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SunnyDays

ERA5 almanac — 8 years of real data

Sarasota in July

Sarasota in July: 76% of days see measurable rain, 87°F average high, 5% of days historically clear (n=248, ERA5 2018–2025).

Sarasota in July is historically a poor month for sun: only 5% of days clear across 8 years (n=248, avg high 87°F). April is the clearest month for Sarasota historically. Historical average, not a forecast.

What you are reading: 8-year historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis, not a forecast. A month that is historically 90% clear can still be overcast on your specific trip. For this week’s actual forecast, see the live Sarasota page. Both can be true at once: “historically strong in this month; this particular week is not.” We label which is which.

Early vs. Late July

Clear-sky percentage for Sarasota in July, split by half-month. “n” is the number of days sampled across 8 years (2018–2025).
Period % Clear days Sample (n) Avg high
Early July
1st–15th		 9% n=120 87°F
Late July
16th–end		 2% n=128 87°F
Full month average 5% n=248 87°F

Sunshine & warmth in July

A second measure using actual sunshine hours (ERA5 sunshine_duration), not the daily weather code. A Lowcountry day with 12 hours of sun and a 25-minute afternoon storm is counted below as a warm, sunny day — because it was. How we define this.

Sunshine-based metrics for Sarasota in July. Primary: % of days ≥ 72°F with > 6 h of sunshine.
Period Warm & sunny (≥72°F, >6 h sun) Sample (n)
Early July
1st–15th		 93% n=120
Late July
16th–end		 96% n=128
Full month average 95% n=248
12.1 h median sunshine per day 88% of days exceed 8 h sunshine 76% of days see ≥ 1 mm rain — rain is not hidden
Comparison (old vs new): WMO-code “clear” bar: 5%. Sunshine-based “warm & sunny”: 95%. The 90-point gap is from brief afternoon convective storms that stamp the whole day as “rain” in the WMO code but leave the bulk of the sunshine untouched.

Bottom line

Sarasota is a poor choice for sun in July: just 5% of days clear historically (n=248). April is the historically strongest month for sun here. The 8-year record is consistent — this is not a fluke bad stretch.

→ See all destinations in April — historically the best month for sun in Sarasota.

Every month in Sarasota

Compare across all months with data. Numbers are historical clear-sky %.

Historical clear-sky % for Sarasota, all months, ERA5 2018–2025.
Month % Clear Sample (n)
January 17% n=248 All destinations →
February 38% n=226 All destinations →
March 49% n=248 All destinations →
April 50% n=240 All destinations →
May 40% n=248 All destinations →
June 8% n=240 All destinations →
July ← this page 5% n=248 All destinations →
August 5% n=248 All destinations →
September 11% n=240 All destinations →
October 39% n=248 All destinations →
November 42% n=240 All destinations →
December 31% n=248 All destinations →

Frequently asked

Does it rain in Sarasota in July?

Yes, frequently. In Sarasota, 76% of days in July see measurable rain, based on 8 years of ERA5 historical data (n=248 days, 2018–2025). This is a historical average, not a forecast.

Is Sarasota good for sun in July?

Not usually. Sarasota is historically overcast in July: only 5% of days are clear (avg high 87°F, n=248 days, ERA5 2018–2025). April is historically far better for sun here.

All percentages are historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 8 full years (2018–2025). “Clear” means avg high ≥ 72 °F, precipitation < 1 mm, and a non-precipitation weather code. This is history, not a forecast. The live 7-day outlook for any destination is on its own page and may differ from the long-run average. Data from Open-Meteo.