Florida Weather
The weather is an integral part of any vacation. Check the local weather today for popular Florida destinations.
What's the Weather Like When Traveling to Florida?
By Rich Johnson
Florida Weather Overview
The state of Florida has a duel climate weather regime. The northern part of the state experiences all four seasons and the central and southern parts more of a wet - dry season with mild temperatures. Hurricanes are a threat to all of Florida. The greatest risks are the Florida Keys, with Cape Canaveral south to the Keys, and Ft. Myers south to the Keys also an increased risk. The western Florida panhandle also has a heightened risk for tropical cyclones.
South Florida Weather
Travel destinations in south Florida include Miami's South Beach, West Palm Beach, Sanibel Island, Captiva, and the Florida Keys. Night life at South Beach to sport fishing in the Florida Keys are key attractions in this region. Miami and the Florida Keys have a wet and dry season that lasts about six months each. The dry season starts in November and lasts through April. Generally, two to three inches of rainfall occurs each month. The wet season lasts from May through October where 5 ½ to 8 ½ inches of rain occurs each month. The Florida Keys are considerably drier than the rest of south Florida. Key West has an average annual rainfall of about 40" where Miami has nearly 60". It is common to have days with many hours of sunshine, although the sea breeze causes scattered thundershowers to build on many days during the summer. High temperatures average near 90 at Miami to the upper 80's in the Keys during the summer. Highs are in the low 70's at Miami to the mid 70's at the Keys in the winter. Low temperatures are in the low 50's at Miami and mid to upper 60's from Miami Beach to the Keys during the winter. Morning lows are in upper 70's during the summer.
Central Florida Weather
Central Florida is world renown for its theme parks in Orlando. Other attractions for travelers include Clearwater Beach, Daytona Beach, Cocoa Beach and the Kennedy Space Center. The wet season is shorter in central Florida than south Florida. It lasts about four to five months, ranging from June through September or early October. Rainfall on the order of roughly five to over seven inches can be expected each month. The heavier rain is the result hot temperatures and high humidity causing thunderstorms to develop, many times the result of the sea breeze. The dry season starts in October and runs through May. About 1 ½ - 3 inches of rain occurs each month. Temperatures are hot during the summer with average highs in the low 90's and low's in the low to mid 70's. The winter is considerably cooler with high's averaging near 70 and overnight low's in the upper 40's to low 50's. Central Florida is susceptible to occasional freezes and temperatures can drop well into the 20's for lows.
North Florida Weather
Northwest Florida generally attracts more local travelers from the Southeastern U.S. heading to the white sand beaches at Panama City Beach, St. George Island, or Destin. North Florida has a wet and dry season which evolves into a more evenly distributed rainfall pattern as you go to the western Florida panhandle. For example, Jacksonville has a distinct wet season from June through September with rainfall in the range of 5 1/3 - 8 inches. The dry season is in the 2 1/3 - 4 inch zone. In contrast, Pensacola, in the western Panhandle has about 4 - 6 inches of rainfall nearly every month except July where 8 inches is the average. Cold fronts frequent the northern part of the state bringing more uniform rainfall throughout the year. Summertime high temperatures are in the low 90's with morning lows in the low to mid 70's. Winter can be cold at times. Highs average in the low to mid 60's with lows in the low to mid 40's. Freezes are not unusual in north Florida. Record lows are in the 20's and teens and sometimes lower in the middle of winter.
Florida Weather Summary
Florida is a major travel destination with beautiful beaches, excellent fishing and many theme park attractions. Most of Florida experiences generous amounts of sunshine, especially during the summer months. There is a pronounced wet and dry season over most of the state. Scattered thundershowers form on many days in the summer from the middle to late in the day. Temperatures are comfortable during the winter and hot during the summer. Tropical cyclone activity should be monitored during hurricane season.
Rich is a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist with 25 years of weather forecasting and television experience. Visit his website Tropicalweather.net for more on expert hurricane forecasts and travel resources. Florida Weather Averages - Hurricane & Travel Message Boards.