St Petersburg Weather

For the most part, St Petersburgs weather is excellent. If you enjoy a warm, tropical climate then this is the place for you. Winter and spring mark the peak tourist season in the Tampa area, and for good reason. The temperatures are cool but mild, a perfect blend where the sun feels good on your face and a slight breeze off the water balances it all out. Nights actually drop into a realm that many would consider slightly chilly, which is a welcome relief from the standard heat that accompanies every day in Florida. However, the perfect weather also attracts hoards of visitors. So be prepared to battle with the masses if you want to visit St Petersburg at its finest.

Oh, terrible summer

Summers embody the complete antithesis of Floridas perfect winter season. The temperatures remain a steady 90F from June to September during the day, with a slight drop in the mercury after dark to bring some sense of relief. Beachside areas benefit from a fairly consistent onshore breeze that kicks in around sunset. The other elements of summer, which some find a curse and others a beauty, are the regular thunderstorms which roll into town every afternoon like clockwork.

The Tampa Bay area is the thunderstorm and lightning capital of the US. By noon, massive puffy clouds begin building up on the western horizon, which steadily drift towards St Petersburg, dumping their contents in dramatic fashion by late afternoon. The natural display is spectacular and certainly adds some drama to an otherwise hot and muggy day. They also disappear as quickly as they come, just in time to offer world-class sunsets nearly every evening. The only drawback is that they are the source of that incredibly thick, oppressive humidity which makes you break into a sweat as soon as you step out of your air-conditioned sanctuary. People are killed every year by lightning in Tampa Bay, so stay away from golf courses and beaches when you see the storms rolling in.

Average Temperature (°C)

30 22 15 8 0

Jan 15.9

Feb 16.6

Mar 19.5

Apr 22.5

May 25.6

Jun 27.7

Jul 28.3

Aug 28.3

Sep 27.5

Oct 24.5

Nov 20.5

Dec 17.2

Rainfall (mm)

230 172 115 58 0

Jan 62.5

Feb 74.1

Mar 85.6

Apr 60.3

May 76.0

Jun 154.2

Jul 207.8

Aug 222.8

Sep 192.7

Oct 80.2

Nov 49.2

Dec 57.6