July Overview
- High temperature: 90°F (32°C)
- Low temperature: 81°F (27°C)
- Hours daylight/sun: 11 hours
- Water temperature: 86°F (0°C)
Together with August, July is the hottest month of the year in Key West. With air temperatures between 81°F (27°C) and 90°F (32°C), and sea temperatures of about 86°F (30°C), the optimal way to spend July days is at the beach. Despite the hot weather, showers do occur regularly as there are almost twelve rainy days in July. Sunshine can be expected for a little over ten hours per day. Although July lies within the hurricane season, heavy storms are not usual this time of year.
In July, the famous Hemingway Days take place in Key West celebrating the birth of literary legend Ernest Hemingway on July 21st. Lasting for several days in July, the festival is a commemoration of his residency in Key West where he created many of his popular works. Locals and visitors of these festivities have the chance to compete in the beloved Hemingway Look-Alike Contest. Other events that take place within the Hemingway Days include the “Running of the Bulls”, museum exhibitions, literary readings and diverse sporting activities saluting Hemingway’s leisure habits. Besides partying, the weather in July invites you to spend time swimming in the warm sea. If you like snorkeling and scuba diving, you should not miss out on the Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival! This event offers the unique opportunity to experience an underwater concert while exploring the only living coral barrier reef within the continental U.S. The festival also serves a good cause, encouraging and promoting coral reef preservation.
Best Time to Visit Key West
As the area of Key West is characterized by traits of tropical climates, air and water temperatures remain typically warm throughout the whole year. However, the amount of rainfall shows significant monthly variations: From May through October, rainy days are very common with an average temperature of 84°F (29°C). This is the wet season. In the dry season however, days only have minimal rain but a lot of sunny and dry weather. The average temperature is slightly less than in the wet season at 74°F (23°C). Yet the range of monthly temperature averages only amounts to 15°F (8°C), implying that there are hardly any variations in temperature throughout the year. Taking the hurricane season into account as well, which occurs from June to November, the best time to pay a visit to Key West is from December to April. Accordingly, Key West has its highest visitor count in the months of December and January. During fall however, the numbers of visitors are at a minimum.
Days in Key West during the wet season (May through October) are characterized by rain and humidity. Heavy showers, especially during morning time, shortly followed by strong sunlight are typical. Precipitation reaches a peak in August through October being additionally affected by hurricanes and tropical thunderstorms at times. Visiting Key West during these months, rapidly changing weather conditions have to be expected.
Dry season (November through April) brings a lot of sunny days with low precipitation levels to Key West. Due to the dry climate, the average precipitation amounts to only 40 mm per year, causing Key West to be the driest place within Florida. While low rainfall is favorable for visits, the temperature at this time of the year can be somewhat cooler than in summer.
Due to changeable weather situations, it is highly recommended to keep an eye on local weather reports during your journey in Key West particularly to avoid major storms during hurricane season.
