Climate of Miami
The climate of Miami is classified as having a tropical monsoon climate with hot and humid summers; short, warm winters; and a marked drier season in the winter. Its sea-level elevation, coastal location, position just above the Tropic of Cancer, and proximity to the Gulf Stream shape its climate.
With January averaging 69.2 °F (20.7 °C), winter features warm temperatures; cool air usually settles after the passage of a cold front, which produces much of the little amount of rainfall. Lows sometimes fall to or below 50 °F (10 °C), with an average 3 such occurrences annually,[1] but rarely 40 °F (4 °C); from 1981 to 2010, temperatures reached that level in only eight calendar years.[2] Highs generally reach 70 °F (21 °C) or higher, and fail to do so on only an average of 12 days annually.
The wet season usually begins during the month of May and continues through mid-October. During this period, temperatures are in the mid 80s to low 90s (29–35 °C), accompanied by high humidity, though the heat is often relieved by afternoon thunderstorms or a sea breeze that develops off the Atlantic Ocean, which then allow lower temperatures, but conditions still remain very muggy. Much of the year's 61.9 inches (1,570 mm) of rainfall occurs during this period. Extreme temperatures range from 27 F[3] on February 3, 1917,[4] to 100 °F on July 21, 1942, (−2.8 to 38 °C), the only triple-digit (°F) reading on record;[5] the more recent freezing temperature seen at Miami International Airport was on December 25, 1989.[6] The highest daily minimum temperature is 84 °F (29 °C) on August 4, 1993 and September 7, 1897 (although the corresponding record for Miami Beach is 90 °F or 32 °C on July 17, 2001), and conversely, the lowest daily maximum temperature is 45 °F (7 °C) on February 19, 1900.
While Miami has never officially recorded any accumulating snowfall since records have been kept, there were non-accumulating
Miami receives abundant rainfall, one of the highest among major cities in the United States. Most of this rainfall occurs from mid-May through early October. Miami has an average annual rainfall of 61.9 inches (1,570 mm), whereas nearby Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach receive 66.5 inches (1,690 mm) and 51.7 inches (1,310 mm), respectively, which demonstrates the high local variability in rainfall rates.[6]
Miami reports more thunderstorms than most US cities, with about eighty days per year having thunder reported. These storms are often strong, with frequent lightning and very heavy rain. Occasionally, they can be severe with damaging straight line winds and large hail. Tornadoes and waterspouts sometimes occur, although violent tornadoes of the type seen in other parts of the United States are rare in Florida.
During
While the climate for much
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Data
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record high °F (°C) | 88 (31) |
89 (32) |
93 (34) |
97 (36) |
98 (37) |
98 (37) |
100 (38) |
98 (37) |
97 (36) |
95 (35) |
91 (33) |
89 (32) |
100 (38) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 84.4 (29.1) |
85.8 (29.9) |
89.0 (31.7) |
90.7 (32.6) |
92.8 (33.8) |
94.2 (34.6) |
94.7 (34.8) |
94.5 (34.7) |
93.2 (34.0) |
90.9 (32.7) |
87.0 (30.6) |
84.9 (29.4) |
95.8 (35.4) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 76.2 (24.6) |
78.2 (25.7) |
80.6 (27.0) |
83.6 (28.7) |
86.7 (30.4) |
89.3 (31.8) |
90.6 (32.6) |
90.7 (32.6) |
89.0 (31.7) |
85.9 (29.9) |
81.3 (27.4) |
78.2 (25.7) |
84.2 (29.0) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 68.6 (20.3) |
70.7 (21.5) |
73.1 (22.8) |
76.7 (24.8) |
80.1 (26.7) |
82.8 (28.2) |
84.1 (28.9) |
84.2 (29.0) |
83.0 (28.3) |
80.1 (26.7) |
74.8 (23.8) |
71.2 (21.8) |
77.4 (25.2) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 61.0 (16.1) |
63.2 (17.3) |
65.6 (18.7) |
69.8 (21.0) |
73.4 (23.0) |
76.3 (24.6) |
77.5 (25.3) |
77.7 (25.4) |
76.9 (24.9) |
74.2 (23.4) |
68.3 (20.2) |
64.3 (17.9) |
70.7 (21.5) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | 45.1 (7.3) |
48.5 (9.2) |
52.3 (11.3) |
59.6 (15.3) |
66.7 (19.3) |
71.5 (21.9) |
72.5 (22.5) |
72.8 (22.7) |
72.7 (22.6) |
65.0 (18.3) |
55.7 (13.2) |
49.7 (9.8) |
42.5 (5.8) |
Record low °F (°C) | 28 (−2) |
27 (−3) |
32 (0) |
39 (4) |
50 (10) |
60 (16) |
66 (19) |
67 (19) |
62 (17) |
45 (7) |
36 (2) |
30 (−1) |
27 (−3) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.83 (46) |
2.15 (55) |
2.46 (62) |
3.36 (85) |
6.32 (161) |
10.51 (267) |
7.36 (187) |
9.58 (243) |
10.22 (260) |
7.65 (194) |
3.53 (90) |
2.44 (62) |
67.41 (1,712) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.7 | 6.5 | 6.3 | 6.9 | 10.8 | 17.6 | 17.3 | 19.4 | 18.1 | 13.8 | 8.6 | 8.0 | 141.0 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
72.7 | 70.9 | 69.5 | 67.3 | 71.6 | 76.2 | 74.8 | 76.2 | 77.8 | 74.9 | 73.8 | 72.5 | 73.2 |
Average dew point °F (°C) | 57.6 (14.2) |
57.6 (14.2) |
60.4 (15.8) |
62.6 (17.0) |
67.6 (19.8) |
72.0 (22.2) |
73.0 (22.8) |
73.8 (23.2) |
73.2 (22.9) |
68.7 (20.4) |
63.9 (17.7) |
59.2 (15.1) |
65.8 (18.8) |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 219.8 | 216.9 | 277.2 | 293.8 | 301.3 | 288.7 | 308.7 | 288.3 | 262.2 | 260.2 | 220.8 | 216.1 | 3,154 |
Percent possible sunshine | 66 | 69 | 75 | 77 | 72 | 70 | 73 | 71 | 71 | 73 | 68 | 66 | 71 |
Average ultraviolet index | 5.1 | 6.7 | 8.6 | 10.2 | 10.5 | 10.7 | 10.8 | 10.5 | 9.3 | 7.1 | 5.3 | 4.5 | 8.2 |
Source 1: NOAA (relative humidity, dew point and sun 1961–1990),[6][16][17] The Weather Channel[18] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: UV Index Today (1995 to 2022),[19] Thunderstorm days (1961 to 1990)[20] |
Climate data for Miami Beach , 1991−2020 normals
| |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 87 (31) |
89 (32) |
92 (33) |
94 (34) |
98 (37) |
97 (36) |
98 (37) |
98 (37) |
96 (36) |
95 (35) |
92 (33) |
86 (30) |
98 (37) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 73.6 (23.1) |
74.8 (23.8) |
76.5 (24.7) |
79.6 (26.4) |
82.7 (28.2) |
86.0 (30.0) |
87.8 (31.0) |
88.1 (31.2) |
87.0 (30.6) |
83.7 (28.7) |
78.9 (26.1) |
76.1 (24.5) |
81.2 (27.3) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 67.4 (19.7) |
69.0 (20.6) |
70.9 (21.6) |
74.7 (23.7) |
78.2 (25.7) |
81.3 (27.4) |
82.9 (28.3) |
83.1 (28.4) |
82.1 (27.8) |
79.0 (26.1) |
73.8 (23.2) |
70.3 (21.3) |
76.1 (24.5) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 61.2 (16.2) |
63.3 (17.4) |
65.2 (18.4) |
69.8 (21.0) |
73.6 (23.1) |
76.5 (24.7) |
78.0 (25.6) |
78.1 (25.6) |
77.2 (25.1) |
74.4 (23.6) |
68.6 (20.3) |
64.6 (18.1) |
70.9 (21.6) |
Record low °F (°C) | 32 (0) |
37 (3) |
32 (0) |
46 (8) |
58 (14) |
65 (18) |
66 (19) |
67 (19) |
67 (19) |
54 (12) |
39 (4) |
32 (0) |
32 (0) |
Average rainfall inches (mm) | 2.33 (59) |
2.27 (58) |
2.47 (63) |
3.44 (87) |
4.94 (125) |
7.76 (197) |
5.98 (152) |
7.51 (191) |
8.45 (215) |
6.49 (165) |
3.29 (84) |
2.25 (57) |
57.18 (1,453) |
Average rainy days (≥ 0.01 in) | 6.7 | 6.0 | 6.9 | 6.0 | 8.9 | 14.5 | 12.1 | 14.0 | 14.9 | 11.2 | 8.1 | 6.9 | 116.2 |
Source: NOAA (extremes 1927−present)[6] |
This chart shows the average coastal ocean water temperature by month in degrees Fahrenheit for Miami Beach based on historical[when?] measurements.[21]
January | February | March | April 1−15 | April 16−30 | May 1−15 | May 16−31 | June 1−15 | June 16−30 | July 1−15 | July 16−31 | August 1−15 | August 16−31 | September 1−15 | September 16−30 | October 1−15 | October 16−31 | November | December |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
71 °F (22 °C) | 73 °F (23 °C) | 75 °F (24 °C) | 78 °F (26 °C) | 78 °F (26 °C) | 80 °F (27 °C) | 81 °F (27 °C) | 84 °F (29 °C) | 85 °F (29 °C) | 86 °F (30 °C) | 86 °F (30 °C) | 86 °F (30 °C) | 84 °F (29 °C) | 84 °F (29 °C) | 83 °F (28 °C) | 83 °F (28 °C) | 79 °F (26 °C) | 76 °F (24 °C) | 73 °F (23 °C) |
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org. |
See or edit raw graph data.
Hurricanes
The
Despite this, Miami has not been directly hit by a hurricane since
In addition, a
A hurricane, known as the "
Miami has been identified as one of three cities in the United States most vulnerable to hurricanes, mainly due to its location and it being surrounded by ocean and low-lying coastal plains, the other two cities being New Orleans and Houston.[24]
See also
- Climate of Florida
- Climate change in Florida
- Neotropical realm
- Tropical climate
- Tropic of Cancer
- Tropics
- Tropical sprue
Notes
- ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
- Lemon City from September 1895 to November 1900, the Miami COOP from December 1900 to May 1911, the Weather Bureau Office from June 1911 to February 1937, at various locations in and around the city from March 1937 to July 1942, and at Miami Int'l since August 1942. For more information, see ThreadEx.
References
- ^ a b "Station Name: FL MIAMI INTL AP". NOAA. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
- ^ "Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Equals All Time High Temperature Record June 22; Daily Records Fall at Miami and West Palm Beach" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
- ^ "Almanac for Miami, FL". Miami Herald Weather. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- ^ David Fairchild (October 1, 1918). "Cold Resistance of a Hybrid Anona" (PDF). USDA National Plant Germplasm System. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 25, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
- ^ "Highest and Lowest Temperature of Record". National Weather Service.
- ^ a b c d "NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
- ^ "Maine shivers at -29: Snow falls in Florida". Associated Press. The Baltimore Sun. January 20, 1977. p. A1. "Temperatures dipped into the 30s in southern Florida, with snow flurries reported even in Miami Beach."
- ^ Lardner Jr., George; Meyers, Robert. "Miami Is Hit by First Recorded Snow: State of Emergency Is Eyed for Virginia Thousands Idled as Cold Closes Factories, Businesses". The Washington Post. January 20, 1977. p. A1. The meandering jet stream in the upper atmosphere sent flurries of genuine snow onto Miami's palm trees. ... It was the farthest south that snow has been reported in the United States since the record books were started in the 19th century. ... The snow flurries in Miami will be only an asterisk in the record books since they didn't fall on any of the National Weather Service's recording stations in the area, but they were genuine."
- ^ Khiss, Peter. "New York High is 26 as the South Shivers: Florida Snow Causes Emergency Gas Shortage Widespread". The New York Times. January 20, 1977. p. 1. "Florida officially recorded snow for the first time yesterday in Palm Beach County, 65 miles north of Miami, and even that city had flurries, although not at the official stations at its airport or nearby Coral Gables."
- ^ "History of National Weather Service Forecast Office-Miami, Florida". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2007-08-19.
- ^ "Summary of Historic Cold Episode of January 2010 Coldest 12-day Period Since At Least 1940" (PDF). NOAA. January 14, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
- ^ "USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map" (PDF). NOAA. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
- ^ Kridler, Chris (5 March 2011). "Freeze-frazzled Brevard County gardeners seek hardier plants". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 1D. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
- ^ "About - Maps & Gardening". United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved December 29, 2015.
- ^ "Interactive Florida 2012 USDA Plant Zone Hardiness map". Plantmaps. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
- ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
- ^ "WMO Climate Normals for Miami, FL 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
- ^ "Monthly Averages for Miami International Airport". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
- ^ "Historical UV Index Data - Miami, FL". UV Index Today. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ "Number Days with Thunder". UNdata. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
- ^ Charles Sun. "US NODC Coastal Water Temperature Guide". Nodc.noaa.gov. Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2011-06-09.
- ^ "Vulnerable cities: Miami, Florida". The Weather Channel. Archived from the original on 2006-04-27. Retrieved 2006-02-19.
- ^ "Miami, Florida's history with tropical systems". Hurricane City. Retrieved 2006-02-19.
- ISBN 0-7432-9470-X.