Weather in St. Petersburg, Florida
Roses open on the Piedmont edge. Day 58 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
- TodayMay 16Thunderstorm—90°73°
- SundayMay 17Showers30%90°68°
- MondayMay 18Overcast30%92°71°
- TuesdayMay 19Light Showers50%91°76°
- WednesdayMay 20Light Showers35%90°76°
- ThursdayMay 21Overcast26%90°76°
- FridayMay 22Overcast32%91°76°
- PM 2.5
- 9.7 μg/m³
- PM 10
- 15.0 μg/m³
- NO₂
- 0.8 μg/m³
- Ozone
- 119.0 μg/m³
- UV Index
- 0.3 Low
Flowers blooming in late autumn, a sure sign of a bad winter coming.
- Moonrise
- 10:07 AM
- Moonset
- —
- In sign
- ♉︎ Taurus
Roses open on the Piedmont edge
St. Petersburg at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 4°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: February 2 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: 28 of 72, May 16–20
- Planting window: Direct sow okra, melons, and southern peas. Thin carrot rows.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of May 16, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| March | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | — |
| April | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | — |
| May | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | — | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
August brings St. Petersburg's peak heat (~84°F mean) while January delivers the year's coolest temperatures (~62°F). Rain follows a similar pattern, with August delivering 9.3 inches compared to November's dry 1.6 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 62° | 3.0″ | 5 |
| February | 65° | 2.2″ | 3 |
| March | 69° | 2.9″ | 4 |
| April | 74° | 2.6″ | 3 |
| May | 79° | 2.5″ | 3 |
| June | 83° | 7.2″ | 9 |
| July | 84° | 8.3″ | 11 |
| August | 84° | 9.3″ | 11 |
| September | 82° | 7.5″ | 10 |
| October | 77° | 2.5″ | 4 |
| November | 70° | 1.6″ | 3 |
| December | 65° | 2.8″ | 4 |
Regional context
St. Petersburg falls within a humid subtropical climate region that shares similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions with nearby cities.
Similar climates: Miami, FL, Tampa, FL, Orlando, FL, Jacksonville, FL, Cape Coral, FL.
Naturalist notes
Late May brings the arrival of ruby-throated hummingbirds returning from their winter grounds farther south.
Bougainvillea reaches peak flowering during May's warming temperatures, painting fences and walls in brilliant magenta and purple.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in St. Petersburg?
- St. Petersburg's last spring frost typically falls around mid-February, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-December.
- What is the rainy season in St. Petersburg?
- August is the wettest month with about 9.3 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 52 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in St. Petersburg?
- August is typically warmest, averaging about 84°F.
- What is the coldest month in St. Petersburg?
- January is typically coldest, averaging about 62°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in St. Petersburg?
- Cool-season crops like peas and lettuce can be sown around the last spring frost in mid-February; warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does St. Petersburg get?
- St. Petersburg averages about 69 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is St. Petersburg?
- St. Petersburg's USDA hardiness zone is determined by its lowest average winter temperature; check the USDA's online lookup with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
St. Petersburg, Florida sits in a humid subtropical climate zone. Winter temperatures in January hover near 62°F while summer heat in July averages 84°F — a 22°F seasonal swing.
Throughout the year, St. Petersburg receives about 52 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 69 rainy days.
Location at 27.8°N latitude, proximity to large water bodies, and elevation combine to shape what grows here, when frost is likely, and what the weather story looks like day to day.