Wandering along Gainesville’s beautiful streets, the balmy climate gently warms your skin as rays of sunshine beat down. When some parts of the country are covered in snow each winter, local residents can unwind in the beautiful Gainesville climate.
Located in northern Florida, Gainesville has a population of 133,997 residents. It is the site of the Harn Museum of Art, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, and Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park.
Because it is located inland, Gainesville has wider temperature fluctuations than some coastal Florida cities and is technically considered a humid subtropical climate. The climate in Gainesville is also known for producing up to 16 nights of freezing temperatures every few years, which is a rarity in the state.
There is a difference between the Gainesville climate in relation to local weather. The weather includes atmospheric events like sunshine and rain that happen each day. Normally, weather occurs near the ground in the troposphere and is affected by things like humidity, temperature, or air pressure.
The climate is essentially how we describe the long-term weather in a location. You can describe the climate by discussing the area’s average precipitation, weather, or wind.
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Gainesville, FL Seasons
The Gainesville climate doesn’t have standard seasons and also experiences an annual hurricane season.
While July is the hottest month of the year, January is the coldest month. June is generally the wettest month. You can expect the temperature to range between 44°F to 90°F throughout the year.
Spring Weather in Gainesville
Spring in Gainesville starts when the first blooms arrive between January 9 and January 20, but true spring doesn’t really begin until mid-February, lasting until early April.
In the springtime, the temperature ranges between 45.3°F and 80.3°F each day. During this beautiful period, you can enjoy seeing the gorgeous blooms of redbud and azalea as you relax under cloudless skies. Spring has the least precipitation and humidity of any season in Gainesville, so enjoy it while it lasts.
Summer Weather in Gainesville
Gainesville is nicknamed “Rainesville” because of the high amount of annual rainfall each year. June through September is when the majority of the rain falls. July is the hottest month with an average temperature of 91°F. Summer in Gainesville lasts 4.5 months from about mid-May to the end of September with an average daily temperature of 85°F.
Fall Weather in Gainesville
Fall in Gainesville is from mid-September to mid-December. Like winter, autumn is part of the driest part of the year. In November, there are only 2.06 inches of precipitation throughout the entire month.
From late November to December, visitors can enjoy beautiful bursts of fall color on the trees. The climate in Gainesville is comfortably cool in fall, which is why you can check out the Downtown Festival and Art Show, the Lubee Bat Festival, and the Micanopy Fall Harvest Festival.
Winter Weather in Gainesville
Winter in Gainesville starts in the middle of December and lasts until April. Early winter is the driest season of the whole year, so it is worth visiting during this time if you don’t like rain. January is also the coldest month with an average low of 42.3°F and an average high of 66.2°F.
Because of the Gainesville climate, winter is still relatively warm compared to the rest of the country. Thanks to the relative warmth, this time of year is a great time to check out local parks like the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail State Park, Depot Park, and Loblolly Woods Nature Park.
Gainesville Monthly Weather
Weather in January
January is the coldest month of the year in Gainesville, so don’t forget your sweater and boots. While some rare snowflakes might make an appearance, it almost never snows in Gainesville. January in Gainesville has an average high and low of 66ºF and 42ºF.
Weather in February
February is balmy and warm compared to the rest of the country. However, February is one of the coldest months of the year in Gainesville with average high and low temperatures of 45ºF and 70ºF.
Weather in March
March is when the weather starts warming up with average high and low temperatures between 50ºF and 75ºF. Meanwhile, the typical March has an average precipitation of 4.33 inches.
Weather in April
April has an average high and low of 80ºF and 55ºF. It also has a relatively low average precipitation of 2.67 inches, so enjoy the sunshine and clear skies during this time.
Weather in May
May is another month with low rainfall, so don’t bother with umbrellas. Instead, enjoy having only 2.48 inches of rain. Plus, the average high and low temperatures jump up to 62ºF and 87ºF as the city is heating up for summertime.
Weather in June
June is the rainiest month of the year with 7.12 inches of rain. While the average high temperature is a warm 90ºF, the average low is 69ºF. If you wanted to get a tan and enjoy the heat, this is the best month of the year in Gainesville’s climate.
Weather in July
Grab your sunscreen, and find some shade because July is the hottest month in Gainesville. With an average high of 91ºF and an average low of 71ºF, it is a good month for hitting the swimming pool or spending the day outside. Plus, July is one of the rainiest months with an average precipitation level of 6.07 inches.
Weather in August
August is still hot with average high and low temperatures of 90ºF and 72ºF. It is one of the rainiest months of the year as well with an average rainfall of 6.39 inches.
Weather in September
In September, the average high is 87ºF, and the average low is 67ºF. Plus, there are only 4.47 inches of rain, so the skies are starting to clear up.
Weather in October
Winter is the driest time of the year, so the rainfall decreases as we get to the coldest season. In October, the average high and low temperatures are 81ºF and 60ºF. The climate in Gainesville at this time of year has just 2.88 inches of rainfall.
Weather in November
If you want cool, sunny days and clear skies, November is a great month to visit Gainesville. During this month, there are only 2.06 inches of rain. While the average high is 74ºF, the average low is 51ºF.
Weather in December
December is the second coldest month of the year with average high and low temperatures between 68ºF and 44ºF. As one of the driest months of the year, December has only 2.48 inches of precipitation.
Annual Climate in Gainesville
- Number of sunny days in Gainesville: 224 days
- Annual rainfall in Gainesville: 47.33 inches, which is higher than the United States average of 30.21 inches
- Annual snowfall in Gainesville: 0 inches, which is lower than the United States average of 27.8 inches
Extreme Weather in Gainesville
While the climate in Gainesville doesn’t bring any snow or blizzards, you do need to be aware of hurricanes. Hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30, so pay attention to the weather forecast. Hurricane Fay was the last major hurricane to damage the city, but hurricanes occur frequently and can quickly become dangerous.
Gainesville Weather Extremes
- Coldest month: January is the coldest month of the year with an average low of 42.3°F.
- Hottest month: The hottest month of the year in Gainesville is July with an average high of 90.9°F.
- Wettest month: The wettest month is June with 7.12 inches of rain.
- Snowiest month: It almost never snows in Gainesville, but January is the most likely time for snow to fall.
- Most humid month: With a humidity level of 73.6%, August is the most humid month of the year.
- Sunniest month: April is the sunniest month with only 5.8 days of precipitation.
- Gainesville record high temperature: The record high temperature is 104°F.
- Gainesville record low temperature: In Gainesville, the record low temperature is 6°F.
Best Time to Visit Gainesville
By learning about the Gainesville climate, you can determine when you should visit. Fall brings beautiful foliage to enjoy along with a relatively comfortable temperature, and there are lots of festivals you can check out.
Out-of-town visitors love winter because Gainesville is warmer than the rest of the country, though some locals disagree. While the weather may feel a bit chilly to local residents, the drier weather is a welcome change.
If you plan on kicking back at the swimming pool, anytime between May and September will be quite warm. In springtime, don’t forget to check out the gorgeous azalea and redbud blossoms as they bloom.
Looking into the Gainesville Climate Before Moving Here?
If you love the Gainesville climate enough, you may even decide to move to Gainesville. The climate in Gainesville is one of the best in the nation if you want somewhere relatively warm all year.
If you plan on relocating to the area, reach out to 2 College Brothers for help with your relocation. Call us today at (352) 448-9095 or complete the Request a Quote form for a free moving estimate!