, with very mild winters (though characterized by short cold waves) and hot, humid summers, during which there are quite frequent thunderstorms.
, south of Tampa Bay, and it also overlooks a bay, in front of some barrier islands (called keys) that separate it from the open sea (the Gulf of Mexico).
of the coldest month (January) is of 16.9 °C (62 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 28.6 °C (83 °F).
amounts to 1,245 millimeters (49.1 inches) per year.
The rains are quite rare, although depending on the year, when it rains, it can rain a lot.
There are several warm periods, in which the temperature reaches or exceeds 25 °C (77 °F). However, after sunset the temperature drops a lot, and at night, it can get cold and fog can form, especially in the districts farthest from the sea.
can sometimes occur, when the minimum temperature drops to freezing or below. In recent decades, the record is -4 °C (25 °F), recorded in January 1981.
in Sarasota is extremely rare. There was very rarely light snowfall, such as in January 1977 and December 1989.
, from June to September, is hot and muggy. Due to high humidity, the heat is sweltering. 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 35/36 °C (95/97 °F). The record is 38 °C (100.5 °F), set on several occasions.
The sun often shines, but the sky is not always clear, as cloud coverings can form, which can give rise to
. In summer, thunderstorms break almost every day, although it doesn't always rain. There can also be hail and gusts of wind.
or tropical storms. Hurricane season runs from June to November, although the period in which they are most likely is from August to October. Generally, hurricanes come from the east or south and therefore do not hit Sarasota directly, as it faces west, however it is potentially at risk as it is developed along the coast. In fact, from time to time a hurricane can hit Florida coming from the southwest and directly affect this area, as happened with hurricane Charley in August 2004 and Ian in late September 2022.
, from March to May and from early October to late November, it is generally warm to hot and sunny. The rains are not very frequent (5/7 days a month).
In May and October it is almost as hot as in summer, even though the humidity is lower and the rains are less frequent.
In March and November, on the other hand, there can be outbreaks of cold air that can bring a bit of cold at night.
shines for a good number of hours. Spring is the sunniest season.
temperature ranges between 19.5 °C (67 °F) and 30 °C (86 °F). In winter the sea is very cool, if not cold, although it is not impossible to swim in.
. Tornadoes in Florida typically form from May to October (but sometimes also in January and February), during thunderstorms, and are more frequent but less dangerous than in the south-central United States. Tornadoes in this area are most intense during El Niño years.
To go to the beach, in May the weather is generally excellent, with fewer thunderstorms than in summer.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.9 °C, with a minimum of
11.3 °C and a maximum of
22.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-3 °C in January 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
70 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
February is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
18.2 °C, with a minimum of
12.6 °C and a maximum of
23.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3 °C. However, it dropped to
-3.4 °C in February 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
19.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
March is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.1 °C, with a minimum of
14.5 °C and a maximum of
25.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6 °C. However, it dropped to
1.1 °C in March 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
70 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
April is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
22.6 °C, with a minimum of
17.1 °C and a maximum of
28.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
10 °C. However, it dropped to
5 °C in April 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
60 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 77% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of
14.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
May is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
25.5 °C, with a minimum of
20.1 °C and a maximum of
30.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15.5 °C. However, it dropped to
10 °C in May 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
65 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 75% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
24.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
June is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
27.7 °C, with a minimum of
23.1 °C and a maximum of
32.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
20.5 °C. However, it dropped to
17.7 °C in June 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
180 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
27.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
July is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28.4 °C, with a minimum of
24 °C and a maximum of
32.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22 °C. However, it dropped to
20 °C in July 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
190 mm, distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
29.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
August, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28.6 °C, with a minimum of
24.1 °C and a maximum of
33.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22 °C. However, it dropped to
21 °C in August 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
230 mm, distributed over 18 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
29.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
September is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
27.9 °C, with a minimum of
23.4 °C and a maximum of
32.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
20.5 °C. However, it dropped to
16.1 °C in September 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
150 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
29.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
October is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
25.2 °C, with a minimum of
20.2 °C and a maximum of
30.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13.5 °C. However, it dropped to
6.7 °C in October 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
70 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
27.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
November is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
21.1 °C, with a minimum of
15.6 °C and a maximum of
26.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7.5 °C. However, it dropped to
3.9 °C in November 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
45 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
24.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
December is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
18.4 °C, with a minimum of
12.9 °C and a maximum of
24 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.8 °C in December 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
60 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 25 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22.3 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.