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Weather & Climate in Highland City, FL
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Highland City has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 73°F (23°C). Winters average 61°F in January while summers reach 82°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 50.9 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 124 feet.
Temperature
61°F Jan (16°C)
82°F Jul (28°C)
| Annual Average | 73.1°F |
| 35% above US avg | |
| January Average | 61°F (16°C) |
| July Average | 82°F (28°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 124 ft (38 m) |
| Area | 7.9 sq mi (20.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,614/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 27.9635°N, 81.8786°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Polk County County |
| Nearest Airport | Lakeland Linder International (LAL) 9 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 41.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 96.5 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 49.8 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 27.4 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively High |
| Hurricane | Very High |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | Very High |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | No Rating |
| Lightning | Very High |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
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 4 | 132 mph | 28 km |
| 2024 | Helene | Category 4 | 138 mph | 251 km |
| 2024 | Debby | Category 1 | 81 mph | 221 km |
| 2023 | Idalia | Category 4 | 132 mph | 251 km |
| 2022 | Ian | Category 5 | 161 mph | 70 km |
| 2022 | Nicole | Category 1 | 75 mph | 161 km |
| 2021 | Elsa | Category 1 | 75 mph | 200 km |
| 2019 | Dorian | Category 3 | 109 mph | 278 km |
| 2017 | Irma | Category 3 | 115 mph | 41 km |
| 2016 | Matthew | Category 4 | 132 mph | 186 km |
| 2005 | Wilma | Category 3 | 121 mph | 215 km |
| 2005 | Ophelia | Category 1 | 75 mph | 262 km |
| 2005 | Katrina | Category 1 | 81 mph | 274 km |
| 2004 | Charley | Category 4 | 150 mph | 31 km |
| 2004 | Jeanne | Category 3 | 121 mph | 13 km |
| 2004 | Frances | Category 2 | 109 mph | 78 km |
| 2000 | Gordon | Category 1 | 81 mph | 189 km |
| 1999 | Irene | Category 1 | 81 mph | 176 km |
| 1995 | Erin | Category 1 | 86 mph | 148 km |
| 1992 | Andrew | Category 5 | 167 mph | 253 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
959 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 68 fatalities, 1,503 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Apr 4, 1966 | EF4 | 91 km | 135.8 mi | 11 |
| Apr 15, 1958 | EF4 | 80 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Feb 22, 1998 | EF3 | 60 km | 18.0 mi | 3 |
| Feb 22, 1998 | EF3 | 49 km | 28.0 mi | 25 |
| Feb 22, 1998 | EF3 | 97 km | 16.0 mi | 13 |
| Oct 3, 1992 | EF3 | 82 km | 2.6 mi | 3 |
| Mar 19, 1981 | EF3 | 75 km | 8.0 mi | 0 |
| Jan 24, 1979 | EF3 | 95 km | 7.0 mi | 0 |
| May 4, 1978 | EF3 | 81 km | 1.5 mi | 3 |
| Oct 31, 1958 | EF3 | 88 km | 3.6 mi | 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF2 | 90 km | 2.9 mi | 0 |
| Oct 11, 2023 | EF2 | 93 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| Dec 16, 2020 | EF2 | 87 km | 13.1 mi | 0 |
| Oct 18, 2019 | EF2 | 17 km | 11.5 mi | 0 |
| Sep 10, 2017 | EF2 | 21 km | 0.6 mi | 0 |
| Jan 17, 2016 | EF2 | 58 km | 9.2 mi | 2 |
| Jun 24, 2012 | EF2 | 20 km | 6.2 mi | 0 |
| Dec 25, 2006 | EF2 | 59 km | 0.8 mi | 0 |
| Mar 9, 1998 | EF2 | 40 km | 10.4 mi | 0 |
| Dec 27, 1997 | EF2 | 24 km | 5.8 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: STAGECOACH COMPLEX (14,079 acres, 2001).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2001 | STAGECOACH COMPLEX | 14,079 | 35 km |
| 2021 | KISSIMMEE BEND NORTH | 13,782 | 87 km |
| 2006 | UNNAMED | 12,050 | 72 km |
| 1992 | UNNAMED | 11,488 | 87 km |
| 1996 | UNNAMED | 9,427 | 91 km |
| 2024 | APQ RECREATION AREA RX 0506 | 8,901 | 88 km |
| 1998 | UNNAMED | 8,794 | 64 km |
| 2017 | ECHO SPRINGS | 8,640 | 76 km |
| 1984 | UNNAMED | 7,765 | 83 km |
| 2004 | UNNAMED | 7,670 | 64 km |
| 2021 | AREA 11 | 7,140 | 75 km |
| 2011 | UNNAMED | 6,616 | 97 km |
| 1994 | UNNAMED | 6,243 | 87 km |
| 1992 | UNNAMED | 6,228 | 79 km |
| 1991 | UNNAMED | 5,871 | 88 km |
| 1994 | UNNAMED | 5,815 | 73 km |
| 1993 | UNNAMED | 5,799 | 92 km |
| 1995 | UNNAMED | 5,474 | 47 km |
| 1986 | UNNAMED | 5,442 | 86 km |
| 2017 | CR630 E | 5,096 | 59 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 61°F (16°C) | 2.4 in | Coldest |
| February | 62°F (17°C) | 3.0 in | |
| March | 67°F (19°C) | 3.4 in | |
| April | 71°F (22°C) | 2.0 in | Driest |
| May | 77°F (25°C) | 4.0 in | |
| June | 81°F (27°C) | 7.2 in | |
| July | 82°F (28°C) | 8.0 in | Warmest, Wettest |
| August | 82°F (28°C) | 7.2 in | |
| September | 81°F (27°C) | 6.4 in | |
| October | 75°F (24°C) | 2.4 in | |
| November | 68°F (20°C) | 2.1 in | |
| December | 63°F (17°C) | 2.2 in |
Highland City has a seasonal temperature swing of 21°F / from 61°F in January to 82°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 50.3 inches, with July being the wettest month (8.0") and April the driest (2.0").