Sarasota Weather and Climate

Like many Florida cities, Sarasota is known for its fine weather, especially during the winter months when other parts of the country are cold and snowy and residents are subject to the winter doldrums.

There's nothing dull about any of the seasons in Sarasota. Certainly, summer days can be quite hot, but those are the perfect days to head to Siesta Key or one of the other nearby islands to enjoy the lovely Gulf breezes that seem ever present in the region. As a matter of fact, Sarasota has an average annual temperature of 72.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Researchers say that 74 degrees is the perfect outdoor temperature for human beings, so Sarasota is pretty darn close to perfect!

The Seasons of the Year

While Sarasota, Florida's seasons may not be as distinct as they are in other parts of the country, the region does indeed boast some changes in temperature, rainfall, and climate in general.

• Spring – The spring months of late May through mid-June are simply lovely in Sarasota. During this time, average lows are 60 to 65 degrees with highs reaching near 80-82. Rain is minimal at this time of year, and like many places throughout the country, new flowers bloom, producing lots of color.
• Summer – Many people avoid Florida during the summer, but thanks to its location near the Gulf, Sarasota is more comfortable than most inland cities. The average highs during the summer are about 90 degrees with lows bottoming out at about 72. July is the hottest month and August is the rainiest, with an average of about 9 inches of rain. Humidity can be quite high as well, making summer a great time to cool off at the beach or the local swimming pool. Afternoon thundershowers happen frequently during the summer, so be prepared to take cover. Hurricane season begins as early as mid-July.
• Fall – Early fall can still be quite humid and rain can continue well into September. The threat of hurricanes might continue well into late October and early November as well. However, during those later months of fall, humidity tends to drop quite a bit as do temperatures. Humidity is now in the 60 to 70 percent range and temperatures average about 70 as well.
• Winter – For most visitors or part-time residents, winter represents Sarasota at its finest. During this time of year, daytime temperatures can reach as low as 50-55, but are usually a much warmer 65 -70. Because of that, winter is a great time to enjoy golf and other outdoor pursuits that are tough to handle during the humid days of summer. Visits during this time of year require a variety of clothing as days can be warm but evenings can be quite chilly and require jackets and long pants. Rain is infrequent during the winter.

Hurricane Season

Research shows that Florida gets hit with more hurricanes than any other U.S. state. The primary reason for that statistic is Florida's location near the Caribbean Sea and the fact that the peninsula is surrounded by water on three sides. Statistics also show, however, that the Gulf Coast cities of Sarasota, Tampa, and others have suffered fewer direct hits than most of the larger cities on the Atlantic Coast, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Jacksonville.

Weather specialists say that hurricane season in Florida begins as early as July and can stretch into late October, even early November. The most active months for hurricanes are August and September and, historically, these months have seen the worst hurricane disasters in the area.

However, given the potential severity of hurricane season, Sarasota has suffered relatively little damage due to hurricanes. Technically, according to the U.S. Weather Service, the area gets brushed or hit every 4.28 years and suffers a direct hit every 19.57 years. The most notable hurricanes within the last 50 years include:

• Hurricane Donna / 1960 – 120 mph winds rocked the area when Donna hit. On Sept 11th, water was pulled out of all bays and inlets and brought back in when the hurricane pulled north, causing heavy damage to the area.
• Hurricane Charley / 2004 – Winds in excess of 145 mph on August 13 caused extremely heavy damage in western Sarasota County.

So overall, Sarasota has a comparatively low incident rate with hurricanes when compared to some other areas of Florida and the upper Gulf Coast.