Key West in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Key West sees average daytime highs around 73°F and overnight lows near 70°F, with 3.9 in of rain over about 15 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 73°F. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 56% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels muggy.
Winter is Key West's 2nd-best season to visit on our travel score. Key West has little temperature swing across the year, so its calendar seasons blur — the season framing matters less here than for a place with four distinct seasons. For the whole year in context, see Key West's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 73°F
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 70°F
- Rainfall
- 3.9 in
- 15 wet days
- Avg wind
- 14 mph
- Travel score
- 8.0
- 2nd-best season
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Key West in Winter
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 73°F.
A typical winter day in Key West reaches about 73°F and drops to 70°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Key West
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 0 that feel at or below 32°F.
winter sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.
Key West weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 73° / 69° | 1.5 | 5.7 | 10.6 | 7.8 |
| Feb | 73° / 70° | 1.2 | 4 | 11.1 | 8.1 |
| Mar | 74° / 71° | 1.0 | 4.2 | 11.8 | 8.4 |
| Apr | 77° / 74° | 1.5 | 4.5 | 12.6 | 8.3 |
| May | 80° / 77° | 2.6 | 7.9 | 13.2 | 7.3 |
| Jun | 83° / 80° | 4.1 | 12.7 | 13.5 | 5.7 |
| Jul | 84° / 81° | 2.5 | 12.9 | 13.4 | 5.3 |
| Aug | 84° / 81° | 4.1 | 16.1 | 12.9 | 4.8 |
| Sep | 83° / 80° | 5.4 | 17.7 | 12.2 | 4.7 |
| Oct | 81° / 78° | 4.6 | 12.7 | 11.4 | 6.2 |
| Nov | 77° / 74° | 1.5 | 5.8 | 10.8 | 7.8 |
| Dec | 75° / 71° | 1.3 | 5.1 | 10.5 | 8.0 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 56% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Key West gets around 3.9 in of rain over 15 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels muggy — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 14 mph across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 10 h 36 min in early December to 11 h 24 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 4.1 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Key West
None of Key West's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Key West sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.
Key West's rainy season runs May–October, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Key West?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is one of the better times to visit Key West for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Key West in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Key West sees daytime highs around 73°F and nights near 70°F. Worth packing: light clothes, sun protection and a windbreaker. About 15 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Key West in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 74°F across winter — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea offshore is warmest in August at about 86°F and coldest in February near 73°F.
The water stays above 68°F all year — warm enough for a swim any month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°F) | 73 | 73 | 74 | 77 | 80 | 83 | 85 | 86 | 85 | 83 | 78 | 75 |
| Comfort | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Warm | Warm | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Warm | Warm |
| Sea temperature (°F) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 73 | Refreshing |
| Feb | 73 | Refreshing |
| Mar | 74 | Refreshing |
| Apr | 77 | Warm |
| May | 80 | Warm |
| Jun | 83 | Tropical |
| Jul | 85 | Tropical |
| Aug | 86 | Tropical |
| Sep | 85 | Tropical |
| Oct | 83 | Tropical |
| Nov | 78 | Warm |
| Dec | 75 | Warm |
UV index in Key West in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 6 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Key West peaks around July 18 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 18 at about 5 (high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 6 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 5 |
| Level | High | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | High |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6 | High |
| Feb | 8 | Very high |
| Mar | 10 | Very high |
| Apr | 11 | Extreme |
| May | 11 | Extreme |
| Jun | 11 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 12 | Extreme |
| Sep | 11 | Extreme |
| Oct | 9 | Very high |
| Nov | 6 | High |
| Dec | 5 | High |
Air quality in Key West in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Key West is worst in July — around 18 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.1× the cleanest month (December, 4 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5 | Good |
| Feb | 5 | Good |
| Mar | 6 | Good |
| Apr | 8 | Good |
| May | 9 | Good |
| Jun | 15 | Moderate |
| Jul | 18 | Moderate |
| Aug | 16 | Moderate |
| Sep | 10 | Good |
| Oct | 7 | Good |
| Nov | 5 | Good |
| Dec | 4 | Good |
Where is Key West?
Key West sits at 24.6°N, 81.8°W, 3 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Marco Island, 96 mi away.
Topography around Key West
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Key West.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Key West has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 39 ft around an average of 3 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 75 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 52 ft.
The land around Key West is covered by water (64%) and artificial surfaces (26%) within 2 miles, water (95%) within 10 miles, and water (98%) within 50 miles.
United States travel facts
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 100% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $90,027
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.8 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 98%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 5.8
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 12.7
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Key West (24.5552°, -81.7816°, elevation 3 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.