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Weather & Climate in Lake Sarasota, FL
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Lake Sarasota 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 43 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 | 43 ft (13 m) |
| Area | 1.4 sq mi (3.6 km²) |
| Population Density | 5,675/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 27.2947°N, 82.4332°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Sarasota County County |
| Nearest Airport | Sarasota/Bradenton International (SRQ) 10 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 41.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 98.2 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 67.0 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 9.2 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively High |
| Hurricane | Very High |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | No Rating |
| Lightning | Very High |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Coastal Flood | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Hurricane History
24 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 | 20 km |
| 2024 | Helene | Category 4 | 138 mph | 226 km |
| 2024 | Debby | Category 1 | 81 mph | 183 km |
| 2023 | Idalia | Category 4 | 132 mph | 226 km |
| 2022 | Ian | Category 5 | 161 mph | 70 km |
| 2022 | Nicole | Category 1 | 75 mph | 213 km |
| 2021 | Elsa | Category 1 | 75 mph | 108 km |
| 2020 | Eta | Category 1 | 75 mph | 221 km |
| 2017 | Irma | Category 4 | 132 mph | 57 km |
| 2016 | Matthew | Category 4 | 127 mph | 264 km |
| 2016 | Hermine | Category 1 | 81 mph | 299 km |
| 2005 | Dennis | Category 4 | 127 mph | 286 km |
| 2005 | Wilma | Category 3 | 127 mph | 171 km |
| 2005 | Katrina | Category 2 | 104 mph | 239 km |
| 2004 | Charley | Category 4 | 150 mph | 47 km |
| 2004 | Jeanne | Category 3 | 121 mph | 89 km |
| 2004 | Frances | Category 2 | 109 mph | 126 km |
| 2000 | Gordon | Category 1 | 81 mph | 156 km |
| 1999 | Irene | Category 1 | 81 mph | 223 km |
| 1998 | Georges | Category 2 | 104 mph | 289 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
768 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 26 fatalities, 1,041 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Apr 4, 1966 | EF4 | 78 km | 135.8 mi | 11 |
| Apr 15, 1958 | EF4 | 46 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Oct 3, 1992 | EF3 | 65 km | 2.6 mi | 3 |
| Mar 17, 1985 | EF3 | 24 km | 3.0 mi | 2 |
| Jan 24, 1979 | EF3 | 28 km | 7.0 mi | 0 |
| May 4, 1978 | EF3 | 74 km | 1.5 mi | 3 |
| Oct 31, 1958 | EF3 | 33 km | 3.6 mi | 0 |
| Oct 11, 2023 | EF2 | 88 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| Dec 16, 2020 | EF2 | 71 km | 13.1 mi | 0 |
| Oct 18, 2019 | EF2 | 85 km | 11.5 mi | 0 |
| Jan 17, 2016 | EF2 | 34 km | 9.2 mi | 2 |
| Jan 17, 2016 | EF2 | 12 km | 1.2 mi | 0 |
| Jan 9, 2016 | EF2 | 90 km | 3.4 mi | 0 |
| Jun 21, 2006 | EF2 | 47 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Dec 7, 1996 | EF2 | 61 km | 2.0 mi | 1 |
| Apr 4, 1993 | EF2 | 49 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Oct 3, 1992 | EF2 | 74 km | 3.0 mi | 1 |
| Jul 12, 1992 | EF2 | 88 km | 4.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 23, 1989 | EF2 | 94 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Nov 4, 1988 | EF2 | 94 km | 1.5 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 | 81 km |
| 1991 | UNNAMED | 14,572 | 71 km |
| 1999 | UNNAMED | 12,935 | 71 km |
| 1999 | UNNAMED | 12,527 | 70 km |
| 2004 | UNNAMED | 9,397 | 74 km |
| 2006 | UNNAMED | 9,045 | 72 km |
| 1999 | UNNAMED | 8,800 | 71 km |
| 2004 | UNNAMED | 8,516 | 78 km |
| 1993 | UNNAMED | 8,494 | 80 km |
| 2008 | UNNAMED | 8,268 | 83 km |
| 1992 | UNNAMED | 7,529 | 72 km |
| 1999 | UNNAMED | 7,415 | 20 km |
| 2007 | MIDDLE OF NOWHERE | 7,238 | 96 km |
| 1999 | UNNAMED | 6,951 | 79 km |
| 2004 | UNNAMED | 6,537 | 81 km |
| 2008 | UNNAMED | 6,044 | 81 km |
| 2008 | UNNAMED | 6,036 | 71 km |
| 2006 | UNNAMED | 5,970 | 70 km |
| 2006 | UNNAMED | 5,910 | 80 km |
| 2004 | UNNAMED | 5,802 | 71 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) | 3.0 in | |
| March | 67°F (20°C) | 3.2 in | |
| April | 71°F (22°C) | 1.6 in | Driest |
| May | 77°F (25°C) | 3.2 in | |
| June | 81°F (27°C) | 7.4 in | |
| July | 83°F (28°C) | 7.8 in | Warmest |
| August | 82°F (28°C) | 9.0 in | Wettest |
| September | 81°F (27°C) | 7.5 in | |
| October | 76°F (25°C) | 2.6 in | |
| November | 69°F (21°C) | 2.1 in | |
| December | 64°F (18°C) | 2.2 in |
Lake Sarasota has a seasonal temperature swing of 20°F / from 62°F in January to 83°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 52.0 inches, with August being the wettest month (9.0") and April the driest (1.6").