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 far northern part of the state experiences all four seasons and the central and southern parts more of a wet - dry season with warm temperatures. Each year brings different weather patterns and tropical weather should be monitored, especially during hurricane season. In this Florida weather article, you will first find a description of south Florida weather and climatology. Central and north Florida weather is explored afterwards.

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.

Miami Beach Sunrise and Sunset Times

(All times are for the first day of each month)
Month JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Sunrise 7:07 7:04 6:43 7:11 6:43 6:29 6:32 6:47 7:00 7:12 7:29 6:50
Sunset 5:41 6:04 6:22 7:37 7:51 8:08 8:16 8:06 7:39 7:06 6:38 5:28

Venice Sunrise and Sunset Times

(All times are for the first day of each month)
Month JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Sunrise 7:19 7:15 6:53 7:20 6:50 6:35 6:39 6:54 7:09 7:22 7:40 7:02
Sunset 5:47 6:11 6:30 7:47 8:03 8:20 8:28 8:17 7:49 7:15 6:46 5:35

Key West Sunrise and Sunset Times

(All times are for the first day of each month)
Month JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Sunrise 7:11 7:08 6:49 7:18 6:51 6:38 6:42 6:55 7:08 7:19 7:34 6:54
Sunset 5:50 6:12 6:29 7:43 7:56 8:12 8:19 8:10 7:45 7:13 6:46 5:37


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 Climatology

Month JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Average High 74 75 77 80 83 86 88 88 87 83 79 76
Average Low 61 63 65 70 74 77 78 78 77 74 69 65
Average Rainfall 2.33" 2.27" 2.47" 3.44" 4.94" 7.76" 5.98" 7.51" 8.45" 6.49" 3.29" 2.25"
Average Sea Water Temp 72 73 75 78 82 85 87 87 86 82 77 74

Venice Climatology

Month JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Average High 73 75 78 83 87 90 92 92 90 86 80 75
Average Low 52 54 58 63 68 73 74 75 73 68 60 55
Average Rainfall (In.) 2.68" 2.00" 2.97" 2.47" 3.25" 7.81" 7.39" 8.34" 7.16" 3.35" 1.54" 2.31"
Average Sea Water Temp 64 66 70 75 81 85 87 87 86 80 73 67

Key West Climatology

Month JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Average High 76 77 80 83 86 89 90 91 89 86 81 78
Record High 90 87 89 91 94 96 97 97 95 93 91 88
Average Low 66 67 69 73 76 79 81 81 79 77 72 68
Record Low 41 44 47 48 63 65 68 68 69 59 49 44
Average Rainfall 1.83" 1.54" 1.53" 2.07" 3.12" 4.23" 3.63" 5.37" 7.24" 5.67" 2.05" 2.16"
Average Sea Water Temp 73 74 76 79 83 86 88 89 87 84 78 75

Climatology data proviced by the National Weather Service / NOAA - NCEI

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.

Daytona Beach Sunrise and Sunset Times

(All times are for the first day of each month)
Month JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Sunrise 7:18 7:12 6:49 7:13 6:42 6:25 6:28 6:44 7:01 7:17 7:37 7:00
Sunset 5:37 6:02 6:23 7:42 8:00 8:19 8:27 8:15 7:45 7:09 6:37 5:25

Orlando Sunrise and Sunset Times

(All times are for the first day of each month)
Month JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Sunrise 7:18 7:13 6:50 7:15 6:44 6:28 6:31 6:47 7:03 7:18 7:37 7:00
Sunset 5:40 6:05 6:25 7:43 8:00 8:18 8:27 8:15 7:46 7:10 6:40 5:28

Clearwater Beach Sunrise and Sunset Times

(All times are for the first day of each month)
Month JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Sunrise 7:22 7:18 6:55 7:21 6:51 6:35 6:38 6:54 7:10 7:24 7:42 7:05
Sunset 5:47 6:11 6:31 7:49 8:05 8:23 8:31 8:20 7:51 7:16 6:46 5:35

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

Daytona Beach Climatology

Month JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Average High 69 72 76 80 85 89 90 90 87 82 76 72
Average Low 49 51 55 60 66 72 74 74 73 67 58 52
Average Rainfall (In.) 2.73" 2.34" 3.63" 2.23" 3.69" 6.94" 6.01" 6.58" 7.15" 4.85" 2.76" 2.34"
Average Sea Water Temp 67 67 69 73 77 81 83 85 84 81 76 71

Orlando Climatology

Month JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Average High 72 75 79 84 88 91 92 92 90 85 78 74
Average Low 50 52 56 61 66 72 73 74 72 66 58 53
Average Rainfall (In.) 2.48" 2.04" 3.03" 2.58" 4.02" 8.05" 7.46" 7.69" 6.37" 3.46" 1.79" 2.48"

Tampa Climatology

Month JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Average High 71 74 78 83 88 90 91 91 90 86 79 74
Average Low 53 56 59 65 71 75 77 77 75 69 61 56
Average Rainfall (In.) 2.65" 2.62" 2.52" 2.60" 7.37" 7.75" 9.03" 6.60" 6.09" 2.34" 1.40" 2.56"
Average Sea Water Temp 72 75 77 80 84 87 89 89 88 83 78 73

Climatology data proviced by the National Weather Service / NOAA - NCEI

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.

Destin Sunrise and Sunset Times

(All times are for the first day of each month)
Month JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Sunrise 6:42 6:36 6:11 6:34 6:02 5:44 5:47 6:04 6:22 6:39 7:00 6:25
Sunset 4:56 5:22 5:45 7:05 7:24 7:43 7:52 7:39 7:08 6:30 5:58 4:44

Jacksonville Beach Sunrise and Sunset Times

(All times are for the first day of each month)
Month JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Sunrise 7:22 7:16 6:51 7:14 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 8:22 8:31 8:19 7:47 7:10 6:37 5:24

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

Destin Climatology

Month JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Average High 63 66 71 76 84 89 91 91 89 81 72 66
Average Low 45 48 54 60 68 74 76 76 72 63 53 48
Average Rainfall (In.) 5.80" 5.39" 6.52" 4.26" 4.32" 6.08" 9.40" 6.91" 6.72" 4.53" 4.70" 4.57"
Average Sea Water Temp 57 59 65 72 79 84 86 87 83 76 67 60

Jacksonville Beach Climatology

Month JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Average High 65 68 72 77 83 87 89 89 86 80 73 67
Average Low 49 52 57 63 70 75 77 77 76 69 60 53
Average Rainfall (In.) 3.50" 2.82" 3.21" 3.01" 2.93" 6.79" 4.90" 7.54" 7.19" 5.10" 2.50" 2.95"
Average Sea Water Temp 57 59 64 71 77 82 84 84 82 77 68 61

Climatology data provided by the National Weather Service / NOAA - NCEI

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.

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