West Palm Beach weather splits into two seasons: a dry, sunny stretch from November through April with highs in the 70s and low 80s, and a hot, wet, stormy stretch from May through October with highs near 90 and daily afternoon downpours. The best time to visit is late January through mid-April. Here is what we see month by month, what to pack, and where we check the forecast before heading out.
The two seasons, in short
Forget spring, summer, autumn and winter. We plan around wet and dry.
Dry season runs roughly November to April. Rain comes with cold fronts, not thunderstorms. Humidity drops. Mornings can dip into the 50s after a strong front, and locals break out the jackets.
Wet season runs roughly late May to October. Most days start sunny. Clouds build inland after lunch. Storms roll toward the coast between about 2 and 6 p.m., then clear by dinner. About 70 percent of the yearly rain falls in these months.
Quick steps: plan around the weather
- Pick a dry-season month if you want beach days without storms.
- Check the National Hurricane Center if you travel June through November.
- Book mornings for outdoor plans in summer.
- Watch the beach flags before you swim.
- Confirm event dates with the organiser, since dates shift year to year.
West Palm Beach weather by month
These figures are rounded from the 30-year climate normals measured at Palm Beach International Airport. Confirm current normals and records on the National Weather Service Miami climate pages.
| Month | Avg high (°F) | Avg low (°F) | Rain (in) | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 75 | 57 | 3 | Mild, breezy, occasional chilly morning |
| February | 77 | 60 | 3 | Driest, sunniest month |
| March | 80 | 63 | 4 | Warm, windy, peak beach weather |
| April | 83 | 66 | 3 | Warm, low humidity |
| May | 86 | 70 | 5 | Humid, storms begin late month |
| June | 89 | 74 | 8 | Hot, daily afternoon storms |
| July | 90 | 75 | 6 | Hottest, sticky, sea breeze helps |
| August | 90 | 76 | 8 | Hottest nights, hurricane watch |
| September | 88 | 75 | 9 | Wettest, peak hurricane month |
| October | 85 | 71 | 6 | Storms fade, humidity drops late |
| November | 80 | 65 | 4 | First fronts, pleasant |
| December | 77 | 61 | 3 | Mild, mostly dry |
January
Our coolest month, and still warm by most standards. Highs near 75. A front every week or so brings a day of clouds and a cool morning. Lows in the 40s happen a few times a decade. Sea breeze is light, so the beach feels calm.
February
The driest month on the calendar. Expect long runs of sunny days. Humidity stays low. This is why hotel rates peak now. Oak pollen also peaks, which hits allergy sufferers hard.
March
Highs reach 80. Winds pick up from the east and northeast. Surf gets rougher and rip currents increase. Those same onshore winds push Portuguese man o’ war jellyfish onto the sand, so check the purple flags.
April
Arguably the best month. Low 80s, dry air, cool mornings. Rain is rare. Crowds thin after Easter.
May
Humidity returns. The first thunderstorms show up in the last two weeks. SunFest, the big waterfront music festival, usually runs early in May. Confirm dates on the SunFest site.
June
Wet season in full swing. Highs near 89 with dew points in the mid 70s. Storms most afternoons. Hurricane season opens June 1, though early-season storms here are uncommon.
July and August
The hottest stretch. Highs hover at 90, lows rarely drop below 75. Heat index values of 100 to 105 are routine. The ocean sea breeze keeps the coast a few degrees cooler than Wellington or Royal Palm Beach inland.
September
The wettest month and the heart of hurricane season. The statistical peak of the Atlantic season is September 10. Tropical moisture can bring multi-day rain even without a named storm.
October
Storms taper off. The first weak front often arrives late in the month and drops the humidity overnight. Locals call it “the first nice day.”
November and December
Fronts become regular. Highs slide from 80 to 77. Rain mostly comes in short bursts ahead of a front. December is busy with visitors and prices rise.
Hurricane season explained
| Period | Risk level | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| June 1 to July 31 | Low | Keep an eye on the tropics, stock basics |
| August 1 to October 15 | Highest | Check the National Hurricane Center daily |
| October 16 to November 30 | Low to moderate | Watch late-season Caribbean systems |
Palm Beach County has taken direct hits before. Frances and Jeanne both struck within weeks of each other in 2004. Wilma came in 2005. Most seasons, though, pass with a watch or two and some gusty rain bands.
Evacuation zones are set by storm surge risk, not by neighbourhood name. Look up your address on the Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management site and sign up for AlertPBC notifications there.
Good to know
Travel insurance bought after a storm is named will not cover that storm. Many hotels waive change fees under a hurricane warning, but confirm the policy before you book a September trip.
Ocean temperature and daylight
The Gulf Stream runs close to shore here, closer than anywhere else in the continental United States. That keeps winter water warmer than the Gulf coast or the Panhandle.
| Month | Water temp (°F) | Sunrise (approx.) | Sunset (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 73 | 7:10 a.m. | 5:50 p.m. |
| April | 78 | 6:55 a.m. | 7:40 p.m. |
| July | 85 | 6:35 a.m. | 8:15 p.m. |
| October | 82 | 7:15 a.m. | 6:55 p.m. |
Water temps are averages from NOAA buoy and coastal station data. Daylight shifts with daylight saving time in March and November. Check a sunrise table for exact times on your dates.
Cold snaps also drive wildlife. When the Intracoastal cools into the 60s, sea cows manatees gather at the warm-water outflow in Riviera Beach, a short drive north. Peak viewing runs through the winter months.
Where we check the forecast
For a quick look, any phone app works. For anything that matters, we go to the source.
- National Weather Service Miami covers Palm Beach County. The seven-day forecast, hourly graphs, marine forecast and rip current risk live there.
- The Miami radar (station KAMX) shows storms building over the Everglades and moving east. Watch the 30-minute loop, not the still image.
- Satellite loops on the NOAA site help during hurricane season.
- Local TV stations WPTV, WPBF, WPEC and WFLX stream live coverage during storms and post weather stories and video on their sites.
- NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts alerts around the clock.
Beach conditions change by the hour. Lifeguard towers at Lake Worth Beach, Ocean Reef Park and the Palm Beach municipal beach fly coloured flags. Red means high surf or strong currents. Purple means dangerous marine life. Double red means the water is closed.
Local tip
Summer storms form inland and march east. If the radar shows cells over Loxahatchee at 1 p.m., the coast gets hit around 3. Beach in the morning, pool or museum in the afternoon, and you rarely get rained on.
What to pack by season
What you need
- Light rain jacket or packable umbrella, May to October
- Reef-safe sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher, all year
- Light sweater or jacket for January and February evenings
- Bug spray for dusk, especially after summer rain
- Refillable water bottle in summer heat
- Sandals that handle hot sand
Sunburn catches people in winter. The UV index tops 6 even in January and hits 11 in summer. Shade and reapplication matter more than the air temperature.
Air quality, pollen and other quirks
Air quality is usually good. Two exceptions. Saharan dust plumes drift across in June and July and turn the sky milky. Sugar cane field burning west of the county from October to April can send smoke and ash east on a west wind.
Pollen runs in waves. Oak and pine dominate January through March. Grass pollen takes over in summer. The Palm Beach County mosquito control program sprays after heavy rain, and the no-see-ums bite hardest at dawn and dusk near the Intracoastal.
Lightning is the hazard locals respect most. Florida leads the nation in lightning deaths. If you hear thunder, leave the beach or golf course and wait 30 minutes after the last rumble.
Best times to visit, by what you want
- Beach days without storms: February through April.
- Lowest hotel prices: late August through early October, with hurricane risk.
- Boating and fishing: April and May, when seas are calm and sailfish still run.
- Everglades trips: dry season. Wildlife concentrates at shrinking water holes, and the mosquitoes thin out. The same logic applies for a day in everglades national park south of us.
- Snorkelling: summer, when water is warmest and clearest on calm days.
- Running or cycling: November through March, before dawn in summer.
How Palm Beach weather differs from Miami and Fort Lauderdale
Palm Beach weather tracks a degree or two cooler than Miami most days. Winter fronts reach us first and linger longer. Summer storms arrive from the west on a similar schedule.
The barrier island of Palm Beach stays slightly cooler and breezier than downtown West Palm Beach across the lagoon. Inland towns such as Wellington run hotter in the afternoon and cooler at night. The airport station sits between the two, so its numbers are a fair middle ground.
When to get help
Under a tropical storm or hurricane watch, follow Palm Beach County Emergency Management, not social media rumour. For marine trips, call the lifeguard headquarters at the beach you plan to use or check the NWS marine forecast. Allergy or heat problems that will not settle warrant an urgent care visit, and there are several along Okeechobee Boulevard.
FAQ
What is the best month to visit West Palm Beach?
March or April. Highs in the low 80s, low humidity, little rain and the ocean warms past 75. February is drier but a touch cooler and more expensive.
How hot does it get in summer?
Average highs sit at 90 in July and August. The humidity pushes the heat index past 100 most afternoons. Actual temperatures above 95 are rare because the sea breeze caps them.
Does it rain all day in the wet season?
No. Typical summer rain is a 30 to 60 minute afternoon storm. All-day rain usually means a tropical system or a stalled front, and those come a few times a season.
When is hurricane season in West Palm Beach?
June 1 through November 30, with the highest risk from mid-August to mid-October. Check the National Hurricane Center and sign up for county alerts if you visit then.
Can you swim in the ocean in winter?
Yes. Water stays in the low 70s thanks to the Gulf Stream. Watch for rip currents on windy days and purple flags for man o’ war after a stretch of easterly wind.
Where is the most accurate West Palm Beach weather forecast?
The National Weather Service Miami office issues the official forecast, warnings and radar for Palm Beach County. Local TV meteorologists at WPTV, WPBF and WPEC add hourly and weekend detail during big weather events.
