Pensacola vs Destin-Fort Walton Beach: which is sunnier?
🇺🇸 United States vs 🇺🇸 United States · 64 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Pensacola and Destin-Fort Walton Beach are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 2,723 vs 2,690 hours a year. Destin-Fort Walton Beach has the higher Sunshine Score in 2 of 12 months; the other 10 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Pensacola | Destin-Fort Walton Beach | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,723 | 2,690 |
| Sunniest month | November (79/100) | May (79/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 60/100 | 62/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 68/100 | 67/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,534 mm | 1,504 mm |
| Warmest sea | 30°C / 86°F | 31°C / 88°F |
| Peak midday UV | 9 (very high) | 9 (very high) |
Pensacola vs Destin-Fort Walton Beach month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pensacola | Destin-Fort Walton Beach | Pensacola | Destin-Fort Walton Beach | Pensacola | Destin-Fort Walton Beach | Pensacola | Destin-Fort Walton Beach | |
| January | 52 | 52 | 16° | 16° | 96 | 95 | 16° | 16° |
| February | 54 | 59 | 17° | 18° | 122 | 128 | 17° | 17° |
| March | 74 | 74 | 20° | 21° | 113 | 114 | 20° | 19° |
| April | 72 | 71 | 24° | 24° | 128 | 128 | 22° | 22° |
| May | 78 | 79 | 27° | 28° | 92 | 84 | 25° | 26° |
| June | 68 | 67 | 30° | 31° | 164 | 152 | 28° | 28° |
| July | 68 | 67 | 31° | 31° | 176 | 173 | 29° | 30° |
| August | 68 | 67 | 31° | 31° | 178 | 179 | 30° | 31° |
| September | 69 | 71 | 29° | 30° | 141 | 132 | 29° | 30° |
| October | 77 | 78 | 26° | 26° | 100 | 93 | 25° | 25° |
| November | 79 | 78 | 21° | 21° | 90 | 91 | 22° | 22° |
| December | 53 | 58 | 17° | 18° | 134 | 135 | 18° | 18° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb Destin-Fort Walton Beach · Mar even · Apr even · May even · Jun even · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct even · Nov even · Dec Destin-Fort Walton Beach.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Pensacola averages 60/100, Destin-Fort Walton Beach 62/100. Daytime highs are similar (18°C vs 18°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: too close to call — Pensacola averages 75/100, Destin-Fort Walton Beach 75/100. Daytime highs are similar (24°C vs 24°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Pensacola averages 68/100, Destin-Fort Walton Beach 67/100. Daytime highs are similar (31°C vs 31°C).
- September–October: too close to call — Pensacola averages 73/100, Destin-Fort Walton Beach 75/100. Daytime highs are similar (28°C vs 28°C).
Sea temperature
Destin-Fort Walton Beach's sea gets warmer: 31°C / 88°F at its peak vs 30°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Pensacola about 8 months a year, Destin-Fort Walton Beach about 8 months a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Pensacola weather by month · Destin-Fort Walton Beach weather by month · Best time to visit United States.
More comparisons: Pensacola vs Mobile · Pensacola vs Montgomery · Pensacola vs Gulfport · Destin-Fort Walton Beach vs Mobile · Destin-Fort Walton Beach vs Tallahassee · Destin-Fort Walton Beach vs Montgomery · all head-to-heads