Key West: Difference between revisions

Key West has a [[tropical savanna climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''[[Tropical savanna climate|Aw]]'', similar to many of the [[Caribbean]] [[islands]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.johnabbott.qc.ca/webpages/departments/geoscience/intro/Koppen/KoppenMap.htm|title=Koppen climate map|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706200651/http://www2.johnabbott.qc.ca/webpages/departments/geoscience/intro/Koppen/KoppenMap.htm|archive-date=July 6, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Like most localities near the edge of the tropics, Key West has a relatively large range in monthly mean temperatures between the coldest month (January) and the hottest month (July){{spaced, ndash}}with the annual range of monthly mean temperatures around {{convert|15|F-change|1}}. The lowest recorded temperature in Key West is {{convert|41|°F}} on January 12, 1886, and January 13, 1981. Key West is located in USDA plant [[hardiness zone]] 12a, with an annual mean minimum temperature of {{convert|50|°F}}. Unlike most ''Aw'' climates, there is significant rainfall during the "dry" season.

Prevailing easterly [[tradewindstrade winds]] and sea breezes suppress the usual summertime heating (while increasing the winter rainfall), with temperatures rarely reaching {{convert|95|°F|0}}. There are 56 days per year with {{convert|90|°F|0}} or greater highs,<ref name = NOAA /> with the average window for such readings June 8 through September 24, shorter than almost the entire [[Southeastern United States|southeastern U.S.]] Low temperatures often remain above {{convert|80|°F|0}}, however. The all-time record high temperature is {{convert|97|°F|0}} on July 19, 1880, and August 29, 1956.<ref name = NOAA/>

Key West is governed via thea [[Mayor–council government|mayor-council]] system. The city council is known as the city commission. It consists of six members each elected from individual districts. The mayor is elected in a citywide vote.

Mayors of Key West have reflected the city's cultural and ethnic heritage. AmongIt itshas had mayors are the firstof Cuban mayorancestry and oneothers ofthat the firstwere [[Coming out|openly gay]] mayors.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} One mayor is also famous for having water-skied to Cuba.<ref name="news.google.com">{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19780912&id=6cNaAAAAIBAJ&pg=6752,3027211|title=Key West mayor water skis to Cuba|date=September 12, 1978|work=St. Petersburg Times|page=11B}}</ref>