Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 77°F (25°C). Winters average 68°F in January while summers reach 84°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 64.3 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 5 feet.
Temperature
68°F Jan (20°C)84°F Jul (29°C)
Annual Average
76.9°F
42% above US avg
January Average
68°F (20°C)
July Average
84°F (29°C)
Sunny Days
330 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
5 ft (2 m)
Area
1.6 sq mi (4.1 km²)
Population Density
6,999/sq mi
Coordinates
26.1913°N, 80.0995°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Broward County County
Nearest Airport
Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International (FLL) 9 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall64.3"
69% above US avg
Snowfall0.0"
Wettest Month (Jun)8.90"
Driest Month (Dec)2.36"
Air Quality
AQI Median
41.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively High
Risk Score
99.5 / 100
Social Vulnerability
55.4 / 100
Community Resilience
44.2 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively High
Hurricane
Very High
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Relatively Moderate
Flood
Very High
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Relatively High
Winter Weather
No Rating
Lightning
Very High
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively High
Landslide
Relatively Low
Coastal Flood
Very 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
122 km
10 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
22 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
243 km
2022
Ian
Category 5
161 mph
195 km
2022
Nicole
Category 1
75 mph
127 km
2020
Isaias
Category 1
81 mph
275 km
2019
Dorian
Category 5
184 mph
178 km
2017
Irma
Category 4
132 mph
160 km
2016
Matthew
Category 4
138 mph
123 km
2011
Irene
Category 2
104 mph
291 km
2005
Wilma
Category 3
127 mph
90 km
2005
Katrina
Category 2
98 mph
21 km
2005
Rita
Category 2
109 mph
278 km
2005
Ophelia
Category 1
75 mph
279 km
2004
Charley
Category 4
150 mph
214 km
2004
Jeanne
Category 3
121 mph
113 km
2004
Frances
Category 2
109 mph
113 km
2001
Michelle
Category 1
92 mph
298 km
1999
Floyd
Category 4
132 mph
253 km
1999
Irene
Category 1
81 mph
50 km
1998
Georges
Category 2
104 mph
254 km
1995
Erin
Category 1
86 mph
135 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
496 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 3 fatalities, 361 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Oct 9, 2024
EF3
47 km
32.9 mi
0
Mar 1, 1980
EF3
7 km
7.8 mi
1
Feb 23, 1965
EF3
12 km
5.7 mi
0
Jun 17, 1959
EF3
54 km
12.7 mi
0
Oct 19, 1958
EF3
90 km
20.2 mi
1
Apr 10, 1956
EF3
25 km
7.8 mi
0
Oct 9, 2024
EF2
99 km
5.7 mi
0
Oct 9, 2024
EF2
65 km
65.5 mi
0
Apr 29, 2023
EF2
71 km
2.6 mi
0
Sep 27, 2022
EF2
20 km
7.0 mi
0
Oct 18, 2011
EF2
24 km
1.1 mi
0
Aug 18, 2008
EF2
49 km
2.7 mi
0
Aug 13, 2004
EF2
83 km
42.0 mi
0
Mar 27, 2003
EF2
48 km
6.0 mi
1
Feb 2, 1998
EF2
47 km
21.0 mi
0
Aug 8, 1983
EF2
57 km
0.3 mi
0
Mar 17, 1983
EF2
89 km
52.5 mi
0
May 24, 1979
EF2
11 km
3.0 mi
0
Jan 13, 1979
EF2
55 km
1.0 mi
0
Dec 20, 1973
EF2
92 km
7.6 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
55 km
1989
UNNAMED
90,127
50 km
2011
PRAIRIE FIRE
67,959
58 km
2018
BUZZARD
61,663
98 km
2007
BICY COMPLEX
60,644
99 km
1989
UNNAMED
56,910
66 km
1985
UNNAMED
54,638
58 km
1985
UNNAMED
54,003
48 km
1985
ALLEY
51,504
66 km
2014
ALLIGATOR
50,667
47 km
1989
UNNAMED
49,716
51 km
2008
MUSTANG CORNER
38,600
85 km
2007
MFC SOUTH FIRE
37,301
56 km
1985
UNNAMED
35,018
53 km
2007
UNNAMED
32,578
52 km
2006
BERG FIRE
28,992
77 km
2021
BOBCAT
28,849
67 km
2017
THREE MILE
26,683
77 km
2020
MOONFISH
25,819
99 km
2014
L 4 CUTOUT
23,068
78 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
68°F (20°C)
2.8 in
February
67°F (20°C)
2.6 in
Coldest
March
71°F (22°C)
3.1 in
April
74°F (23°C)
3.3 in
May
78°F (26°C)
6.1 in
June
81°F (27°C)
8.9 in
Wettest
July
84°F (29°C)
6.5 in
Warmest
August
83°F (28°C)
6.7 in
September
82°F (28°C)
8.2 in
October
79°F (26°C)
6.1 in
November
74°F (23°C)
4.1 in
December
69°F (21°C)
2.4 in
Driest
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea has a seasonal temperature swing of 16°F / from 67°F in February to 84°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 60.8 inches, with June being the wettest month (8.9") and December the driest (2.4").