Right now the water temperature of Lake Ontario is 10 degrees and the air temperature is 12 degrees. So I guess we have to wait a while before considering swimming. The perfect water temperature for swimming is between 18 and 24 degrees. It doesn't get to peak range in Lake Ontario until the middle of August. I wondered what made that so. There are a number of factors and one is how deep the water is - Lake Ontario has deep water.
So considering that there is very deep water, why doesn't it freeze at the bottom in the winter? The answer is this:
It is because as the water gets close enough to freezing, the colder water is less dense and floats to the top. So at the bottom of deep lakes the water can be cold without freezing into ice.
Right now - should I wear a wet suit to swim in the lake? I found out this result as an answer. According to Surf Forecast, it says that "surfers should use a 2mm long sleeve shorty or a 3/2mm spring wetsuit if the wind is up. The coldest sea water temperatures at Toronto Breaks mean that you will need a flexible 6/5/4mm wetsuit or a well fitting 5/4mm wetsuit with gloves and 5mm neoprene booties and a hood to surf here in the third week of February". I can't imagine who would assess surfing conditions in Lake Ontario in February. I would think that would bring out the life guard patrol.
There are five beaches listed in Grimsby - Casablanca, Murray Park, Nelles Park, Grimsby Beach and Bal Harbour. The water quality is monitored weekly and reported in theswimguide.orgbut not the temperatures. Nelles Beach, in particular reminds me of ocean beaches the west coast, with those long expanses that disappear on the horizon. Last year the water was so high that they were inaccessible all summer. Charles Daley Park was fenced off. Grimsby Beach pier was fenced off.
This photo was taken in October last year - it is Sunrise Beach (formerly Municipal Beach) in St. Catharines. This is one of those great long expanses that makes you realize that Lake Ontario has a 'coast'.
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