Clearwater has a subtropical climate with two distinct seasons: a long, hot, humid summer from May through October, and a mild, dry winter from November through April. The dry season is peak tourist time, with temperatures in the low to mid-70s F (22-24 C), low humidity, and very little rain. Hotel prices and crowds peak from January through March when snowbirds from the northern U.S. and Canada arrive in force.
Summer brings daily afternoon thunderstorms, usually short but intense, and temperatures in the low 90s F (32-34 C) with high humidity. The trade-off is lower hotel rates and thinner crowds. Hurricane season runs from June through November, with the highest risk in August and September.
The Clearwater Jazz Holiday, held in Coachman Park each October, is one of the premier jazz festivals in the Southeast and worth timing a visit around. Spring training baseball brings the Philadelphia Phillies to nearby BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater each February and March. The Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival in April features elaborate sand sculptures on the beach.