What to Wear in Key West
USA · 6 monthly packing guides
Key West runs Florida-Keys-Caribbean. Conch Republic (the heritage 1982 secessionist micro-nation, born of a US Border Patrol roadblock) marks every April 23 with bandana-and-pirate-hat costume. The dressing register: cotton or linen everything and printed shifts with a local lineage (Lilly Pulitzer's prints were designed and printed in Key West, at Key West Hand Print Fabrics, from 1962 to 1985, according to Cooper Hewitt), plus Kino Sandals (handmade leather sandals, cut and glued in Key West since 1966). Every January the Key West Literary Seminar meets at the San Carlos Institute on Duval Street; it is based at Elizabeth Bishop's former house at 624 White Street, which she bought in 1938. Hurricane season opens June 1; Atlantic hurricane peak August-September with mandatory-evacuation history. Atlantic UV index 10-11 (extreme) May-September.
Choose your month below to match your layers and shoes to the weather. Across the months covered, average daily lows reach 19°C / 66°F in January; average highs reach 32°C / 90°F in June.
Compare Key West by month
Monthly averages help compare packing needs; check the forecast before departure. Only months with published guides are listed. See the source notes below for station and measurement differences. Scroll across the table to see all weather details on a small screen.
| Month | Average low | Average high | Rain days | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January packing guide | 19°C / 66°F | 24°C / 75°F | 7 | 10h 45m |
| May packing guide | 24°C / 75°F | 30°C / 86°F | 6 | 13h 20m |
| June packing guide | 26°C / 79°F | 32°C / 90°F | 11 | 13h 40m |
| July packing guide | 27°C / 81°F | 32°C / 90°F | 12 | 13h 35m |
| August packing guide | 27°C / 81°F | 32°C / 90°F | 14 | 13h |
| December packing guide | 20°C / 68°F | 25°C / 77°F | 6 | 10h 35m |
Choose your Key West packing list
Key West in January: 24°C / 75°F days, 19°C / 66°F nights, and four days of poetry at the San Carlos Institute on Duval Street.
In this capsule: Light-wash denim shirt, worn open; Shell-pink short-sleeve cardigan; Oatmeal crew-neck sweater.
Key West in May is the calm pre-hurricane shoulder — 30°C / 86°F afternoons, 24°C / 75°F nights, 6 rain days. Lower rates than April, before June doubles the rain.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton sundress or linen midi; Linen wide-leg trousers or cotton shorts; Kino Sandals (Key West 1966) — leather huaraches.
Key West in June is the start of hurricane season — 32°C / 90°F afternoons, 26°C / 79°F nights, 11 rain days, daily afternoon thunderstorm pattern.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton sundress or linen midi; Linen wide-leg trousers or cotton shorts; Kino Sandals (Key West 1966) — leather huaraches.
Key West in July is peak Atlantic summer + Hemingway Days — 32°C / 90°F afternoons, 27°C / 81°F nights, 12 rain days. Hemingway Look-Alike Contest at Sloppy Joe's around July 21.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton sundress or linen midi; Linen wide-leg trousers or cotton shorts; Kino Sandals (Key West 1966) — leather huaraches.
Key West in August is peak Atlantic hurricane season — 32°C / 90°F afternoons, 27°C / 81°F nights, 14 rain days. Hurricane historical peak mid-August through mid-September.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton sundress or linen midi; Linen wide-leg trousers or cotton shorts; Kino Sandals (Key West 1966) — leather huaraches.
Key West in December: 25°C / 77°F days, 20°C / 68°F nights, a lighted boat parade on the 12th and New Year's Eve's midnight drops.
In this capsule: Navy fine-knit cardigan, crew neck; Lime-green ribbed tank, racer cut; Pink linen tie-front shirt.
Climate sources by month
These credits follow the source recorded on each monthly guide. Climate figures inform the packing advice; outfit combinations and illustrations are editorial suggestions.
- January: NOAA · Key West International Airport (EYW) · 1991–2020 normals
- May: NOAA · Key West International Airport (EYW) · 1991–2020 normals
- June: NOAA · Key West International Airport (EYW) · 1991–2020 normals
- July: NOAA · Key West International Airport (EYW) · 1991–2020 normals
- August: NOAA · Key West International Airport (EYW) · 1991–2020 normals
- December: NOAA · Key West International Airport (EYW) · 1991–2020 normals
Frequently asked questions
Start with your travel month. The 6 published guides cover January, May, June, July, August, December. Compare the average low as well as the high: among these months, January has the lowest average low at 19°C / 66°F, while June has the highest average high at 32°C / 90°F. For a trip spanning two months, read both lists before deciding which layers to bring.
No. They are monthly climate averages for planning, not temperatures promised for a particular day or hour. Check the local forecast close to departure and adjust your layers and rain protection. The source, station and averaging period are listed for each month where recorded; different stations or rain-day definitions can affect comparisons.
No. Treat the capsule as a set of clothing functions: walking shoes, a base outfit, weather protection and any change for dinner or a venue's dress code. Start with equivalents you own. Adjust quantities to your trip length and laundry access; the illustrations are outfit suggestions, not a shopping requirement.