Climateby Month

Destin vs Gulf Shores weather

Destin, FL and Gulf Shores, AL · 73 mi apart

July highs: 91°F in Destin, 91°F in Gulf Shores. January highs: 63°F and 62°F (Destin is 1°F warmer). Destin has about 109 wet days a year, Gulf Shores about 123. Muggy days: about 164 a year in Destin, about 171 in Gulf Shores.

Destin, FL

20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 63°F (17°C), low 45°F (7°C) 63° 45° February: normal high 66°F (19°C), low 48°F (9°C) March: normal high 71°F (22°C), low 54°F (12°C) April: normal high 76°F (24°C), low 60°F (16°C) May: normal high 84°F (29°C), low 68°F (20°C) June: normal high 89°F (32°C), low 74°F (23°C) July: normal high 91°F (33°C), low 76°F (24°C) 91° 76° August: normal high 91°F (33°C), low 76°F (24°C) September: normal high 89°F (32°C), low 72°F (22°C) October: normal high 81°F (27°C), low 63°F (17°C) November: normal high 72°F (22°C), low 53°F (12°C) December: normal high 66°F (19°C), low 48°F (9°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: March, April, November

Gulf Shores, AL

20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 62°F (17°C), low 37°F (3°C) 62° 37° February: normal high 65°F (18°C), low 40°F (4°C) March: normal high 72°F (22°C), low 46°F (8°C) April: normal high 78°F (26°C), low 52°F (11°C) May: normal high 85°F (29°C), low 60°F (16°C) June: normal high 89°F (32°C), low 68°F (20°C) July: normal high 91°F (33°C), low 70°F (21°C) 91° 70° August: normal high 91°F (33°C), low 69°F (21°C) September: normal high 88°F (31°C), low 65°F (18°C) October: normal high 81°F (27°C), low 54°F (12°C) November: normal high 71°F (22°C), low 44°F (7°C) December: normal high 64°F (18°C), low 39°F (4°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: March, April, November

Which city for what

  • Fewer wet days: Destin (109 a year vs 123 a year)
  • Longer growing season: Gulf Shores (340 frost-free days vs 321 frost-free days)

Listed only where the difference is at least 3°F in highs, 10 days a year or 3 in of snow.

Season by season

SeasonAvg high DestinAvg high Gulf ShoresWet days DestinWet days Gulf Shores
Winter (Dec-Feb)65°F64°F3031
Spring (Mar-May)77°F78°F2325
Summer (Jun-Aug)90°F91°F3342
Fall (Sep-Nov)81°F80°F2326

Side by side over a year

DestinGulf Shores
Hot days (90°F+)5181
Freezing nights525
Muggy days164171
Comfortable days9081
Precipitation55.4 in69.3 in
Snowfall0.0 in0.0 in
Frost dateslast Feb 5, first Dec 28last Jan 31, first Jan 6
Daylight in June / December14.1 h / 10.2 h14.1 h / 10.2 h
Best monthsMarch, April, NovemberMarch, April, November

Day counts from each city's daily records, 1991-2020. Comfortable days: highs 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F.

Month by month

MonthHigh DestinHigh Gulf ShoresWet days DestinWet days Gulf Shores
January63°F62°F1011
February66°F65°F910
March71°F72°F99
April76°F78°F88
May84°F85°F68
June89°F89°F1013
July91°F91°F1114
August91°F91°F1215
September89°F88°F811
October81°F81°F67
November72°F71°F98
December66°F64°F1111

Both charts use the same temperature scale.

Where the numbers come from

  • Destin, FL: temperature from Destin Ft Walton Airport (USW00053853), 1.5 mi ENE of the city center; precipitation from Destin Ft Walton Airport (USW00053853). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.
  • Gulf Shores, AL: temperature from Fairhope 2 Ne (USC00012813), 23 mi NNW of the city center; precipitation from Fairhope 2 Ne (USC00012813). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.

Every station for each city, including humidity and frost, is listed on the city page. Methodology.