With summer upon us, water temperatures are almost as important as air temperatures. Ocean waters are still mainly in the mid 60s off the Delaware and Jersey shores, but that can change day to day and location to location.

The wind is a major determiner of near-shore water temperatures. When winds are blowing strongly offshore - that's a west or northwest wind at the Delaware and Jersey beaches - the wind blows the warmest top layer of water away from the coast, allowing cooler, deeper waters to rise to the surface. So a strong offshore wind usually means lower water temperatures near the shore. On the other hand, a strong onshore wind tends to keep milder water closer to shore.

You can monitor ocean temperatures yourself this summer with a great web site from Rutgers University. Go to

marine.rutgers.edu/cool/

and click on "Satellite temperatures." The images are high resolution and can help you estimate water temperatures off your favorite beach up and down the Delaware, Maryland and Jersey shores. But it's important to remember that on overcast days, the satellite can't see through the clouds.