MISSION BEACH, Calif. -- While the Automobile Club ranks San Diego as the No. 2 destination for Southern Californians for the Labor Day Weekend, but more than the weather may be to blame for the weekend's lower than usual beach crowds.

In Mission Beach on Saturday, the cool temperature of the water was 58 degrees and keeping people away.

The marine layer burned off early, but it didn't bring beachgoers any closer to the water.

"There really aren't a whole lot of takers right now," said Lt. Nick Lerma with San Diego Lifeguards.

Beachgoer Taylor Robinette told 10News, "The sand is really warm but the water is freezing."

The water is seven degrees below average for this time of year. Azure O'Niel, who is from the East Coast, said she was waiting all summer to stretch out on the sand.

"We went out in the sun yesterday and then immediately came back in and got sweatpants and sweatshirts, so we laid out on the beach all wrapped up," said O'Niel.

Alexander "Phish" Harrison said he came to San Diego from Washington, DC to get away from Hurricane Earl.

"It's just about as windy here at it is there," he said. "I'm hoping it dies down a little bit so I can get my surf."

According to San Diego police, alcohol-related crimes in Mission and Pacific Beach have gone down from 758 in July of 2008 to 485 in July of 2010. Beachgoers credit the booze ban.

"Now that there isn't any booze on the beach, I don't want to call it riffraff, but it is not here anymore," said Harrison. "It's not as crowded and a little bit clearer."

But the start of college football may also be thinning beach crowds.

Kelly Walsh traveled all the way from St. Louis for the view of the game on her phone.

"I found a way to stream it on my phone," she said.

Less people outside means less trouble for police and lifeguards, who said they're still prepared for a busy weekend.

"I don't anticipate we are going to be extremely busy but we will earn our money," said Lerma.