Tips on Saint Petersburg, Florida, Warnings and Dangers – Stay Safe

Saint Petersburg, Florida, Warnings and Dangers

Saint Petersburg is the fifth largest city in Florida and is referred to as the “Sunshine City” in part because it holds the Guinness world record for the most consecutive days of sunshine at 768 days. A visitor to Saint Petersburg should pay attention to the warnings and dangers noticed by others because of the wildlife and storms that blanket the area at times.

Wildlife

You need to be extra careful when walking along the shorelines or swimming in the waters around the Saint Petersburg area. You can easily come across alligators everywhere you go, but especially along the water’s edge, including around backyard swimming pools. Alligators are native to Florida and they are carnivores – you might become a meal if you’re not careful.

Swimming in the waters can be equally dangerous. Yes, you still have alligators, but if you get in the water between the months of April and October, you’ll also have stingrays to deal with and they are typically found in the shallow waters around Saint Petersburg. They have barbs on the end of their tails that they use to stick people who get too close to them.

Storms

Thunder and lightning storms regularly pass over Saint Petersburg during the summer. If you are there when one passes by, make sure you seek shelter and get off the golf courses. The metal on a golf club shaft can act like a lightning rod and you could get struck by lightning. Fortunately, the storms typically pass quickly and you can get back to what you were doing in a few minutes.

Hurricanes are another matter. Hurricanes coming off the Gulf of Mexico can bring high tides and heavy winds. You may need to evacuate Saint Petersburg in some cases if the hurricane is very strong in order to stay safe.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about Saint Petersburg warnings and dangers.