Is St. Petersburg sunnier than Sarasota/Bradenton?

They are nearly tied: St. Petersburg gets about 2,819 hours of sunshine a year and Sarasota/Bradenton about 2,819.

Which is warmer, St. Petersburg or Sarasota/Bradenton?

Year-round daytime highs are similar: St. Petersburg averages 26°C (79°F), Sarasota/Bradenton 26°C (79°F).

Which is better in winter (November–February), St. Petersburg or Sarasota/Bradenton?

They are close in the November–February window: St. Petersburg averages 85/100 (about 22°C days), Sarasota/Bradenton 85/100 (about 22°C).

Which has the warmer sea, St. Petersburg or Sarasota/Bradenton?

Both peak at about 32°C (90°F); month-by-month sea temperatures for both are on this page.

St. Petersburg vs Sarasota/Bradenton: which is sunnier?

🇺🇸 United States vs 🇺🇸 United States · 59 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)

St. Petersburg and Sarasota/Bradenton are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 2,819 vs 2,819 hours a year. Their Sunshine Scores are within 2 points of each other in every month of the year.

Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.

At a glance

	St. Petersburg	Sarasota/Bradenton
Sunshine hours / year	2,819	2,819
Sunniest month	November (87/100)	November (87/100)
Nov–Feb average score	85/100	85/100
Jun–Aug average score	68/100	68/100
Rain / year	1,441 mm	1,350 mm
Warmest sea	32°C / 90°F	32°C / 90°F
Peak midday UV	9 (very high)	9 (very high)

St. Petersburg vs Sarasota/Bradenton month by month

Month	Sunshine Score		Day high °C		Rain mm		Sea °C
Month	St. Petersburg	Sarasota/Bradenton	St. Petersburg	Sarasota/Bradenton	St. Petersburg	Sarasota/Bradenton	St. Petersburg	Sarasota/Bradenton
January	84	84	20°	20°	65	61	16°	18°
February	84	85	22°	22°	65	59	17°	18°
March	82	84	24°	24°	73	65	22°	22°
April	84	85	27°	27°	63	59	24°	24°
May	79	80	30°	30°	89	86	29°	29°
June	68	68	31°	30°	226	206	31°	31°
July	68	68	31°	30°	240	216	32°	32°
August	68	68	30°	30°	252	234	31°	31°
September	68	68	29°	29°	185	184	31°	31°
October	83	83	27°	27°	69	71	26°	26°
November	87	87	24°	24°	49	48	24°	24°
December	84	84	22°	22°	65	61	18°	19°

The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr even · May even · Jun even · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct even · Nov even · Dec even.

When to pick which

November–February: too close to call — St. Petersburg averages 85/100, Sarasota/Bradenton 85/100. Daytime highs are similar (22°C vs 22°C). See the winter sun ranking.
March–May: too close to call — St. Petersburg averages 82/100, Sarasota/Bradenton 83/100. Daytime highs are similar (27°C vs 27°C).
June–August: too close to call — St. Petersburg averages 68/100, Sarasota/Bradenton 68/100. Daytime highs are similar (31°C vs 30°C).
September–October: too close to call — St. Petersburg averages 76/100, Sarasota/Bradenton 76/100. Daytime highs are similar (28°C vs 28°C).

Sea temperature

Both seas peak at 32°C / 90°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): St. Petersburg about 9 months a year, Sarasota/Bradenton about 9 months a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.

Full month-by-month guides: St. Petersburg weather by month · Sarasota/Bradenton weather by month · Best time to visit United States.

More comparisons: St. Petersburg vs Tampa · St. Petersburg vs Punta Gorda · Sarasota/Bradenton vs Tampa · Sarasota/Bradenton vs Fort Myers · Sarasota/Bradenton vs Punta Gorda · all head-to-heads