Climate of the Tampa Bay area
The Tampa Bay area has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), closely bordering a tropical climate near the waterfront areas. There are two basic seasons in the Tampa Bay area, a hot and wet season from May through October, and a mild and dry season from November through April.
Nearly two-thirds of the annual
Seasonal weather
Tampa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Wet season
The warm and rainy season typically begins in late May and runs through October.[5] Average high temperatures are in the low 90s °F (around 32 °C) with lows in the mid-70s °F (around 24 °C) during this period, and the combination of warm temperatures and high humidity brings an almost daily chance of rain and thunderstorms, especially in the afternoon. Day-to-day weather is remarkably consistent, with summertime average highs and lows within five to ten degrees of the record high and low for any given date.[6]
In the typical summertime weather pattern, the combination of daytime heating and the interaction of the Gulf and
A less common summer weather pattern is for prevailing westerly winds to cause overnight thundershowers to form offshore along a
Summer storms typically bring brief periods of heavy
The Tampa Bay area is sometimes referred to as the "Lightning Capital of the World" for its frequent thunderstorms.
Dry season
The dry season often begins in early November and can last into early May. The local weather during these months is normally sunny, mild, and quite dry, with a general cooling trend through the fall and a slow increase in temperatures starting in February. Highs during the coolest part of the winter average around 70 °F (21 °C), usually with sunny skies. The occasional passage of a cold front will bring rain followed by a few days of cooler temperatures.[3] Lows rarely reach freezing 32 °F (0 °C), an occurrence which happens, on average, once every other year in areas away from the water and less frequently in areas on Tampa Bay or the Gulf of Mexico.[3] While deep freezes are very infrequent, serious cold snaps are a significant concern due to the diverse range of freeze-sensitive agriculture and aquaculture industries in the area as well as tropical landscaping such as coconut palms and royal palms.
Frozen precipitation is very rare in the Tampa Bay area. The only known measurable snowfall in Tampa after 1900 occurred on January 19, 1977. While the accumulation amounted to less than 0.5 inches (13 mm), the city is so unaccustomed to snow that public schools closed for the day and many businesses and roadways closed until it melted away that afternoon.[14] Many residents of southern Pinellas County reported a light snowfall on December 23, 1989. However, no snow fell at official weather stations, and the weather record indicates that light sleet fell on St. Petersburg that day.[15]
The winter of 2009–2010 was one of the coldest in local history. Both Tampa and St. Petersburg set records for consecutive days in which the high temperature did not reach 60 °F (16 °C), and Tampa experienced ten consecutive days with a low temperature below freezing.[16][17] Much of the area received a "wintry mix" of rain and sleet on January 9–10.[18]
According to The Weather Channel, Tampa's all-time record low temperature is 18 °F (−8 °C) and St. Petersburg's is 20 °F (−7 °C), both occurring during the same cold snap on December 13, 1962.[19]
During El Niño, the Tampa Bay area receives cooler and wetter conditions during the dry season while during La Niña, the Tampa Bay area becomes drier and warmer than normal.
Precipitation and sunshine trends
Due to the frequent summer
Precipitation and temperature averages for the city of Tampa itself tend to fall near the median for the area. Communities to the interior tend to receive a bit more rain and experience slightly wider temperature fluctuations, while those on the Gulf coast tend to receive a bit less rain and less pronounced temperature differences, both in a single day and through the year.[20]
The area receives plentiful sunshine throughout the year, averaging a total of 2920 hours, or 66.7% of the possible total.
Tropical systems
June through November is
The area is threatened by tropical systems almost every year and feels some effect from passing storms several times per decade. However, due to Tampa Bay's location on the west coast and the typical steering winds for storms,
The
On September 10, 2017,
Tampa data
Climate data for Tampa, Florida (Tampa Int'l), 1991−2020 normals,[a] extremes 1890−present[b] | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 86 (30) |
89 (32) |
92 (33) |
96 (36) |
98 (37) |
99 (37) |
98 (37) |
98 (37) |
96 (36) |
95 (35) |
92 (33) |
86 (30) |
99 (37) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 81.8 (27.7) |
82.5 (28.1) |
85.4 (29.7) |
89.0 (31.7) |
93.4 (34.1) |
95.0 (35.0) |
94.8 (34.9) |
94.8 (34.9) |
93.8 (34.3) |
91.1 (32.8) |
86.4 (30.2) |
82.5 (28.1) |
96.2 (35.7) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 71.3 (21.8) |
74.0 (23.3) |
77.8 (25.4) |
83.0 (28.3) |
88.3 (31.3) |
90.5 (32.5) |
91.0 (32.8) |
91.2 (32.9) |
90.2 (32.3) |
85.6 (29.8) |
78.9 (26.1) |
73.9 (23.3) |
83.0 (28.3) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 62.0 (16.7) |
64.7 (18.2) |
68.6 (20.3) |
73.9 (23.3) |
79.5 (26.4) |
82.9 (28.3) |
83.8 (28.8) |
84.0 (28.9) |
82.7 (28.2) |
77.4 (25.2) |
69.8 (21.0) |
64.9 (18.3) |
74.5 (23.6) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 52.8 (11.6) |
55.5 (13.1) |
59.3 (15.2) |
64.8 (18.2) |
70.6 (21.4) |
75.4 (24.1) |
76.6 (24.8) |
76.8 (24.9) |
75.3 (24.1) |
69.2 (20.7) |
60.7 (15.9) |
55.9 (13.3) |
66.1 (18.9) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | 34.4 (1.3) |
38.8 (3.8) |
43.4 (6.3) |
51.6 (10.9) |
61.2 (16.2) |
69.9 (21.1) |
71.8 (22.1) |
72.5 (22.5) |
69.2 (20.7) |
54.9 (12.7) |
45.3 (7.4) |
39.5 (4.2) |
32.8 (0.4) |
Record low °F (°C) | 21 (−6) |
22 (−6) |
29 (−2) |
38 (3) |
49 (9) |
53 (12) |
63 (17) |
66 (19) |
54 (12) |
40 (4) |
23 (−5) |
18 (−8) |
18 (−8) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.65 (67) |
2.62 (67) |
2.52 (64) |
2.55 (65) |
2.60 (66) |
7.37 (187) |
7.75 (197) |
9.03 (229) |
6.09 (155) |
2.34 (59) |
1.40 (36) |
2.56 (65) |
49.48 (1,257) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.1 | 6.6 | 5.9 | 5.7 | 6.2 | 13.3 | 16.6 | 16.2 | 12.8 | 7.2 | 4.6 | 6.0 | 108.2 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
74.9 | 73.0 | 71.8 | 69.0 | 69.8 | 74.4 | 76.6 | 78.4 | 77.6 | 74.2 | 75.0 | 75.0 | 74.1 |
Average dew point °F (°C) | 50.2 (10.1) |
50.7 (10.4) |
55.6 (13.1) |
59.2 (15.1) |
64.9 (18.3) |
70.9 (21.6) |
72.7 (22.6) |
73.0 (22.8) |
71.2 (21.8) |
64.2 (17.9) |
57.7 (14.3) |
52.3 (11.3) |
61.9 (16.6) |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 213.9 | 231.7 | 260.4 | 279.0 | 337.9 | 321.0 | 334.8 | 294.5 | 267.0 | 235.6 | 195.0 | 195.3 | 3,166.1 |
Mean daily sunshine hours | 6.9 | 8.2 | 8.4 | 9.3 | 10.9 | 10.7 | 10.8 | 9.5 | 8.9 | 7.6 | 6.5 | 6.3 | 8.7 |
Mean daily daylight hours | 10.6 | 11.2 | 12.0 | 12.9 | 13.5 | 13.9 | 13.7 | 13.1 | 12.3 | 11.5 | 10.8 | 10.4 | 12.2 |
Percent possible sunshine | 65 | 73 | 70 | 72 | 81 | 77 | 79 | 73 | 72 | 66 | 60 | 61 | 71 |
Average ultraviolet index | 4.4 | 6.1 | 8.0 | 9.6 | 10.1 | 10.4 | 10.5 | 10.1 | 8.7 | 6.7 | 4.8 | 4.0 | 7.7 |
Source 1: NOAA (relative humidity, dew point and sun 1961−1990)[35][36][37] Weather Channel[38] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: UV Index Today (1995 to 2022)[39] Source 3: Weather Atlas (sunshine data) [40] |
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org. |
See or edit raw graph data.
See also
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.
- ^ Official records for Tampa were kept at downtown from April 1890 to December 1940, Peter O. Knight Airport from January 1941 to 5 June 1946, and at Tampa Int'l since 7 June 1946. For more information, see ThreadEx
References
- ^ "Interactive Map - USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map". USDA Agricultural Research Service. USDA. Archived from the original on 2019-07-04. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
- ^ Tampa Weather Forecasts on Yahoo! Weather Archived December 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Weather.yahoo.com. Retrieved on 2009-02-06.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8130-2684-8.
- ^ "Tampa 1991-2020 Monthly Climate Normals". www.weather.gov. NOAA.
- ^ a b c Mulligan, Michaela (August 21, 2023). "Tampa Bay's afternoon storms are a summer staple. Why is this year different?". Tampa Bay Times.
- ^ "National Weather Service - Tampa climate data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Retrieved 2017-07-01.
- ^ "Top Ten Tornado Lists". Tornadoproject.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2010-06-21.
- ^ "Waterspout forms in St. Pete Beach". WTSP-TV. June 27, 2022.
- ^ Jeff Klinkenberg (2008). Meet Thunderman. Archived 2012-03-15 at the Wayback Machine St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2009-02-06.
- ^ "Area just outside of Orlando named lightning capital of the U.S." WFLA-TV. January 7, 2023.
- ^ St. Petersburg Times (1999). Lightning capital of the nation. Archived 2011-04-12 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2009-02-06.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-56164-036-2.
- ^ Lightning Research Laboratory (UF) Archived 2013-12-19 at the Wayback Machine. Lightning.ece.ufl.edu. Retrieved on 2009-02-06.
- ^ ShannonMulaire (2009-01-28). "Will it snow in Tampa?". Myfoxtampabay.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2010-06-21.
- ^ The Great Tampa Bay snow of '89. St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.
- ^ "Coldest winter in Tampa since 1969 ends Saturday". .tbo.com. 2010-03-19. Archived from the original on 2010-03-29. Retrieved 2010-06-21.
- ^ "Record Breaking 10 Straight Days Below 60 Degrees WTSP.com 10 Connects". Wtsp.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-09. Retrieved 2010-06-21.
- ^ "Sleet falls in the Tampa Bay area". Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2010-06-21.
- ^ "Average Weather for Tampa, FL - Temperature and Precipitation". The Weather Channel.
- ^ "The Weather Channel (weather.com)". The Weather Channel Interactive, Inc. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
- ^ a b Climatological Information for Almaty, Kazakhstan Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ^ National Weather Service Office in Tampa Bay, Florida (2009). Tampa Bay Area Tropical Weather Page. National Weather Service Southern Region Headquarters. Retrieved on 2009-02-06.
- ^ Craig Pittman (2009). Tampa Bay Water likely to overdraw from aquifer this spring. Archived 2012-03-15 at the Wayback Machine St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2009-02-06.
- ^ Bob Macpherson (2008). Experts brief citizens on hurricane preparedness. Tampa Bay Beach Beacon. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.
- . Retrieved on 2009-02-06.
- ^ McClure, Brian (May 21, 2010). "The Tampa Bay area has been lucky". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on October 25, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ISBN 978-1-4696-0021-5.
- ^ Jamie Thompson and Chase Squires (2004). 2004 Hurricane Season Ends. St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.
- ^ Miles B. Lawrence and Hugh D. Cobb (2005). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Jeanne 13–28 September 2004. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.
- ^ John L. Beven II (2004). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Frances 25 August – 8 September 2004. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.
- ^ Weather: Shrinking core reduced storm surge
- ^ State: Countdown to landfall
- ^ Richard J. Pasch, Daniel P. Brown, and Eric S. Blake (2005). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Charley 9–14 August 2004. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.
- ^ Stacey R. Stewart (2005). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Ivan 2–24 September 2004. Archived August 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.
- ^ "NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- ^ "WMO Climate Normals for TAMPA/INT'L ARPT FL 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
- ^ "Average Weather for Tampa, FL - Temperature and Precipitation". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
- ^ "Historical UV Index Data - Tampa, FL". UV Index Today. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ "Tampa, Florida - Monthly weather forecast and Climate data". Weather Atlas. Retrieved 19 May 2023.