Lakeland, Florida Weather
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Lakeland weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 3Light Drizzle22%—83°73°—
- ThursdayJun 4Overcast——89°67°+6°
- FridayJun 5Overcast——86°67°-3°
- SaturdayJun 6Overcast——89°69°+3°
- SundayJun 7Overcast15%—92°69°+3°
- MondayJun 8Overcast40%—92°73°0°
- TuesdayJun 9Overcast50%—90°75°-2°
PM2.5/PM10 ratio 0.64 with 8 mph wind — characteristic of long-range haze transport rather than a local source. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points).
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
What's driving it
Ozone × UV × Sky
Ozone at AQI 42. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~93%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.
- Present
- AQI 42
- UV peak
- 0.0 at 1 PM
- Sky at peak
- overcast
- Projected peak
- AQI 5
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5/PM10 ratio 0.64 with 8 mph wind — characteristic of long-range haze transport rather than a local source.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.64
- Wind
- light
- Recent rain
- 0h in last 6h
- Pattern
- transport
Trends
Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.
Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
A summer fog for fair, a winter fog for rain.
- Moonrise
- 3:23 AM
- Moonset
- 2:00 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias
Lakeland at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 13°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: February 3 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: Jun 1–5
- Planting window: Harvest spring lettuce before it bolts. Sow heat-tolerant greens.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of June 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.
SPC Convective Outlook
Storm Prediction Center — Lakeland
SPC has placed Lakeland in the General Thunderstorms category for severe thunderstorms day after tomorrow.
- TODAYNONENo severe risk
- TOMORROWNONENo severe risk
- DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms possible. Not severe, but capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rain.
Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| March | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | — |
| April | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | — |
| May | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | — | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
August brings Lakeland's highest temperatures (~83°F mean) while January delivers the coldest (~62°F). Rainfall reaches its peak in August (9.1 inches) and drops to its lowest point in November (1.9 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 62° | 3.0″ | 4 |
| February | 65° | 2.3″ | 4 |
| March | 68° | 3.1″ | 4 |
| April | 73° | 2.8″ | 4 |
| May | 78° | 3.8″ | 6 |
| June | 82° | 8.7″ | 12 |
| July | 83° | 8.8″ | 14 |
| August | 83° | 9.1″ | 14 |
| September | 82° | 7.6″ | 10 |
| October | 76° | 3.0″ | 5 |
| November | 69° | 1.9″ | 3 |
| December | 65° | 2.6″ | 4 |
Regional context
Lakeland belongs to a humid subtropical climate region that extends across nearby cities. This zone shares similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions throughout the area.
Similar climates: Miami, FL, Tampa, FL, Orlando, FL, Jacksonville, FL, Cape Coral, FL.
Naturalist notes
Late May brings the distinctive calls of chuck-will's-widows echoing through Lakeland's evening air.
Southern magnolia trees reach full bloom during May, filling the warm nights with their heavy, lemony fragrance.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Lakeland?
- Lakeland's last spring frost typically occurs around mid-February, while the first fall frost arrives around mid-December.
- What is the rainy season in Lakeland?
- August receives the most rainfall with about 9.1 inches on average; the city gets roughly 57 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Lakeland?
- August typically brings the warmest weather, averaging about 83°F.
- What is the coldest month in Lakeland?
- January typically brings the coldest weather, averaging about 62°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Lakeland?
- Cool-season crops like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost (mid-February); warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Lakeland get?
- Lakeland experiences about 83 rainy days per year on average.
- What hardiness zone is Lakeland?
- Lakeland's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperature; use the USDA's online lookup with the city ZIP code for the current zone designation.
Climate
Lakeland, Florida experiences a humid subtropical climate zone. January temperatures hover near 62°F while July averages 83°F, creating a 21°F seasonal swing.
Throughout the year, Lakeland receives about 57 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 83 rainy days.
Weather patterns here depend on latitude (28.1°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation. These factors determine what grows locally, when frost occurs, and daily weather conditions.