Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Laurel 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 51.3 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 10 feet.
Temperature
62°F Jan (17°C)83°F Jul (28°C)
Annual Average
73.7°F
36% above US avg
January Average
62°F (17°C)
July Average
83°F (28°C)
Sunny Days
330 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
10 ft (3 m)
Area
9.1 sq mi (23.5 km²)
Population Density
1,307/sq mi
Coordinates
27.1531°N, 82.4559°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Sarasota County County
Nearest Airport
Sarasota/Bradenton International (SRQ) 18 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall51.3"
35% above US avg
Snowfall0.0"
Wettest Month (Aug)8.58"
Driest Month (Apr)1.57"
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
29 km
2024
Helene
Category 4
138 mph
227 km
2024
Debby
Category 1
81 mph
187 km
2023
Idalia
Category 4
132 mph
224 km
2022
Ian
Category 5
161 mph
56 km
2022
Nicole
Category 1
75 mph
219 km
2021
Elsa
Category 1
75 mph
96 km
2020
Eta
Category 1
75 mph
208 km
2017
Irma
Category 4
132 mph
67 km
2016
Matthew
Category 3
127 mph
273 km
2005
Dennis
Category 4
127 mph
275 km
2005
Katrina
Category 3
115 mph
227 km
2005
Wilma
Category 3
127 mph
158 km
2004
Charley
Category 4
150 mph
39 km
2004
Jeanne
Category 3
121 mph
104 km
2004
Frances
Category 2
104 mph
134 km
2000
Gordon
Category 1
81 mph
160 km
1999
Irene
Category 1
81 mph
219 km
1998
Georges
Category 2
104 mph
275 km
1995
Erin
Category 1
86 mph
212 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
683 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 27 fatalities, 966 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 4, 1966
EF4
92 km
135.8 mi
11
Apr 15, 1958
EF4
60 km
0.1 mi
0
Oct 3, 1992
EF3
79 km
2.6 mi
3
Mar 17, 1985
EF3
9 km
3.0 mi
2
Jan 24, 1979
EF3
38 km
7.0 mi
0
May 4, 1978
EF3
89 km
1.5 mi
3
Oct 31, 1958
EF3
45 km
3.6 mi
0
Oct 9, 2024
EF2
92 km
16.3 mi
0
Jan 16, 2022
EF2
88 km
7.0 mi
0
Dec 16, 2020
EF2
84 km
13.1 mi
0
Jan 17, 2016
EF2
14 km
1.2 mi
0
Jan 17, 2016
EF2
49 km
9.2 mi
2
Jan 9, 2016
EF2
77 km
3.4 mi
0
Jun 21, 2006
EF2
38 km
3.0 mi
0
Dec 7, 1996
EF2
77 km
2.0 mi
1
Apr 4, 1993
EF2
41 km
2.0 mi
0
Oct 3, 1992
EF2
88 km
3.0 mi
1
Jul 23, 1989
EF2
84 km
1.0 mi
0
Nov 4, 1988
EF2
84 km
1.5 mi
0
Aug 9, 1986
EF2
78 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
76 km
1991
UNNAMED
14,572
63 km
1999
UNNAMED
12,935
65 km
1999
UNNAMED
12,527
62 km
2004
UNNAMED
9,397
66 km
2006
UNNAMED
9,045
65 km
1999
UNNAMED
8,800
64 km
2004
UNNAMED
8,516
72 km
1993
UNNAMED
8,494
73 km
2008
UNNAMED
8,268
78 km
1992
UNNAMED
7,529
66 km
1999
UNNAMED
7,415
13 km
2007
MIDDLE OF NOWHERE
7,238
90 km
1999
UNNAMED
6,951
72 km
2004
UNNAMED
6,537
75 km
2008
UNNAMED
6,044
75 km
2008
UNNAMED
6,036
65 km
2006
UNNAMED
5,970
64 km
2006
UNNAMED
5,910
73 km
2004
UNNAMED
5,802
65 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
62°F (17°C)
2.3 in
Coldest
February
63°F (17°C)
2.8 in
March
67°F (20°C)
3.2 in
April
71°F (22°C)
1.6 in
Driest
May
77°F (25°C)
3.0 in
June
81°F (27°C)
7.3 in
July
83°F (28°C)
7.2 in
Warmest
August
83°F (28°C)
8.6 in
Wettest
September
82°F (28°C)
7.4 in
October
77°F (25°C)
2.7 in
November
70°F (21°C)
2.1 in
December
65°F (18°C)
2.0 in
Laurel has a seasonal temperature swing of 21°F / from 62°F in January to 83°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 50.0 inches, with August being the wettest month (8.6") and April the driest (1.6").