Linda, I found you site very easy to use. I have been to Sanibel before and I believe it is one of the best vacation spots here in the United States. I am going to be planning a return vacation and was wondering if you could give me some average tempertures of the air and water for different times of the year? We go to enjoy the beach and water.
Hi - I cut and past a chart of monthly highs/lows/and gulf temps below- hopefully it posts ok.
(all temperatures are listed in Fahrenheit)
Avg Avg Monthly Gulf of High Low Avg Mexico Jan 72 55 64 66 Feb 73 56 65 66 Mar 75 59 68 71 Apr 81 65 73 77 May 86 70 78 82 June 89 74 82 86 July 90 75 82 87 Aug 90 76 83 87 Sep 89 75 82 86 Oct 84 69 76 81 Nov 76 61 70 73 Dec 72 56 64 68
The summer months tend to be very humid and rain most afternoons. However, I love swimming in the gulf that time of year as the gulf feels like bath water. Hope the info will help you in deciding what time of year you want to return-
Think of it this way, The Gulf is coolest Dec to March making it hard for those who like warm water to swim, but it's ok for used to lake swimming. From late-March to late May you have some of the best weather southwest Florida offers and the Gulf is warming up, but chilly for me till mid-May. Then the humidity sets in and it gets muggy and the no-see-ums come and bite. August and September the air is heavy and hot and just a few hundred feet from the beach you'll really feel sticky. The typical late afternoon storm patterns start in June and then are full blow July, Aug, Sept. Obviously, the Gulf is warmest between July and October. By mid-Oct the humidity usually breaks and there's about 4-6 weeks of perfect fall weather. The Gulf is still very warm, the days are not as hot or as humid and it's my personal favorite time for a visit as the islands are uncrowded. The winds begin shifting and shelling can get good.
December and January are very iffy months. Weather can be good or bad - and it can be hot and cold all in the same day. You'll need a bigger variety of clothes and windbreakers and such. It can also be very warm mid-afternoon, so you'll be layering up and down throughout the day. I do like being on island early December for the Luminary Festival, first Friday of December on Sanibel and First Saturday of Dec on Captiva. Most of the shops on Sanibel stay open, Santa comes around on the fire truck and some places off cookies and eggnog. I love seeing the decorations and the islands are fairly quiet.
I think I've been down every month except January. Oct/Nov are my personal favorites followed by April/May.