Gulf Shores, AL Climate & Monthly Averages

Alabama, United States 🇺🇸 · humid subtropical climate
Annual avg
70°
Hottest month
July
Coldest month
January
Rainy days / yr
148
Sunshine
9.7 h/day
Right now: 84° and sunny - see live conditions

The climate of Gulf Shores

Gulf Shores has a humid subtropical climate. Average highs run from 61°F (16°C) in January to 87°F (30°C) in July, and the city records roughly 148 days of measurable precipitation a year.

Climate quick facts

  • Hottest month: July - highs near 87°F (30°C)
  • Coldest month: January - highs near 61°F (16°C)
  • Decade extremes (2015-2024): 100°F (38°C) high · 21°F (-6°C) low
  • Wettest month: June (16 rainy days) · Sunniest: June (11.7 h sun/day)
  • Climate type: humid subtropical
  • Annual swing: 16°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 6°C
  • Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 2
  • Average humidity: 75%

Temperatures through the year

January bottoms out at 61°F (16°C) in daylight, 48°F (9°C) after dark. At its warmest, in July, Gulf Shores runs to 87°F (30°C) in the afternoon and back to 79°F (26°C) by dawn. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 100°F (38°C) and the lowest daily minimum 21°F (-6°C). Seven of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is February through May.

Rain, sun and snow

Precipitation concentrates in June - 6.3 inches (160 mm) on 16 days - and thins out by February. Days and nights are about 6°C apart on average - narrower than all but 7% of the 3496 cities in our dataset. June is the brightest month at 11.7 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 9.7.

How Gulf Shores compares

  • 29% of the year's precipitation falls in its wettest three months - more evenly spread than all but 9% of the 3496 cities we track.

Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.

Monthly climate table

Monthly averages for Gulf Shores based on 2015–2024 weather data.
MonthHighLow Rain daysPrecipitation SunshineHumidity
January 61° 48° 9 5.0 in 7.7 h/day 72%
February 65° 53° 10 3.6 in 8.3 h/day 77%
March 69° 58° 11 4.5 in 9.5 h/day 76%
April 74° 63° 11 5.6 in 10.2 h/day 75%
May 80° 70° 11 5.0 in 11.6 h/day 76%
June 85° 76° 16 6.3 in 11.7 h/day 78%
July 87° 79° 20 5.0 in 11.6 h/day 79%
August 87° 79° 18 6.3 in 10.5 h/day 78%
September 84° 75° 13 6.1 in 10.2 h/day 75%
October 78° 67° 9 4.3 in 9.7 h/day 70%
November 70° 58° 8 4.4 in 8.5 h/day 71%
December 65° 54° 12 5.6 in 7.3 h/day 77%

Gulf Shores month by month

Gulf Shores weather in January

January brings highs around 61°F (16°C), lows near 48°F (9°C), about 9 wet days - typically the coldest month of the year in Gulf Shores.

Gulf Shores weather in February

February brings highs around 65°F (18°C), lows near 53°F (12°C), about 10 wet days - typically the driest month of the year in Gulf Shores.

Gulf Shores weather in March

March brings highs around 69°F (21°C), lows near 58°F (15°C), about 11 wet days.

Gulf Shores weather in April

April brings highs around 74°F (23°C), lows near 63°F (17°C), about 11 wet days.

Gulf Shores weather in May

May brings highs around 80°F (27°C), lows near 70°F (21°C), about 11 wet days.

Gulf Shores weather in June

June brings highs around 85°F (29°C), lows near 76°F (25°C), about 16 wet days - typically the wettest month and the sunniest month of the year in Gulf Shores.

Gulf Shores weather in July

July brings highs around 87°F (30°C), lows near 79°F (26°C), about 20 wet days - typically the hottest month of the year in Gulf Shores.

Gulf Shores weather in August

August brings highs around 87°F (30°C), lows near 79°F (26°C), about 18 wet days.

Gulf Shores weather in September

September brings highs around 84°F (29°C), lows near 75°F (24°C), about 13 wet days.

Gulf Shores weather in October

October brings highs around 78°F (26°C), lows near 67°F (20°C), about 9 wet days.

Gulf Shores weather in November

November brings highs around 70°F (21°C), lows near 58°F (14°C), about 8 wet days.

Gulf Shores weather in December

December brings highs around 65°F (18°C), lows near 54°F (12°C), about 12 wet days.

Seasons in Gulf Shores

Spring (March through May)

Through spring, Gulf Shores settles into easy warmth: 74°F (24°C) by day, 64°F (18°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 33 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 10.4 hours of sun a day.

Summer (June through August)

Summer in Gulf Shores sits firmly in the heat, with daytime highs averaging 86°F (30°C) and nights around 78°F (25°C); rain falls on around 54 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 11.3 hours of sun a day. With the moisture factored in, afternoons feel hotter than the reading suggests - the humidity and dew point converter shows why.

Fall (September through November)

Through fall, Gulf Shores is mild and warm: 78°F (25°C) by day, 67°F (19°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 29 days across the season.

Winter (December through February)

Winter is mild here - highs near 63°F (17°C), nights near 52°F (11°C), and rain falls on around 31 of the 90 days.

Climate questions, answered

How warm is Gulf Shores on average?
70°F (21°C) across all twelve months - about 75°F (24°C) by day and 65°F (18°C) after dark.
How much sun does Gulf Shores get?
9.7 hours a day averaged over the year, peaking in June at 11.7 hours.
Is Gulf Shores hot in summer?
July averages 87°F (30°C). Hot afternoons happen but extremes are not the norm.
How much do temperatures drop at night in Gulf Shores?
By about 6°C on an average day - a narrower day-to-night gap than most of the 3496 cities we track. In July that means 87°F (30°C) down to 79°F (26°C).
How humid does Gulf Shores get?
Relative humidity averages 75% across the year, which reads as fairly humid. Paired with July heat, muggy afternoons are routine.
How long does summer last in Gulf Shores?
Average highs hold at 30°C or above for 2 months of the year. Outside that, January pulls back to 61°F (16°C).

Best time to visit Gulf Shores

January to May and October is the sweet spot for Gulf Shores - warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up. Expect 71°F (22°C) in the afternoon and around 10 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in January.

Pack for Gulf Shores with light clothing for the warm months, proper waterproofs rather than an umbrella - wet days are the norm here and moisture-wicking fabrics for the humidity. July nights average 79°F (26°C), so evenings rarely match the afternoons.

Gulf Shores temperature records (2015-2024)

Highest recorded
100°
in August
Lowest recorded
21°
in January
Annual precipitation
61.6"
Snowy days / yr
0

Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.