A few Central Coast locations are reporting near-record or record-breaking seawater temperatures. A powerful northward-flowing ocean current is carrying an unusually warm mass of seawater from the Southern California Bight past Point Conception to the Central California coast. Several CDIP Waverider buoys along the Central Coast, including HARVEST, CA – 071 and DIABLO CANYON, CA – 076, are reporting seawater temperatures in the low to mid-70s. The 74.3°F reading at the Diablo Canyon Waverider this morning is the warmest seawater temperature ever recorded at that station since the buoy was installed in June 1983. Meanwhile, the 71.6°F reading at the Harvest Platform is the second-warmest temperature ever recorded there. The recently deployed AVILA BEACH NEARSHORE, CA – 285 Waverider buoy recorded seawater temperatures as high as 68.0°F last night. These measurements represent the immediate surface layer, about 14 to 18 inches below the buoy's waterline. The exceptionally warm water is also contributing to higher sea levels through thermal expansion of the water column. Actual sea levels at the Port San Luis tide gauge are currently running nearly one foot higher than predicted. The expected Kelvin wave could raise sea levels another six inches or more. With little significant northwesterly winds until this weekend, and consequently limited coastal upwelling, seawater temperatures could continue to rise over the next several days. The warmest seawater temperature ever recorded at a depth of 10 feet at Station 19-10 on the Pecho Coast near Diablo Canyon Power Plant since measurements started in 1976 was 67.7°F, occurring in September 2015 during yet another very strong El Niño event. For comparison, seawater temperatures in this part of the Central Coast are usually about 58°F in October, and although October has historically been the warmest month, this year's temperatures are unusual. – at Los Osos, CA