What is the weather and water temperature in Perdido Key by month?
The Gulf at Perdido Key is comfortably swimmable from about May through October, when water temps run from the mid-70s up to the mid-80s. July and August are the warmest, near 85°F — bathwater. It cools through fall, bottoms out in the high 50s to low 60s in January and February, and warms back up starting in April. Air temps range from summer highs near 90°F to winter days in the 60s. For today's exact water temp, check the live reading.
Water temperature, roughly by month
Typical Gulf surf temperatures (they vary year to year — check the live reading for today):
- Jan–Feb: high 50s–low 60s — too cold for most
- Mar: low-to-mid 60s — chilly, brief dips only
- Apr: upper 60s–low 70s — brisk but doable
- May: mid-70s — swimmable and pleasant
- Jun: low 80s — warm
- Jul–Aug: mid-80s — peak, bath-warm
- Sep: low-to-mid 80s — still great
- Oct: mid-70s — the last comfortable month
- Nov–Dec: upper 60s cooling to low 60s
Air temperature and rain
Summer days run upper 80s to low 90s with high humidity and quick afternoon thunderstorms that usually clear fast. Spring and fall are mild and dry — 70s to 80s. Winter days sit in the 60s and can dip into the 40s at night. It rarely freezes, and snow is a once-in-a-generation event.
What "swimmable" really means
Locals get in the water starting around April and stop around late October, but comfort is personal — Northerners often swim happily in 70-degree water that has Floridians shivering. If warm water is your priority, target June through September. Whatever the temp, always check today's flag for surf and rip-current warnings before you swim.
More questions
Is the water warm enough to swim in Perdido Key in October?
Usually yes, early October — the Gulf holds in the mid-70s. By late October it's cooling toward the upper 60s, so the earlier in the month, the warmer.
How hot does Perdido Key get in summer?
Summer highs are typically upper 80s to low 90s, with humidity that makes it feel hotter. The Gulf breeze on the beach takes the edge off, and afternoon storms often cool things briefly.
Reviewed July 2026. Conditions change daily — for live numbers see Beach Today.