Florida Travel Weather




What's the Weather Like When Traveling to Florida?

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 from 47" at the beach to almost 60" inland. 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.

Sunrise / Sunset Times North Florida (All times are for the first day of each month)

Destin
Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Sunrise 6:43 6:37 6:12 6:35 6:03 5:45 5:48 6:04 6:23 6:39 7:00 6:25
Sunset 4:57 5:23 5:45 7:05 7:24 7:43 7:52 7:40 7:09 6:31 5:58 4:45

Jacksonville Beach
Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Sunrise 7:22 7:16 6:52 7:15 6:42 6:24 6:27 6:44 7:02 7:19 7:40 7:04
Sunset 5:36 6:02 6:24 7:44 8:03 8:23 8:31 8:19 7:48 7:11 6:38 5:25

North Florida travel weather quick summary -
  • North Florida travel weather - hottest months: June, July, August
  • North Florida travel weather - coolest months: December, January, February
  • North Florida travel weather - wettest months: Varies - July-September
  • North Florida travel weather - driest months: November, December, February

Niceville (Near Fort Walton Beach & Destin)
Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average High 61 65 71 78 84 90 91 91 88 81 72 64
Average Low 37 40 46 51 60 68 71 71 66 54 46 39
Average Rainfall 5.80" 5.39" 6.52" 4.26" 4.32" 6.08" 9.40" 6.91" 6.72" 4.53" 4.70" 4.57"

Jacksonville Beach
Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average High 64 65 70 76 82 87 89 88 85 79 72 65
Average Low 46 48 53 59 66 72 74 74 73 65 56 49
Average Rainfall 3.56" 2.84" 3.92" 2.87" 3.03" 5.70" 5.21" 6.11" 7.53" 5.04" 2.36" 2.75"

Sunrise / Sunset Times Central Florida

Daytona Beach
Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Sunrise 7:18 7:13 6:49 7:14 6:42 6:25 6:28 6:45 7:02 7:17 7:37 7:01
Sunset 5:37 6:03 6:24 7:42 8:00 8:19 8:27 8:16 7:46 7:10 6:38 5:25

Tampa
Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Sunrise 7:21 7:17 6:54 7:20 6:50 6:34 6:37 6:53 7:08 7:23 7:41 7:04
Sunset 5:46 6:10 6:30 7:48 8:04 8:22 8:30 8:19 7:51 7:16 6:45 5:34

Central Florida travel weather quick summary -
  • Central Florida travel weather - hottest months: June, July, August
  • Central Florida travel weather - coolest months: December, January, February
  • Central Florida travel weather - wettest months: July, August
  • Central Florida travel weather - driest months: November, December, April

Orlando
Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average High 72 74 79 83 88 91 92 92 90 85 79 73
Average Low 50 51 56 60 66 71 71 73 72 66 59 53
Average Rainfall 2.43" 2.35" 3.54" 2.42" 3.74" 7.35" 7.15" 6.25" 5.76" 2.73" 2.32" 2.31"

Tampa
Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average High 70 72 76 81 86 89 90 90 89 84 78 72
Average Low 52 54 59 62 69 74 75 75 74 68 61 55
Average Rainfall 2.27" 2.67" 2.84" 1.80" 2.85" 5.50" 6.49" 7.60" 6.54" 2.29" 1.62" 2.30"

Sunrise / Sunset Times South Florida

Miami Beach
Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Sunrise 7:07 7:04 6:44 7:12 6:44 6:29 6:33 6:47 7:01 7:13 6:29 6:50
Sunset 5:41 6:04 6:22 7:37 7:52 8:08 8:16 8:06 7:40 7:07 5:39 5:29

Venice
Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Sunrise 7:19 7:15 6:54 7:20 6:51 6:39 6:40 6:54 7:09 7:22 7:40 7:02
Sunset 5:48 6:12 6:31 7:47 8:03 8:20 8:28 8:18 7:50 7:16 6:47 5:36

South Florida travel weather quick summary -
  • South Florida travel weather - hottest months: June, July, August, September
  • South Florida travel weather - coolest months: January, February
  • South Florida travel weather - wettest months: June, July, August, September
  • South Florida travel weather - driest months: December, February, March

Miami Beach
Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average High 73 73 75 79 82 86 87 87 86 83 78 75
Average Low 63 63 66 70 74 77 78 78 78 75 70 65
Average Rainfall 2.44" 2.14" 2.20" 2.81" 4.90" 6.90" 3.63" 5.44" 6.31" 4.53" 3.32" 1.98"

Venice
Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average High 73 74 78 82 87 90 91 91 90 85 80 74
Average Low 52 53 58 61 67 72 74 74 72 66 60 54
Average Rainfall 2.68" 2.16" 3.37" 1.91" 2.20" 6.72" 6.68" 8.12" 7.38" 3.14" 2.08" 2.33"

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