[Hawaii4evr]

I think during summer, Gulf side stays hotter and more humid, but in winter, is drier and slightly cooler than the Atlantic side. Also, more bugs and less pleasant breezes than the Atlantic side from my experience.

[will724]

There is no difference in temps unless you are referring to north and south.

[AnUnidentifiedMale]

A quick look at weather data shows that the east coast of Florida is a bit cooler in the summer, and a bit warmer in the winter when compared to the west coast. There's also more of a breeze on the east coast, thanks to the Gulf Stream.

Verdict: Florida's east coast has the more pleasant climate.

[kmarc]

Originally Posted by AnUnidentifiedMale

A quick look at weather data shows that the east coast of Florida is a bit cooler in the summer, and a bit warmer in the winter when compared to the west coast. There's also more of a breeze on the east coast, thanks to the Gulf Stream.

Verdict: Florida's east coast has the more pleasant climate.

No question about it.

[mph101]

One thing is certain during the summer inland peninsula Florida is purgatory. The only relief
are the violent daily thunderstorms with Thor's hammer throwing lightning bolts very vigorously.

[LKJ1988]

East coast in the summer is better. Since we are in a reverse west windflow most of the summer our lows are higher on the west coast and we get less rain right on the west coast compared to the east coast and we have higher dew points.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by AnUnidentifiedMale

A quick look at weather data shows that the east coast of Florida is a bit cooler in the summer, and a bit warmer in the winter when compared to the west coast. There's also more of a breeze on the east coast, thanks to the Gulf Stream.

Verdict: Florida's east coast has the more pleasant climate.

Central East coast to Central North coast is better than the Gulf overall. The South East FL (Miami and similar) is different for sure and hotter.

[MOforthewin]

Originally Posted by AnUnidentifiedMale

A quick look at weather data shows that the east coast of Florida is a bit cooler in the summer, and a bit warmer in the winter when compared to the west coast. There's also more of a breeze on the east coast, thanks to the Gulf Stream.

Verdict: Florida's east coast has the more pleasant climate.

You also have the Bermuda high in the summer blowing winds from the east in the summer which causes it to be slightly cooler on the East Coast.

Also, the Gulf is warmer that the Atlantic in the summer too. The shallow waters on the west coast can get to 90 degrees which makes the heat index much worse versus the east coast where the water is usually mid 80s. Go to the beach in SWFL in the middle of July on a bright sunny day when the water temp is near 90. It's literally impossible to breath the air is so rancid and muggy.

However in the winter the water off the southeast coast is warmer due to the Gulf stream it doesn't get as cold as the west coast waters that cool off more.

Sea Surface temperatures don't mean everything though. Even though the eastern gulf is hotter due to the heating of the land masses, it doesn't always mean high heat content. The waters are shallow in the eastern gulf and cooler below the surface on the continental shelf. The east coast waters might be cooler but the heat content is high over the Gulf stream. That is how hurricanes like the Labor Day storm, Andrew exploded over the area.

Same thing with the Caribbean Sea. Very high heat content down there even though the sea surface temps are usually only mid 80s but the 80 degree isotherm extends hundreds of meters deep.

[RexLan]

Originally Posted by Sweetbottoms

I live on the SW coast and I find Miami heat in the summer to be UNBEARABLE. I always feel its much more oppressive...Maybe its just Miami its self tho...

Definitely a Miami thing !

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by RexLan

Definitely a Miami thing !

Yup... Tropical vs subtropical. We get plenty of cold snaps in winter in the peninsula that Miami seems to escape