Climate - Tallahassee (Florida)

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The climate of Tallahassee 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 the capital of Florida and is located in the northwest of the state, about 40 km (25 mi) from the coast.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 11.2 °C (52 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 28.1 °C (83 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 1,495 millimeters (58.8 inches) per year: it is therefore abundant. It ranges from 80 mm (3.1 in) in the driest months (October, November) to 195 mm (7.7 in) in the wettest ones (June, August). 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 -7/-8 °C (18/19 °F), while during the day it remains about 6/7 °C (43/45 °F).
The record is -14.5 °C (6 °F), recorded in January 1985.
Snow in Tallahassee is very rare. Occasionally, a light snowfall can be observed, but it takes decades to see the city in white. In February 1958, 7 cm (2.8 in) of snow fell, while in December 1989, 2.5 cm (1 in) fell.

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). The record is 40.5 °C (105 °F), recorded in June 2011.
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, Tallahassee 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. In September 2016, it was hit by Hurricane Hermine and in October 2018 by Hurricane Michael. 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 (7/8 days a month in spring and 6 days a month in autumn). 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 2,985 sunshine hours per year. Therefore, the sun shines very often, going from a minimum of 60% of the time in December and January to a maximum of 77% in April. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

The sea temperature ranges between 18 °C (64 °F) and 30 °C (85 °F). The sea is warm enough for swimming from May to November. In winter the sea is very cool, if not cold. Here are the average sea temperatures.

Occasionally, Tallahassee 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 Tallahassee 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.