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Waldo City Center (Historic Waldo High School)Photo: Aeotas · CC BY-SA 4.0
Climate in Waldo · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

Winter nights in Waldo are milder than in 92% of U.S. towns

In July the day’s top temperature is typically 92°. Its yearly precipitation tops that of 89% of U.S. towns. Warming shows here too: 1.0° more than in 1901–2000, led by December. The frost-free window for a garden runs roughly March 3 to December 2.

Milder January nights than 92% of U.S. towns#502Mildest winters  of 556 in FL
Wetter than 89% of U.S. towns#397 wettest of 556 in FL
All FL rankings →

A year in Waldo at a glance

Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.

Jan68°43°
Feb71°46°
Mar76°50° Last frost ~Mar 3
Apr82°55° 2 days 90°+
May88°63° 11 days 90°+
Jun91°69° 18 days 90°+Wettest
Jul92°72° 23 days 90°+
Aug91°72° 21 days 90°+
Sep88°69° 13 days 90°+
Oct82°61° 2 days 90°+
Nov now75°51°
Dec70°46° First frost ~Dec 2

What stands out about Waldo’s climate

Compared with towns across the U.S., with Waldo’s place in Florida beside it.

A normal year

What a year in Waldo feels like

Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.

Winter
69° / 45°
Snow is rare
Spring
82° / 56°
Last frost around Mar 3
Summer
91° / 71°
90 days reach 90°
Fall
82° / 60°
First frost around Dec 2
Best months to be outsideJanFebMarAprOctNovDecHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Frost, heat & the growing season

About 277 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 3 and the first by December 2. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Gainesville Rgnl Airport, 10 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height.

15
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
498th fewest of 555 in Florida
Fewer freezing nights than 89% of U.S. towns
0
nights at or below 0°
None in a normal year
90
days that reach 90°
344th most of 555 in Florida
More 90° days than 89% of U.S. towns
<1
days that reach 100°
96th most of 555 in Florida
More 100° days than 62% of U.S. towns
9aUSDA zone
Plant hardiness zone 9a

The 2023 USDA map puts Waldo’s center in zone 9a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 24°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

6
JFMAMJJASOND

90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

23
JFMAMJJASOND
Rain & snow

About 52 inches of rain a year

June is the wettest month and November the driest. Rain falls on about 114 days a year. Snow is rare: about 0.0" in a normal year at Gainesville Rgnl Airport, so most winters see none.

52"
Rain + melted snow a year
397th wettest of 556 in Florida
Wetter than 89% of U.S. towns
0.0"
Snow in a normal winter
Less snow than 93% of U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

7.6"
JFMAMJJASOND
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in Waldo

29% of the work is heating, so air conditioning is the bigger bill. No month averages under 55°.

1,139 heating degree daysLess heating than 94% of U.S. towns
2,741 cooling degree daysMore cooling than 91% of U.S. towns

Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Gainesville Rgnl Airport.

Living here

Living with Waldo’s climate

What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.

The garden window

277 frost-free days in zone 9a. The last frost comes by Mar 3 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Dec 2.

Get outside

Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: January, February, March, April, October, November and December. 0.5 miles of trails are waiting.

Parks & trails →
Storms and extremes

Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Waldo from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (38%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 4%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.

Natural hazards →
Next door & far away

Waldo and similar climates

TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Waldo yet.

Climates most like Waldo’s, farther away

TownRatings’ own comparison of NOAA 1991–2020 normals, not a NOAA product: places of 5,000+ at least 150 miles away, one per state, closest on January low, July high, precipitation and snow.

TownJan. lowJuly highPrecip.Snow
Waldo, FL43°92°52"0.0"
Alvin, TX45°92°53"0.0"
Bainbridge, GA39°92°52"0.0"
Port Royal, SC41°91°49"0.0"
Headland, AL39°91°56"0.1"

Temperatures and precipitation come from NOAA’s 5 km grid; snow and day counts from the stations named on this page.

Then and now

Warmer than it used to be

The last 30 years in Waldo averaged 1.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+1.7°).

+1.0°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A smaller shift than in 80% of U.S. towns.

Winter+1.1°now 57°, was 56°
Spring+0.8°now 69°, was 68°
Summer+1.0°now 81°, was 80°
Fall+1.0°now 71°, was 70°

Change by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.

Compared with other towns

How Waldo compares

Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Waldo’s place among Florida’s.

Summer heat92° July high
Hotter July afternoons than 86% of U.S. towns142nd hottest of 556 in Florida
Winter cold43° January low
Milder January nights than 92% of U.S. towns502nd mildest of 556 in Florida
Precipitation52" a year
Wetter than 89% of U.S. towns397th wettest of 556 in Florida
Snow0.0" a winter
Less snow than 93% of U.S. townsNot ranked: under an inch a year
Hot days90 days at 90°+
More 90° days than 89% of U.S. towns344th most of 555 in Florida
Freezing nights15 a year
Fewer freezing nights than 89% of U.S. towns498th fewest of 555 in Florida
Growing season277 frost-free days
A longer frost-free season than 95% of U.S. towns88th longest of 125 in Florida
Month by month

Waldo weather by month

Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Waldo’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Gainesville Rgnl Airport. 1991–2020 normals.

MonthHighLowRain + meltSnowWet daysSnow on ground30-yr range
January68°43°3.5"0.0"8049° – 61°
February71°46°2.9"0.0"7050° – 66°
March76°50°3.5"0.0"7056° – 70°
April82°55°3.0"0.0"6064° – 73°
May88°63°3.4"0.0"7072° – 79°
June91°69°7.6"0.0"15078° – 84°
July92°72°6.9"0.0"16080° – 83°
August91°72°7.2"0.0"16079° – 83°
September88°69°5.9"0.0"11076° – 82°
October82°61°3.2"0.0"7068° – 76°
November75°51°2.0"0.0"6058° – 70°
December70°46°3.0"0.0"7047° – 67°
Year81°58°52.1"0.0"1140
Year to year

How much a month can swing

A normal is an average. December swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 47° to 67°. July is the most reliable, staying within 3°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal
Sources

Where Waldo’s numbers come from

Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →

  • Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Waldo’s center.
  • Snow: Gainesville Rgnl Airport.
  • Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Gainesville Rgnl Airport, 10 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
  • Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  • Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
  • Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).

Common questions about Waldo’s climate

What is the weather like in Waldo?

A typical July afternoon reaches 92°, a January night drops to 43°, and snow is almost unheard of. Milder January nights than 92% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 86% of U.S. towns.

How cold does it get in Waldo in winter?

January nights average 43°. About 15 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 49°.

How much snow does Waldo get?

About 0.0 inches in a normal winter at Gainesville Rgnl Airport, so most winters see none.

How hot does it get in Waldo?

July, with a typical high of 92° and a low of 72°. About 90 days a year reach 90° (Gainesville Rgnl Airport).

When is the first and last frost in Waldo?

In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by March 3 and the first fall frost by December 2, about 277 frost-free days, at Gainesville Rgnl Airport.

What growing zone is Waldo in?

Zone 9a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 24°.

What is the best time of year to visit Waldo?

By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), January, February, March, April, October, November and December. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.

Is Waldo getting warmer?

Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.0° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 80% of U.S. towns.

Neighbors talk weather

Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Waldo.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.