Amelia Island weather, month by month
Key facts
Average highs run 64.3°F in January to 90.7°F in July. The ocean is swimmable May–October. Rain averages 49.93″ a year, two-thirds of it in summer thunderstorms.
Amelia Island's weather is subtropical and maritime: the Atlantic on one side and the marsh on the other keep it a few degrees milder than inland Jacksonville in both directions. The short version is that July is the hottest month at 90.7°F and January the coolest at 64.3°F, the ocean is swimmable roughly May–October, and the rain is seasonal rather than constant — September averages 7.19″ while November averages just 1.87″.
Every number on this page comes from the NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals for the weather station on the island itself, not the airport 28 km inland. That distinction matters most in winter: the inland station runs several degrees colder on a January night than the beach does.
- Average daily high to low
- Ocean temperature
- Rainfall, inches
Amelia Island climate normals by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Ocean | Feels | Rain | Wet days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 64.3°F | 45.4°F | 57.9°F | Cold | 3.20″ | 5.5 |
| February | 66.6°F | 48.6°F | 60.3°F | Cold | 3.13″ | 5.5 |
| March | 72.2°F | 54.1°F | 64.7°F | Brisk | 3.27″ | 6.0 |
| April | 77.4°F | 59.8°F | 71.2°F | Comfortable | 3.03″ | 4.7 |
| May | 83.9°F | 67.7°F | 77.7°F | Warm | 2.68″ | 4.3 |
| June | 88.3°F | 73.1°F | 80.8°F | Warm | 6.12″ | 9.4 |
| July | 90.7°F | 74.9°F | 82.7°F | Bath-warm | 4.96″ | 9.3 |
| August | 89.5°F | 74.9°F | 84.6°F | Bath-warm | 6.39″ | 9.7 |
| September | 86°F | 73.2°F | 82.4°F | Bath-warm | 7.19″ | 9.1 |
| October | 80.1°F | 65.3°F | 76°F | Warm | 4.97″ | 5.2 |
| November | 72.4°F | 56.1°F | 70.4°F | Comfortable | 1.87″ | 3.7 |
| December | 66.3°F | 49.4°F | 62°F | Brisk | 3.12″ | 4.8 |
What the chart actually tells you
Look at the gap between the top of the temperature band and the ocean line. In April the air reaches 77.4°F while the sea is still 71.2°F — a 6.2°F gap, which is why a warm spring afternoon still produces a very short swim. By September the gap has closed to 3.6°F and the water is the warmest it gets all year, 84.6°F in August. The ocean lags the air by about two months in both directions. That lag is the single most useful thing to know when picking dates.
The four seasons, honestly
Winter (December–February). Highs 66.3–66.6°F, lows 45.4–48.6°F. Dry, bright and quiet: November and December are two of the three driest months of the year. Too cold to swim — the sea bottoms out at 57.9°F in January — but ideal for Fort Clinch, the Greenway and a long beach walk with a jacket. Expect a handful of nights near freezing.
Spring (March–May). The best-weather stretch of the year and no contest. Highs climb 72.2→83.9°F, rainfall is at its annual low (2.68″ in May), and humidity has not arrived. The sea is the only thing not co-operating.
Summer (June–September). Highs 88.3–90.7°F with dew points to match, and the wettest four months of the year: 6.12″, 4.96″, 6.39″ and 7.19″. The rain is convective — a hard afternoon thunderstorm that clears — rather than all-day drizzle, which is why September manages 7.19″ across only about 9.1 wet days. The ocean is 84.6°F in August, the warmest water on the Atlantic coast north of Florida's peninsula.
Autumn (October–November). The locals' answer. October still has 80.1°F days and 76°F water, and by November the rain has collapsed to 1.87″ — the driest month of the year — with 72.4°F afternoons. Hurricane season is technically still open until 30 November, which is the trade-off.
Rain: seasonal, not constant
The island averages 49.93″ a year across about 77 wet days — defining a wet day as one receiving 0.10″ or more. Two-thirds of that falls between June and September. A summer forecast showing a 60% chance of rain usually means a one-hour storm somewhere in the afternoon, not a washout; a December forecast showing rain usually means a grey day.
Hurricane season
The Atlantic season runs 1 June to 30 November, with the statistical peak in early September. Amelia Island's geography helps: it sits on a slight westward bend in the coast, and the storms that have caused the most damage here arrived as large offshore systems pushing surge and beach erosion rather than direct landfalls. That is history, not a forecast. If you are travelling August to October, buy the refundable rate and read our hurricane season guide.
When to come, by what you want
- Swimming. May–October — the water holds 77.7°F or better.
- Everything except swimming. March, April, October or October–November: 72.2–82°F, low rain, no crowds.
- The lowest prices and the emptiest beach. January and February.
- Festivals. May (Shrimp Festival) and the autumn concert and food calendar. See events.
Every month in detail
Related planning pages
Part of planning your Amelia Island trip.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best month to visit Amelia Island?
- For weather alone, October: 80.1°F days, 76°F ocean and 4.97″ of rain. April and May are just as pleasant in the air but the water is still 71.2–77.7°F. January is the cheapest and quietest, at 64.3°F.
- When can you swim in the ocean at Amelia Island?
- The ocean averages 77.7°F or warmer from May through October, peaking at 84.6°F in August. It falls to 57.9°F by January. Monthly figures are means of hourly NOAA readings at the nearest sensor with a long record, 30 km south at Mayport.
- How hot does Amelia Island get in summer?
- The average July high is 90.7°F and the average August high 89.5°F, with overnight lows around 74.9°F. Humidity, not the thermometer, is what makes it feel heavy: the sea breeze usually takes the edge off the beach by mid-afternoon while it stays still inland.
- Does it rain a lot on Amelia Island?
- About 49.93″ a year, but two-thirds of it falls June to September as short afternoon thunderstorms. November is the driest month at 1.87″ and September the wettest at 7.19″.
- What weather station do these figures come from?
- NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 monthly climate normals for station USC00082944, FERNANDINA BEACH, FL, at 14.9 m elevation on the island. We deliberately avoid the Jacksonville International Airport station, which is 28 km inland and colder on winter nights.