Climate - Jacksonville (Florida)

The climate of Jacksonville is subtropical, with mild winters (though characterized by short cold waves) and hot, humid summers, during which there are quite frequent thunderstorms.
The city is located in northeastern Florida, near the Atlantic coast, on the banks of the St. Johns River.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 11.7 °C (53 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 28 °C (82 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 1,330 millimeters (52.4 inches) per year: it is therefore quite abundant. It ranges from 55 mm (2.2 in) in the driest month (November) to 210 mm (8.3 in) in the wettest (September). Here is the average precipitation.

The winter, from December to February, is mild, but it is much colder than in South Florida and Miami.
The sun often shines, although there are periods characterized by clouds, rain and wind.
Normally the days are mild, but at night it is often cold, and the temperature can approach the freezing point.
There may be warm periods even in the middle of winter, when the temperature can reach or exceed 25 °C (77 °F).
However, there may also be short cold spells, in which the temperature drops below freezing, usually down to -5/-6 °C (21/23 °F), while during the day it remains about 5/6 °C (41/43 °F).
The record is -14 °C (7 °F), recorded in January 1985.
Snow in Jacksonville is very rare. Occasionally, a light snowfall can be observed, but it takes decades to see the city in white. The snowfall of 23 December 1989 remains historic, also because the snow lasted until Christmas.

The summer, from June to September, is hot and muggy. Due to high humidity the heat is sweltering, even though the breeze blows from the sea. The combination of humidity and temperature can produce a perceived temperature of 40 °C (104 °F) and above.
On the hottest days of the year, the temperature usually reaches 37/38 °C (99/100 °F). In recent decades, the record is 39.5 °C (103 °F), recorded in July 1981.
The sun often shines, but the sky is not always clear, as cloud coverings can form, which can give rise to thunderstorms.
Between late summer and early autumn, Jacksonville can be affected by hurricanes or tropical storms. Hurricane season runs from June to November, although the period in which they are most likely is from August to October. Indeed, the city has been hit several times over the past few decades, albeit not in a destructive way. Hurricanes can cause extensive damage, especially along the coast.

Spring and autumn, from March to May and from early October to late November, are pleasantly warm seasons, with infrequent rains. Spring is the sunniest season.
Sometimes there can be some bursts of cold air, especially in March and November, which generally bring a bit of cold especially at night.
In April and October it can exceed 30 °C (86 °F), while in May there is already often summer-like heat.



On average, there are around 2,880 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

The sea temperature ranges between 20 °C (68 °F) and 28.5 °C (83 °F). The sea is warm enough for swimming from May to November. In winter the sea is very cool, if not cold, although it is not impossible to swim in. Here are the average sea temperatures.

Occasionally, Jacksonville can be hit by a tornado. Tornadoes are more likely in spring, and somewhat less in autumn, but in these southern latitudes, they can also occur in January and February.

Best Time

To visit Jacksonville you can choose the period from mid-March to mid-April.
To go to the beach, the weather in May is generally excellent, with fewer thunderstorms than in summer, however, it can sometimes get a little cold at night.

See also the climate of Florida.