Climate and Storm History of Punta Gorda, Florida

The city of Punta Gorda, Florida experiences a year-round warm, monsoon-influenced climate that is classified by NOAA as subtropical or tropical savanna by the Köppen classification system.  Regardless of the terminology used, the Punta Gorda area has short, mild to warm winters, and long, hot, humid summers.  Monthly temperatures average from highs in the mid-60 degrees Fahrenheit  in January to mid-80 degrees in August, with the yearly average being approximately 75.  Temperature records range from 25°F to 104°F.  Most of Punta Gorda’s yearly rainfall falls during the months from June to September.

As mentioned, the winters are relatively warm to mild, an not nearly as hot as the summer season.  Punta Gorda rarely experiences frost or snow; therefore, plants such as palm, citrus and many broadleaf evergreens flourish.  Punta Gorda was the scene of massive destruction after Hurricane Charley devastated the Gulf Coast region.  Charley was a Category 4 hurricane when the storm came through the city of Punta Gorda on August 13, 2004.  As a matter of fact, Hurricane Charley was the strongest tropical system to hit Florida in over a decade.  The most recent catastrophic storm that hit the state before Charley was Hurricane Andrew, that struck and caused vast destruction throughout Florida in August of 1992.