Planning on visiting Destin or the surrounding area sometime this year? You’ll definitely want to know about the Destin weather before planning your trip. Since most people want to take in the beach here, knowing the Destin water temperature is also helpful in deciding the best time of year to visit.
Temperatures in Destin, Florida
The weather, and accompanying temperatures, vary along the Destin coast depending on the season, winds, (and the direction of the winds), fronts, which can also be related to storms. Even in the middle of the summer, if the wind is blowing in off the water and/or there’s a storm rolling in, Destin beach weather can be different than inland and the temperature can drop several degrees fairly quickly.
On a side note, when storms come in, they often pass directly over Destin, which is a pretty narrow peninsula, and heads over the bay and then further inland. Storms often don’t last long. Many on the beach hunker down under their tent, or grab a drink at a beach bar to wait it out. Usually, during the summer months, storms quickly pass giving way to beautiful sunny skies, damp sand, and slightly cooler temperatures, if only for a few minutes. Also, as storms are brewing, it’s a great time to get some fabulous pictures with a lot of depth and contrast.
Here’s an example of the type of skies that you might see… and they’re a great backdrop for pictures, too!
Temperatures Each Month in Destin
The chart below shows the average high and low temperatures per month based on 30 years of weather statistics compiled for the Destin area.(1)
To get more specific average temperatures and any outstanding weather-related information for each month, we’ve listed each month here:
Destin weather in January: Average high is 62, with an average low of 42 degrees Fahrenheit. The shortest day of the month is January 1st, but throughout January, the days get longer with an additional 30 minutes of sunlight added by the end of the month.
Destin weather in February: Average high is 65, with an average low of 45 degrees Fahrenheit. According to WeatherSpark.com (2), low temperatures rarely fall below 34 degrees F. There’s a fair amount of cloud cover throughout the month with and average of 43% of the month being overcast. Humidity increases slightly over the month, as does the amount of sunlight per day, with the month adding 47 minutes per day by the end of February.
Destin weather in March: March is a popular time to visit Destin because it is the first month of Spring Break for many schools and it begins to warm up enough for pleasant walks on the beaches. Average highs are around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and lows are around 51 degrees. The sun is rising earlier, which is why Daylight Savings Time is generally observed at the beginning of this month. Humidity usually increases a bit in March, but because of the cooler air temperature, March is usually not considered muggy.
Destin weather in April: April begins to feel warmer with the average high being 76 degrees and an average low of 58 degrees F. Humidity increases rapidly throughout the month, as temperatures also increase.
Destin weather in May: Average highs are 83 degrees F and 66 degrees is the average low. The days continue to get longer and the chance of showers also grow toward the end of the month.
Destin weather in June: The average high in June are 88 and the average low is 72. Chances of rain increase throughout the month of June. Summer Solstice falls in June so a day in mid-June will be the longest day of the year. Then, the amount of sunlight in each day begins to decrease again. June is generally thought to be pretty muggy in Destin, where afternoon showers are often a welcome relief.
Destin weather in July: The average high is around 90 degrees and the average low is 75 degrees. The chance of rain throughout the month of July is high with it ranging from 51% to 58% chance of rain. With high temperatures and high humidity, the probability of a day feeling muggy ranges from 96%-98%. (2)
Destin weather in August: The average high for the month of August is 90 degrees F, with the average low being 74 degrees. August is generally the hottest month of the year here. (1) There is overall less cloud cover throughout all of August and the chances of rain decrease from 58% to 42% at month-end. (2)
Destin weather in September: 87 degrees is the average high during September, with 71 degrees being the average low for this month. Cloud cover decreases in September, as does the chance of heavy rainfall. Sunlight decreases each day totaling a loss of about 52 minutes of daylight by month-end. (2)
Destin weather in October: The average high is 80 degrees with an average low of 70 degrees F. October is a lovely month in Destin because the mugginess usually has given way to crisper air, there are less crowds, but it is still warm enough to enjoy the beach and water.
Destin weather in November: The average high is 72 degrees F and the low is 51 degrees on average. Chances of rainfall increase typically throughout the month. The days are getting shorter and to account for that, Florida recognizes Daylight Savings Time around the beginning of November.
Destin weather in December: The average high in December is 65 degrees F, and the low is 45 degrees. December is typically the windiest month in Destin. Depending on the wind, the cold can range from feeling somewhat cool to chilly. December is a month where you may not need a jacket, or you might need a winter coat. The shortest day of the year is towards the end of December, so at the end of this month, daylight will begin to increase each day.
What Months Do People Swim in Destin?
Destin water temperature varies throughout the year, with the coldest months of the beachfront waters (on average over 10 years) being February at 62.8 degrees Fahrenheit and January being a close second of coldest water temperature at 63.5 degrees Fahrenheit on average.
The waters begin to warm up at the end of March, with temperatures mild enough in April for some to be able to enjoy it (and SOME brave the temperatures and swim during the coldest months!). The highest water temperatures in this area are typically in June through September, with August usually reaching to around 86 degrees F.
Destin and Hurricanes
Planning a vacation to the Destin area should also include considering the possibility of having to deal with a tropical storm or hurricane.
Hurricane season in North America starts June 1st and runs through November 1st. According to Wikipedia, three-fourths of all hurricanes hitting Florida have hit between August and October.
Northwest Florida has lower temperatures than most of the rest of the state of Florida, providing ideal temperatures to strengthen or prolong the strength of a hurricane. Northwest Florida has been hit by 66 hurricanes, more than other states in their entirety. In comparison, Southwest Florida and Southeast Florida have been hit by 49 hurricanes, but several of the ones moving over the southern part of the state were higher strength when they hit land. (4)
This is not to discourage a visit to Destin from June through November; as I’ve said before, some of these months are the best times to really experience the beauty and wonder of the area. Just check out the possibilities of bad weather before starting out so that you can be prepared.
One of the best sources for the latest hurricane information is the National Hurricane Center.
Do you have any helpful comments about the weather in Destin? Let us know!
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