Did Manatee County set weather records in 2025? Here are 5 takeaways
Several significant weather patterns affected Manatee County in 2025, including drought, high temperatures and a quiet Atlantic hurricane season.
Meteorologists say this year could place among the driest and warmest on record for the Bradenton-Sarasota area.
FULL STORY: Was this Manatee County’s driest year ever? Here’s what weather experts say
Here are the highlights:
- Manatee County is experiencing its eighth-driest year on record, with rainfall 11 inches below normal, exacerbated by a moderate-to-severe drought affecting much of Florida. The lack of tropical systems during the quiet hurricane season contributed to the reduced rainfall.
- The 2025 hurricane season was notably calm, with no hurricanes making landfall in the continental U.S., offering a reprieve from previous years’ storm damage. However, the season still produced a near-normal number of storms, including three Category 5 hurricanes.
- Temperature trends in 2025 showed a mix of above and below-normal averages, with several months setting near-record heat levels. The overall annual temperature for the Bradenton area is trending above normal, likely placing 2025 among the top 10 warmest years on record.
- Record high temperatures were recorded on multiple days throughout the year, with significant heat spikes in April, May, July, August and October. This trend aligns with global climate change patterns, showing a gradual increase in average temperatures and more frequent record highs.
- The ongoing drought is expected to persist due to a La Niña climate pattern, which typically results in drier and more variable temperature conditions for Florida. This pattern may lead to continued dry spells and noticeable daily temperature swings in the coming months.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in the Bradenton Herald newsroom. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by Bradenton Herald journalists.