[Rainbow girl]

I need help about weather in Destin,Pensacola area. I hate cold weather! Have a job opportunity there but also in Southern Florida. I don't mind cool weather but don't want anymore ice or snow or freezing rain. Please help before I make a mistake.

[beachmouse]

Easy enough to pull up temperature averages for the area. The problem with those numbers is that winter weather can be very variable compared to the easily predictable summer heat and moisture.

You don't get ice or freezing rain in there parts, and someone will report briefly seeing snowflakes somewhere in the area about every five years. Our winter cold snaps tend to be dry and cold rather than damp and cold. We just don't really get precipitation when the temperature goes below 35F.

Which is does for what ends up being our two annual weeks of winter- daytime highs that struggle to break 45F and overnight lows that end up being in the low 30s to occasional hard freezes along the coast. (Annoying that there are a lot of plants you can't successfully grow here because of those 1-3 hard freeze nights a year) And then the next day it's right back to daytime high of 61F, which is typical January and early February weather here.

Also, you get a lot of fog in late fall/easly winter when the overnight water temps in the bays and Gulf are warm and the air temperatures are a little cool. If you have to do a lot of air travel, it's common for the fog that time of year to cause regular flight delays.

[RVlover]

Originally Posted by Rainbow girl

I need help about weather in Destin,Pensacola area. I hate cold weather! Have a job opportunity there but also in Southern Florida. I don't mind cool weather but don't want anymore ice or snow or freezing rain. Please help before I make a mistake.

You wont experience snow or ice around Destin ; if you experience freezing rain it will be during the night on a rare occassion it dips in the 20's F. Youll need a light jacket or a sweater in the winter for the mornings, and youll take it off once the day progresses especially if the sun is out. It was 70 f . and sunny last Christmas Day and i was on the beach at Fort Walton ---not a snowflake in sight . After summertime, its nice and refreshing between October and April and it gives you a perk of energy i find.

[JRA2000TL]

I live over in Mobile...well Daphne/Eastern Shore in AL soon. I REALLY wanted to move to Gulf Breeze. I am a remote employee and work from home when I'm not traveling for my job. My fiancee also wants to attend nursing school, so it would have been feasible. What turned me off for now were the HIGH property taxes, TRIPLE what I'll be paying in Daphne. In addition, getting homeowners insurance is no fun and whatever you get, just be glad to get it. It's extremely expensive. Also, I'd like to be at least 35-50 ft. above sea level because of the hurricanes. The highest point there is in the low to mid 30 ft. range, I believe. I think we'll wait until she's finished with school so that we can buy a little bit nicer house and get something that we like over there.

We have lots of family in Pensacola and some in Gulf Breeze. We are frequently over there and really like it. At this point in time, we will just keep it in our future plans to live over there. I'm not a fan of Pensacola but I do like Santa Rosa County, Okaloosa, and Walton counties.

The traffic on 98 is lousy, especially in the summer....from Pensacola all the way to Panama City Beach.

[RVlover]

Originally Posted by JRA2000TL

I live over in Mobile...well Daphne/Eastern Shore in AL soon. I REALLY wanted to move to Gulf Breeze. I am a remote employee and work from home when I'm not traveling for my job. My fiancee also wants to attend nursing school, so it would have been feasible. What turned me off for now were the HIGH property taxes, TRIPLE what I'll be paying in Daphne. In addition, getting homeowners insurance is no fun and whatever you get, just be glad to get it. It's extremely expensive. Also, I'd like to be at least 35-50 ft. above sea level because of the hurricanes. The highest point there is in the low to mid 30 ft. range, I believe. I think we'll wait until she's finished with school so that we can buy a little bit nicer house and get something that we like over there.

We have lots of family in Pensacola and some in Gulf Breeze. We are frequently over there and really like it. At this point in time, we will just keep it in our future plans to live over there. I'm not a fan of Pensacola but I do like Santa Rosa County, Okaloosa, and Walton counties.

The traffic on 98 is lousy, especially in the summer....from Pensacola all the way to Panama City Beach.

Why not live near the Fl. Emerald Coast but inland so youre buffered from hurricanes, homes cheaper, property taxes far less, and just 20-40 min. to the beaches ? Niceville, Valparaiso, Crestview, Baker, Milton, or Pace .

[Rainbow girl]

Originally Posted by RVlover

You wont experience snow or ice around Destin ; if you experience freezing rain it will be during the night on a rare occassion it dips in the 20's F. Youll need a light jacket or a sweater in the winter for the mornings, and youll take it off once the day progresses especially if the sun is out. It was 70 f . and sunny last Christmas Day and i was on the beach at Fort Walton ---not a snowflake in sight . After summertime, its nice and refreshing between October and April and it gives you a perk of energy i find.

THANKS SO MUCH!!! You have helped me so much. I thought it was in the 30's for several months like we have and I just didn't want that but now that I know the real story it definately changes my mind about things. If things don't work out in Fort Myers I think I will try my hand in Pensacola/Destin area.

[Rainbow girl]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

Easy enough to pull up temperature averages for the area. The problem with those numbers is that winter weather can be very variable compared to the easily predictable summer heat and moisture.

You don't get ice or freezing rain in there parts, and someone will report briefly seeing snowflakes somewhere in the area about every five years. Our winter cold snaps tend to be dry and cold rather than damp and cold. We just don't really get precipitation when the temperature goes below 35F.

Which is does for what ends up being our two annual weeks of winter- daytime highs that struggle to break 45F and overnight lows that end up being in the low 30s to occasional hard freezes along the coast. (Annoying that there are a lot of plants you can't successfully grow here because of those 1-3 hard freeze nights a year) And then the next day it's right back to daytime high of 61F, which is typical January and early February weather here.

Also, you get a lot of fog in late fall/easly winter when the overnight water temps in the bays and Gulf are warm and the air temperatures are a little cool. If you have to do a lot of air travel, it's common for the fog that time of year to cause regular flight delays.

Thanks for the great info!! Two weeks of winter I can deal with versus 3 months or more like we have here and we hardly ever have pretty snow anymore just nasty ice storms. Wish I would've asked these questions earlier. I talked to one person who told me it gets really cold there and I pretty well made up my mind I wouldn't like it. That is why knowledge is a wonderful thing

[beachmouse]

Originally Posted by JRA2000TL

I live over in Mobile...well Daphne/Eastern Shore in AL soon. I REALLY wanted to move to Gulf Breeze. I am a remote employee and work from home when I'm not traveling for my job. My fiancee also wants to attend nursing school, so it would have been feasible. What turned me off for now were the HIGH property taxes, TRIPLE what I'll be paying in Daphne.

Santa Rosa County taxes are actually pretty average to below average by state and national standards. It's just that nearly any other state's property taxes are going to be higher than Alabama's property taxes. (And in turn, I think Alabama gets what they pay for in terms of municipal services and school quality)

[JRA2000TL]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

Santa Rosa County taxes are actually pretty average to below average by state and national standards. It's just that nearly any other state's property taxes are going to be higher than Alabama's property taxes. (And in turn, I think Alabama gets what they pay for in terms of municipal services and school quality)

Fortunately, I don't have or want kids, so I'm not as much worried about the schools. We're still looking at moving over there in a few years maybe, but with her going back to school, she'll have to work part time. I wanted to buy a nice, comfortable home that I could afford only on my income until she finishes. Then we'll be alot better off and can look into housing that we really want. I like Holley By the Sea, but I know they have some pretty strict covenants in there. Also, it will be about 6 months before she starts school and she works in Bay Minette, so that would be an extreme commute.

We're actually getting married in Navarre Beach, right at the Gulf Islands National Seashore--having a small wedding, and we rented a beach house across the street for our reception. We love it over there. I'm just glad its a short drive, and we can go virtually any time, unlike some others that live a thousand miles away and can only visit once a year.

[RVlover]

Originally Posted by Rainbow girl

THANKS SO MUCH!!! You have helped me so much. I thought it was in the 30's for several months like we have and I just didn't want that but now that I know the real story it definately changes my mind about things. If things don't work out in Fort Myers I think I will try my hand in Pensacola/Destin area.

Best way is to spend a couple weeks examining all the areas in Florida that interest you so you get a first hand feel . Thats what i did before moving down here from northern illinois . As a semi retiree, I find the Panhandle a much cheaper place to live plus it has all the coastal perks which i enjoy.