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Weather & Climate in Desoto Lakes, FL
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Desoto Lakes has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 74°F (23°C). Winters average 62°F in January while summers reach 83°F in July. The area gets 330 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 61.1 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 25 feet.
Temperature
62°F Jan (17°C)
83°F Jul (28°C)
| Annual Average | 73.6°F |
| 36% above US avg | |
| January Average | 62°F (17°C) |
| July Average | 83°F (28°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 25 ft (8 m) |
| Area | 1.3 sq mi (3.3 km²) |
| Population Density | 5,349/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 27.3805°N, 82.4990°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Manatee County County |
| Nearest Airport | Sarasota/Bradenton International (SRQ) 4 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 41.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 97.6 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 54.8 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 22.8 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively High |
| Hurricane | Very High |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | No Rating |
| Lightning | Very High |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Coastal Flood | Very High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Hurricane History
23 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 5.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2024 | Milton | Category 4 | 155 mph | 10 km |
| 2024 | Helene | Category 4 | 138 mph | 219 km |
| 2024 | Debby | Category 1 | 81 mph | 174 km |
| 2023 | Idalia | Category 4 | 132 mph | 219 km |
| 2022 | Ian | Category 5 | 161 mph | 81 km |
| 2022 | Nicole | Category 1 | 75 mph | 218 km |
| 2021 | Elsa | Category 1 | 75 mph | 111 km |
| 2020 | Eta | Category 1 | 75 mph | 224 km |
| 2017 | Irma | Category 4 | 132 mph | 61 km |
| 2016 | Matthew | Category 3 | 127 mph | 266 km |
| 2016 | Hermine | Category 1 | 81 mph | 289 km |
| 2005 | Dennis | Category 4 | 127 mph | 286 km |
| 2005 | Wilma | Category 3 | 127 mph | 183 km |
| 2005 | Katrina | Category 2 | 98 mph | 251 km |
| 2004 | Charley | Category 4 | 150 mph | 58 km |
| 2004 | Jeanne | Category 3 | 121 mph | 85 km |
| 2004 | Frances | Category 2 | 104 mph | 130 km |
| 2000 | Gordon | Category 1 | 81 mph | 145 km |
| 1999 | Irene | Category 1 | 81 mph | 231 km |
| 1998 | Georges | Category 2 | 104 mph | 295 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
754 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 26 fatalities, 1,037 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Apr 4, 1966 | EF4 | 67 km | 135.8 mi | 11 |
| Apr 15, 1958 | EF4 | 34 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Oct 3, 1992 | EF3 | 54 km | 2.6 mi | 3 |
| Mar 17, 1985 | EF3 | 34 km | 3.0 mi | 2 |
| Jan 24, 1979 | EF3 | 17 km | 7.0 mi | 0 |
| May 4, 1978 | EF3 | 63 km | 1.5 mi | 3 |
| Oct 31, 1958 | EF3 | 21 km | 3.6 mi | 0 |
| Oct 11, 2023 | EF2 | 76 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| Dec 16, 2020 | EF2 | 59 km | 13.1 mi | 0 |
| Oct 18, 2019 | EF2 | 80 km | 11.5 mi | 0 |
| Jan 17, 2016 | EF2 | 15 km | 1.2 mi | 0 |
| Jan 17, 2016 | EF2 | 33 km | 9.2 mi | 2 |
| Jun 21, 2006 | EF2 | 58 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Dec 7, 1996 | EF2 | 54 km | 2.0 mi | 1 |
| Apr 4, 1993 | EF2 | 60 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Oct 3, 1992 | EF2 | 63 km | 3.0 mi | 1 |
| Jul 12, 1992 | EF2 | 76 km | 4.5 mi | 0 |
| Feb 8, 1986 | EF2 | 86 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Dec 12, 1983 | EF2 | 65 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Dec 11, 1983 | EF2 | 47 km | 8.0 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (16,145 acres, 1986).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 1986 | UNNAMED | 16,145 | 92 km |
| 1991 | UNNAMED | 14,572 | 82 km |
| 1999 | UNNAMED | 12,935 | 83 km |
| 1999 | UNNAMED | 12,527 | 82 km |
| 2004 | UNNAMED | 9,397 | 85 km |
| 2006 | UNNAMED | 9,045 | 83 km |
| 1999 | UNNAMED | 8,800 | 82 km |
| 2004 | UNNAMED | 8,516 | 89 km |
| 1993 | UNNAMED | 8,494 | 91 km |
| 2008 | UNNAMED | 8,268 | 94 km |
| 1992 | UNNAMED | 7,529 | 83 km |
| 1999 | UNNAMED | 7,415 | 32 km |
| 1999 | UNNAMED | 6,951 | 90 km |
| 2004 | UNNAMED | 6,537 | 93 km |
| 2008 | UNNAMED | 6,044 | 93 km |
| 2008 | UNNAMED | 6,036 | 82 km |
| 2006 | UNNAMED | 5,970 | 81 km |
| 2006 | UNNAMED | 5,910 | 91 km |
| 2004 | UNNAMED | 5,802 | 82 km |
| 1993 | UNNAMED | 5,799 | 84 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 62°F (17°C) | 2.4 in | Coldest |
| February | 63°F (17°C) | 3.1 in | |
| March | 67°F (20°C) | 3.3 in | |
| April | 71°F (22°C) | 1.5 in | Driest |
| May | 77°F (25°C) | 3.3 in | |
| June | 81°F (27°C) | 7.4 in | |
| July | 83°F (28°C) | 7.8 in | Warmest |
| August | 82°F (28°C) | 8.8 in | Wettest |
| September | 81°F (27°C) | 7.2 in | |
| October | 76°F (24°C) | 2.5 in | |
| November | 69°F (21°C) | 2.1 in | |
| December | 64°F (18°C) | 2.3 in |
Desoto Lakes has a seasonal temperature swing of 20°F / from 62°F in January to 83°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 51.7 inches, with August being the wettest month (8.8") and April the driest (1.5").