, temps at OC beaches will be in the upper 50's. Even by August, the water temps are lucky to crest 70 degrees. Here's the averages for the last year at SoCal beaches. http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/spac.html

There's a reason why West Coast surfers wear wetsuits eight months out of the year; it's not to look cool, they'd die of hypothermia if they didn't.

So from your own experiences do you find people to be on the beach at that time of year swimming?

 

[TP2000]

So from your own experiences do you find people to be on the beach at that time of year swimming?

Swimming? Not so much. Surfing and board sports? Yeah, by the droves, and all wearing wetsuits.

Tourists try to swim in March. And they get up to about their knees and realize it's not exactly Tampa Bay. :lol:

The SoCal weather in March is transitional. You can have your first warm days of spring up into the 70's or near 80, and everyone flocks to the beach just to sun and wade, or surf or bodyboard if you have a wetsuit. But it can also still be cool and in the 60's, or even rainy and chilly on occasion, and the beaches would be empty.