Key West at a glance
- Best time
- Mar – Jul, Oct – Dec
- Warmest month
- Aug · 29°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 30.2°
- Sunshine a year
- 3,180 h
- Rain a year
- 783 mm
- Climate
- Subtropical
- Time zone
- UTC−5 / UTC−4
- Elevation
- 1 m
Climate in Key West
Key West has a subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 29 °C, while January is the coolest at 23 °C. With around 3,180 hours of sunshine a year, Key West is very sunny; April is the sunniest month with 10.1 hours a day.
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Excellent
Best time to visit: March – July, October – December
October is the peak of the hurricane season
What is the weather like in Key West in October?
In October, Key West is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 28.3 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 109 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. It is often windy, with gusts of around 29 km/h. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Key West.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 37 min07:24 – 19:01
- UV index
- 8 · very highclear sky, noon (estimate)
- Muggy days
- 29 daysdew point 18 °C or more
- Wind
- 29 km/haverage daily peak
- Cloud cover
- 50 %on average
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC−4America/New_York
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %100 %
- Seaweight 25 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %80 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %41 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
- Windproof jacket
Sea temperature in Key West
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 27.5 – 28.9 °C
Swimming season: All year
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Key West ranges from 22.6 °C in February to 30.2 °C in August. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
From April to January the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 29.7 and 30.8 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 22.7° | 21.7° | 23.7° | refreshing |
| FebruaryFeb | 22.6° | 21.6° | 23.6° | refreshing |
| MarchMar | 23.6° | 22.6° | 24.9° | pleasant |
| AprilApr | 25.2° | 24.5° | 26.0° | pleasant |
| MayMay | 27.0° | 26.2° | 27.7° | warm |
| JuneJun | 28.7° | 28.1° | 29.2° | warm |
| JulyJul | 29.7° | 29.0° | 30.4° | very warm |
| AugustAug | 30.2° | 29.7° | 30.8° | very warm |
| SeptemberSep | 29.7° | 28.9° | 30.4° | very warm |
| OctoberOct | 28.3° | 27.5° | 28.9° | warm |
| NovemberNov | 25.8° | 24.9° | 26.8° | pleasant |
| DecemberDec | 24.1° | 23.3° | 24.9° | pleasant |
Sunshine hours in Key West
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 7.8 of 11.6 hours of daylight in Key West, 67 % of the day.
Sunshine hours count the time with bright, direct sunshine (WMO definition, estimated from model data); daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
Rain in Key West: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Key West has about 12 rainy days with 109 mm of rain in total.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 74 | 23° | 20° | 22.7° | 7.7 h | 5 | 32 |
| FebruaryFeb | 80 | 23° | 21° | 22.6° | 8.3 h | 4 | 29 |
| MarchMar | 91 | 24° | 22° | 23.6° | 9.1 h | 4 | 26 |
| AprilApr | 99 | 25° | 24° | 25.2° | 10.1 h | 5 | 34 |
| MayMay | 95 | 27° | 25° | 27.0° | 10.0 h | 8 | 63 |
| JuneJun | 87 | 28° | 27° | 28.7° | 8.8 h | 13 | 107 |
| JulyJul | 88 | 29° | 27° | 29.7° | 9.7 h | 13 | 67 |
| AugustAug | 83 | 29° | 28° | 30.2° | 9.2 h | 16 | 107 |
| SeptemberSep | 78 | 29° | 27° | 29.7° | 8.1 h | 17 | 134 |
| OctoberOct | 84 | 27° | 26° | 28.3° | 7.8 h | 12 | 109 |
| NovemberNov | 94 | 25° | 24° | 25.8° | 7.9 h | 6 | 41 |
| DecemberDec | 87 | 24° | 22° | 24.1° | 7.8 h | 5 | 34 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)
24.56° N, 81.78° W · 1 m · America/New_York
Best time to visit Key West
The best time to visit Key West is from March to July and from October to December. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go from March to May and from November to December. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from November to May. Rain is most frequent from June to October; the wettest month is September with 134 mm.
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Key West for you.
Your best months: April – May, July
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
Mar – May, Nov – Dec
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Nov – May
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Jun – Oct
12 or more rainy days
Key West month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
74January23° · Sea 23° · 8 h
In January, Key West is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 20 °C. The sea averages 22.7 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 5 days, adding up to 32 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 30 km/h. All in all, January is a good month for a holiday in Key West.
Key West in January80February23° · Sea 23° · 8 h
In February, Key West is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sea averages 22.6 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 29 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. It is often windy, with gusts of around 29 km/h. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Key West.
Key West in February91March24° · Sea 24° · 9 h
In March, Key West is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sea averages 23.6 °C – pleasant for swimming. With around 9 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 26 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. It is often windy, with gusts of around 29 km/h. All in all, March is an excellent month for a holiday in Key West.
Key West in March99April25° · Sea 25° · 10 h
In April, Key West is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 25.2 °C – pleasant for swimming. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 5 days bring 34 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. It is often windy, with gusts of around 29 km/h. All in all, April is an excellent month for a holiday in Key West.
Key West in April95May27° · Sea 27° · 10 h
In May, Key West is warm: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 27.0 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 63 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is an excellent month for a holiday in Key West.
Key West in May87June28° · Sea 29° · 9 h
In June, Key West is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 27 °C. The sea averages 28.7 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 107 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Key West.
Key West in June88July29° · Sea 30° · 10 h
In July, Key West is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 27 °C. The sea averages 29.7 °C – almost as warm as a bath. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 67 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Key West.
Key West in July83August29° · Sea 30° · 9 h
In August, Key West is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 28 °C. The sea averages 30.2 °C – almost as warm as a bath. With around 9 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 107 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Key West.
Key West in August78September29° · Sea 30° · 8 h
In September, Key West is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 27 °C. The sea averages 29.7 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 134 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Key West.
Key West in September84October27° · Sea 28° · 8 h
In October, Key West is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 28.3 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 109 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. It is often windy, with gusts of around 29 km/h. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Key West.
Key West in October94November25° · Sea 26° · 8 h
In November, Key West is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 25.8 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 41 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. It is often windy, with gusts of around 30 km/h. All in all, November is an excellent month for a holiday in Key West.
Key West in November87December24° · Sea 24° · 8 h
In December, Key West is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sea averages 24.1 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 5 days, adding up to 34 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. It is often windy, with gusts of around 29 km/h. All in all, December is an excellent month for a holiday in Key West.
Key West in DecemberPlanning a trip to Key West
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 9 h 20 min
- Distance
- 7,310 km
- Time zone
- UTC−4
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Storm season
Key West lies in an area that Atlantic hurricanes can reach. The hurricane season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June: Season
- July: Season
- August: Peak
- September: Peak
- October: Peak
- November: Season
- December
Official season dates of the regional warning centres (NOAA, JMA, IMD, Météo-France, BoM); not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions about Key West
When is the best time to visit Key West?
The best time to visit Key West is from March to July and from October to December. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Key West?
The sea temperature in Key West ranges from 22.6 °C in February to 30.2 °C in August. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Can you swim in Key West in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 28.3 °C – lovely and warm for swimming.
What is the warmest month in Key West?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 29 °C and nights around 28 °C. January is the coolest month at 23 °C.
When does it rain most in Key West?
Rain is most frequent from June to October; the wettest month is September with 134 mm. The driest month is March with 26 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Key West get?
Key West gets around 3,180 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is April with 10.1 hours a day; in January there are 7.7 hours a day.
What time zone is Key West in?
Key West uses the time zone America/New_York: UTC−5 in January and UTC−4 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Key West?
A nonstop flight from London to Key West takes about 9 h 20 min, for a straight-line distance of about 7,310 km.
When is hurricane season in Key West?
Key West lies in an area that Atlantic hurricanes can reach. The hurricane season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
Near Key West
Other destinations close by.