Pleasure Island, Alabama offers a subtropical vacation experience to remember, with weather and amenities that compete with the best resorts in the region. Yet, it is just a short flight or a few hours drive from many U.S. cities. A relatively mild climate influenced by the warm waters of the beautiful Gulf of Mexico greets visitors year-round.

While weather cannot be accurately forecast much more than a week in advance, statistics, history and The Gulf ecosystem are indicators of what to expect during any given month. The Gulf is a 700,000 square mile section of the Atlantic Ocean that stretches more than 1,100 miles (1,770 km) from west to east and 800 miles (1,290 km) from north to south at its widest points. The shoreline is generally low, sandy and marshy with many lagoons and deltas; the deepest part (12,714 ft) lies off the Mexican coast. Spring days on the island usually are warm and evenings cool. In summer, hot, humid weather prevails, with relief coming from a Gulf breeze or rain shower. The Gulf is one of the world's warmest seas — the water averages 81.6°F in summer — which is nearly as warm as the air temperature (86.1° F).

View detailed weather information
NOAA - Gulf Weather | Tide Forecast | Marine Forecast

Many U.S. rivers flow into The Gulf, including the Mississippi and Rio Grande. In addition to commercial and sport fishing, The Gulf of Mexico also is the source of most commercial shrimp supplied to U.S. grocers and restaurants. In Mobile Bay and far offshore on the western horizon (from the top floors of the tallest condo buildings), you may see a few platform wells that tap into oil deposits under the continental shelf. However, most oil wells are off the Louisiana and Texas coasts.

Each year, May 1 through Nov. 30 marks the hurricane season. In this region, hurricanes usually spawn where warm water, warm air and upper-level winds meet near tropical storms that have formed southeast of the Gulf, in the South Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Many tropical storms and some hurricanes make their way into the Gulf through the Florida Straits or the Yucatan Channel between the Mexican and Cuban coasts. While a reality of nature, hurricanes are relatively infrequent at any single location. Still, an occasional big storm requiring evacuations has struck the local area during the past 30 years, and it is prudent vacation planning to be aware of developing weather fronts that could affect your trip, especially those in the Caribbean or South Atlantic. Of course, this is true when visiting any resort in the region. (We offer — and recommend — our optional Travel Guard™ trip insurance coverage, which protects your investment should dangerous weather force government-ordered evacuations. See the Reservations page).

Like spring, fall and winter days also are warm, but evenings are cooler. Sometimes, cold and warm air clashes near the coast, and this can breed thunderstorms that quickly come and go. It can be exciting to watch a weather front cross the water and this presents excellent opportcondoies to make dramatic photographs.

Breathtaking cloud formations frequently move across the Gulf Coast, providing visitors with splendid weather shows.

On average, year-round residents experience rainfall about 60 to 80 days. But the warm waters and sunshine dominate, luring visitors each year to the Gulf Coast, making it one of America's favorite beach getaways, especially during summer. Some Pleasure Island Condominium customers do prefer to vacation in the spring or early fall, when the beaches are less crowded and the temperatures mild. Whatever the weather, Pleasure Island is a beautiful family getaway. For current regional weather information when planning your trip, consult the Weather Channel Web site, by clicking the icon above. The average daily water and air temeratures are noted in the chart below.

Fast moving weather often comes ashore from the Gulf of Mexico, bringing brief showers that can be a refreshing relief from the warm, subtropical weather on Pleasure Island. At far left, clouds and a rain front are visible from the balcony of our condominium condo 514 in The Palms, but later that day, a glorious sunset prevailed.

Average daily, annual temperatures on the Gulf Coast

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Temperatures listed in degrees (°) Fahrenheit.
Temperatures compiled from data furnished by the Southeast Agricultural Weather Service Center.
Water temperatures furnished by the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.