For warm water and the fewest rainy days, go in May or October. The Gulf is warmest in August, at 86 °F on average, but summer is also the wettest time of year, and hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. In winter the water drops to around 60 °F, and you can find condos by the month on Vrbo.
See every monthPanama City Beach · Photo: AJ Derr / Unsplash · Credits
All figures are long-term averages, not a forecast. This page is about Panama City Beach in Florida, not Panama City in Panama.
Spring (March to May)
WeatherHighs from 73 to 85 °FGulf water66 to 78 °F, warming each monthWhat to expectSpring break in March with no alcohol on the beach; Seabreeze Jazz Festival and Thunder Beach in April; IRONMAN 70.3 in MaySummer (June to August)
WeatherHighs of 89 to 91 °F, nights near 73 to 75 °FGulf water83 to 86 °F; with September, the warmest of the yearWhat to expectHurricane season starts June 1. The wettest stretch of the year, with 11 to 14 rainy days a monthFall (September to November)
WeatherHighs drop from 89 to 73 °FGulf water84 °F in September, 71 °F in NovemberWhat to expectOctober has some of the fewest rainy days; hurricane season runs to November 30. Oktoberfest and IRONMAN FloridaWinter (December to February)
WeatherHighs of 64 to 67 °F, lows of 43 to 46 °FGulf water60 to 64 °FWhat to expectEvents for winter residents; condos by the month on VrboLate spring and early fall have warm water and smaller crowds, according to VISIT FLORIDA, the state's tourism office. March brings spring break crowds, and the calendar below shows the weeks with big events.
Source: VISIT FLORIDA: Panama City Beach, checked November 2, 2026.
Air temperatures are average daily highs and lows, and a rainy day is one with at least 0.01 inch of rain. Water temperatures are the monthly averages measured at the Russell-Fields City Pier.
January
Air high / low °F64 / 43Water °F60Rainy days9What's onWinter residents season; Appreciation Day Jan 13February
Air high / low °F67 / 46Water °F61Rainy days8What's onWinter residents season; Appreciation Days Feb 5 and 19March
Air high / low °F73 / 52Water °F66Rainy days7What's onSpring break: no alcohol on the beach all monthApril
Air high / low °F79 / 58Water °F71Rainy days6What's onSeabreeze Jazz Festival, Thunder Beach rallyMay
Air high / low °F85 / 66Water °F78Rainy days5What's onIRONMAN 70.3, Florida Jeep JamJune
Air high / low °F89 / 73Water °F83Rainy days11What's onHurricane season starts June 1; Gulf Coast JamJuly
Air high / low °F91 / 75Water °F84Rainy days12What's onHurricane season; wettest stretch of the yearAugust
Air high / low °F91 / 75Water °F86Rainy days14What's onHurricane season; warmest water, most rainy daysSeptember
Air high / low °F89 / 71Water °F84Rainy days10What's onHurricane seasonOctober
Air high / low °F82 / 61Water °F79Rainy days6What's onHurricane season; OktoberfestNovember
Air high / low °F73 / 50Water °F71Rainy days6What's onHurricane season ends Nov 30; IRONMAN Florida (Nov 7, 2026)December
Air high / low °F67 / 45Water °F64Rainy days8What's onWinter residents season; New Year's Eve ball dropAir and rain: NOAA climate normals 1991–2020, station Panama City 5N, in Panama City about 13 miles east of the city pier. Water: our own averages from NOAA station PCBF1 at the city pier, 2013–2025 (how we worked them out: water temperature).
From June to September the water averages 83 to 86 °F. In January and February it's around 60 °F, and VISIT FLORIDA, the state's tourism office, says the Gulf is usually too cold for comfortable swimming in winter. Whatever the temperature, check the beach flags before you swim. March shows how much one year can differ from the next: it averaged 70 °F in the warmest year and 63 °F in the coldest.
For today's reading, open the NOAA station page for the city pier and look for WTMP, the water temperature. On November 1, 2026 it showed 75 °F.
How we worked these out: NOAA's National Ocean Service runs a sensor at the Russell-Fields City Pier (station PCBF1, 8729210). We averaged every reading per day, then per month and year, and counted only months with at least 20 days of readings. That leaves 11 to 13 years for each month. The range is the coldest and warmest year for that month. NOAA's coastal water temperature guide, the usual source for such tables, was discontinued on May 5, 2025.
| Month | Average °F | Range °F | °C |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 60 | 56–65 | 16 |
| February | 61 | 58–64 | 16 |
| March | 66 | 63–70 | 19 |
| April | 71 | 69–74 | 22 |
| May | 78 | 75–80 | 25 |
| June | 83 | 81–84 | 28 |
| July | 84 | 81–87 | 29 |
| August | 86 | 84–87 | 30 |
| September | 84 | 83–85 | 29 |
| October | 79 | 76–81 | 26 |
| November | 71 | 67–74 | 22 |
| December | 64 | 62–68 | 18 |
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30. Most activity comes between mid-August and mid-October, and the peak is September 10. That is a pattern for the whole Atlantic, not a forecast for Panama City Beach.
Summer is also the rainy season here. July and August average more than 7 inches of rain and 12 to 14 rainy days. A rainy day counts once 0.01 inch falls, so it doesn't mean rain all day. VISIT FLORIDA, the state's tourism office, notes frequent afternoon thunderstorms in summer. May, October and November have the fewest rainy days, five to six a month.
Before and during a trip, check the National Hurricane Center for current storms. When you book for these months, read the hotel's or rental's cancellation terms before you pay.
Sources: NOAA National Hurricane Center: tropical cyclone climatology; rain: NOAA climate normals 1991–2020.
From 12:01 am on March 1 to 11:59 pm on March 31, the city bans having or drinking alcohol on the beach. Bay County has the same March rule for its beach zone outside the city. Breaking it can cost up to $500, and glass containers are banned on the city's beach all year.
22 of the 23 hotels we list set a minimum check-in age of 18, 21 or 25. Check the age rule before you book.
Visit Panama City Beach, the official tourism office, runs a winter residents program. Three Appreciation Days are set for 2027: January 13, February 5 and February 19, from 8 to 10:30 am at the Boardwalk Beach Hotel & Convention Center, with free coffee, donuts and giveaways.
For a month or more, search condos on Vrbo for your dates. Owners set their own monthly prices, so ask for a written total with tax, cleaning fees and deposit. Two RV parks publish winter monthly rates; see the winter page.
For walks, Conservation Park is open daily from sunrise to sunset, and Frank Brown Park's playgrounds, picnic areas and paths are free to use all year.
Source: Visit Panama City Beach: winter resident events. Dances and the season finale are also listed, but without a year.
Only events whose organizers have published the date. IRONMAN Florida and the fall Thunder Beach rally haven't announced their 2027 dates yet.
The West End is the quiet end, and Grand Lagoon lies next to St. Andrews State Park. The area guide compares them by beach, walking distance and the hotels and condos in each.
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