Florida weather in January
There's a real gradient across Florida in January: 76° afternoons in Miami, 63° in Pensacola.
Based on 14 weather stations. Fourteen stations, Key West to Pensacola — enough to see the state’s real gradient, which on winter nights puts the Panhandle some twenty degrees below the Keys.
Atlantic Coast
Highs 68–76°, nights 48–61°, and 1.8–2.9 in of rain in a typical January.
| Place | Highs / lows | Wet days | The short version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | 76° / 61° | 4 | Beach weather without the sweat; ocean still has an edge. |
| Fort Lauderdale | 76° / 61° | 4 | Sun, sea breeze, and no reason to own a coat. |
| Daytona Beach | 69° / 49° | 5 | Wind off the Atlantic sharpens a mild afternoon. |
| St. Augustine | 68° / 48° | 5 | Genuine winter — coat in the morning, sun by afternoon. |
The Keys
Highs near 76°, nights around 66°, and 1.8 in of rain in a typical January.
| Place | Highs / lows | Wet days | The short version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key West | 76° / 66° | 3 | Shorts most days; a long-sleeve for the wind off the water. |
Gulf Coast
Highs 71–75°, nights 52–56°, and 1.7–2.8 in of rain in a typical January.
| Place | Highs / lows | Wet days | The short version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa | 71° / 53° | 4 | Cool enough at night to want the extra blanket. |
| Clearwater | 71° / 53° | 5 | Warm enough for the beach, cold enough to stay out of the Gulf. |
| Sarasota | 73° / 52° | 4 | Blue skies, brisk nights, water strictly for looking at. |
| Fort Myers | 75° / 54° | 3 | Warm afternoons, cool nights, and a Gulf that bites. |
| Naples | 75° / 56° | 3 | Sun every day, and a jacket for the sunset. |
Central Florida
Highs near 72°, nights around 50°, and 2.5 in of rain in a typical January.
| Place | Highs / lows | Wet days | The short version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando | 72° / 50° | 4 | Sweater mornings, shirtsleeve afternoons — winter, Florida style. |
The Panhandle
Highs 63–64°, nights 43–45°, and 4.5–5.0 in of rain in a typical January.
| Place | Highs / lows | Wet days | The short version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Destin | 63° / 45° | 6 | Cool and damp — this is not the tropics. |
| Panama City Beach | 64° / 43° | 7 | Off-season quiet, with frost some mornings. |
| Pensacola | 63° / 44° | 7 | Cold rain happens here — bring a real coat. |
Each place above has its own page for the full story — what the month feels like, what to pack, and whether the timing is right.