The water surface temperature yesterday exceeded the temperature from May 24 last year, according to the Bermuda Weather Service.

In what might be taken as good reason to abandon the tradition of waiting until Bermuda Day to go swimming — at least this year — meteorologist Rob Howlett confirmed the water temperature was two degrees warmer than May 24 last year, and one degree warmer than May 24 in 2012.

At 76°F, Mr Howlett attributed the warm sea surface temperature to “continued light winds and abundant sunshine”, but added that such fluctuations were typical over the course of a week.

“As you can see by the data, we have been slightly warmer when comparing this year to the previous two years, but currently it looks to be stabilising with the climate averages,” said the Bermuda Weather Service meteorologist.

Without yesterday’s temperatures factored in, the average sea surface temperature throughout May so far stands at 72°F.

But Mr Howlett noted that the unseasonably warm waters are no reason to abandon tradition.

In fact, meteorological data backs up the conventional wisdom behind waiting until the end of May to dust off the bikinis and board shorts.

The month of May, Mr Howlett noted, sees air temperatures climb five degrees, from 73°F on May 1, to 78°F by May 31.

“The increasing air temperatures during May could also be a determining factor why Bermudians start swimming on the 24th,” he said. “Out of all the months of the year, May has the greatest increase in average high temperature.”