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Weather & Climate in Highland Beach, FL
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Highland Beach has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 75°F (24°C). Winters average 65°F in January while summers reach 82°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. 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 63.6 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 18 feet.
Temperature
65°F Jan (18°C)
82°F Jul (28°C)
| Annual Average | 74.8°F |
| 39% above US avg | |
| January Average | 65°F (18°C) |
| July Average | 82°F (28°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 18 ft (5 m) |
| Area | 1.3 sq mi (3.3 km²) |
| Population Density | 7,896/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 26.4116°N, 80.0644°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Palm Beach County County |
| Nearest Airport | Palm Beach International (PBI) 19 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 41.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 99.2 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 59.8 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 24.5 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively High |
| Hurricane | Very High |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High |
| Winter Weather | No Rating |
| Lightning | Very High |
| Drought | Relatively High |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Coastal Flood | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
1 earthquake (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.2.
| Feb 22, 1992 | 27 km SW of Freeport, Bahamas | M3.2 | 117 km | 10 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
21 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 5.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2024 | Milton | Category 3 | 121 mph | 224 km |
| 2022 | Ian | Category 5 | 161 mph | 176 km |
| 2022 | Nicole | Category 1 | 75 mph | 102 km |
| 2020 | Isaias | Category 1 | 81 mph | 289 km |
| 2019 | Dorian | Category 5 | 184 mph | 165 km |
| 2017 | Irma | Category 4 | 132 mph | 165 km |
| 2016 | Matthew | Category 4 | 138 mph | 110 km |
| 2012 | Sandy | Category 1 | 75 mph | 292 km |
| 2011 | Irene | Category 2 | 104 mph | 285 km |
| 2005 | Wilma | Category 3 | 121 mph | 67 km |
| 2005 | Katrina | Category 2 | 98 mph | 38 km |
| 2005 | Ophelia | Category 1 | 75 mph | 255 km |
| 2004 | Charley | Category 4 | 150 mph | 210 km |
| 2004 | Jeanne | Category 3 | 121 mph | 88 km |
| 2004 | Frances | Category 2 | 109 mph | 88 km |
| 1999 | Floyd | Category 4 | 132 mph | 235 km |
| 1999 | Irene | Category 1 | 81 mph | 31 km |
| 1998 | Georges | Category 2 | 104 mph | 275 km |
| 1995 | Erin | Category 1 | 86 mph | 112 km |
| 1992 | Andrew | Category 5 | 167 mph | 102 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
510 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 3 fatalities, 360 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF3 | 31 km | 32.9 mi | 0 |
| Mar 1, 1980 | EF3 | 29 km | 7.8 mi | 1 |
| Jan 24, 1979 | EF3 | 83 km | 9.6 mi | 0 |
| Feb 23, 1965 | EF3 | 36 km | 5.7 mi | 0 |
| Jun 17, 1959 | EF3 | 79 km | 12.7 mi | 0 |
| Oct 19, 1958 | EF3 | 75 km | 20.2 mi | 1 |
| Apr 10, 1956 | EF3 | 49 km | 7.8 mi | 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF2 | 49 km | 65.5 mi | 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF2 | 75 km | 5.7 mi | 0 |
| Apr 29, 2023 | EF2 | 46 km | 2.6 mi | 0 |
| Sep 27, 2022 | EF2 | 6 km | 7.0 mi | 0 |
| Oct 18, 2011 | EF2 | 42 km | 1.1 mi | 0 |
| Aug 18, 2008 | EF2 | 28 km | 2.7 mi | 0 |
| Aug 13, 2004 | EF2 | 91 km | 42.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 27, 2003 | EF2 | 73 km | 6.0 mi | 1 |
| Feb 2, 1998 | EF2 | 71 km | 21.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 8, 1983 | EF2 | 32 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Feb 2, 1983 | EF2 | 95 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| May 24, 1979 | EF2 | 35 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Jan 13, 1979 | EF2 | 30 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: STATE FIRE (171,317 acres, 1999).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 1999 | STATE FIRE | 171,317 | 61 km |
| 1989 | UNNAMED | 90,127 | 58 km |
| 2011 | PRAIRIE FIRE | 67,959 | 78 km |
| 1989 | UNNAMED | 56,910 | 72 km |
| 1985 | UNNAMED | 54,638 | 79 km |
| 1985 | UNNAMED | 54,003 | 56 km |
| 1985 | ALLEY | 51,504 | 72 km |
| 2014 | ALLIGATOR | 50,667 | 52 km |
| 1989 | UNNAMED | 49,716 | 37 km |
| 2007 | MFC SOUTH FIRE | 37,301 | 76 km |
| 1985 | UNNAMED | 35,018 | 58 km |
| 2007 | UNNAMED | 32,578 | 61 km |
| 2006 | BERG FIRE | 28,992 | 77 km |
| 2021 | BOBCAT | 28,849 | 67 km |
| 2017 | THREE MILE | 26,683 | 77 km |
| 2014 | L 4 CUTOUT | 23,068 | 77 km |
| 2001 | UNNAMED | 22,780 | 72 km |
| 2017 | COWBELL | 21,781 | 99 km |
| 1989 | UNNAMED | 19,103 | 68 km |
| 1984 | UNNAMED | 17,967 | 39 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 65°F (18°C) | 2.8 in | Coldest |
| February | 67°F (19°C) | 2.6 in | |
| March | 70°F (21°C) | 3.3 in | |
| April | 74°F (23°C) | 3.1 in | |
| May | 78°F (25°C) | 6.1 in | |
| June | 81°F (27°C) | 8.5 in | Wettest |
| July | 82°F (28°C) | 6.4 in | |
| August | 83°F (28°C) | 6.5 in | Warmest |
| September | 82°F (28°C) | 8.2 in | |
| October | 78°F (26°C) | 6.1 in | |
| November | 73°F (23°C) | 4.1 in | |
| December | 69°F (20°C) | 2.3 in | Driest |
Highland Beach has a seasonal temperature swing of 18°F / from 65°F in January to 83°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 60.0 inches, with June being the wettest month (8.5") and December the driest (2.3").