A guide to weather in Florida
Florida has a mainly tropical climate, so you can expect extreme heat, and sudden torrential downpours during certain months. June is the wettest month and you can expect showers right through to September, with the northern part of the state cooler than the sweltering south. The state can be affected by hurricanes and you can expect these in the months of September and October, mainly across the eastern seaboard.
However, for the most part you’re going to find Florida as sunny and inviting as they come, and that warmth shines through in the people you’ll meet and the places you’ll go. Temperatures here, even in the height of the rainy season, stay at the upper end of the scale across the length and breadth of the state. That means that even a winter break is going to keep you much more heated up than a chilly time huddled at home.
The East
Nestled closer than most to Florida’s beaches, which in turn slope beautifully into the Caribbean Sea, both Kissimmee and Championsgate exemplify the hot and tropical heat of this part of the United States far more readily than most. Expect temperatures in excess of a toasty 30°C throughout most of the year, although once more bear that rainy season in mind.
The best time to visit these resorts is between the months of January to April. In the high summer months, not only can you anticipate rain, but temperatures can climb as high as 32°C, and humidity is high during this time too. If you’re planning a winter break, you can expect temperatures to stay above 15°C, which is still far better than anything you’ll be feeling back home come December and January.
The West
Florida’s unique shape on the map makes for a pretty iconic peninsula, yet if you’re spending time in St Petersburg by the sea or Fort Myers among the tourist hubbub, you can rest easy in the knowledge that the weather in Florida remains as welcoming as it is warm.
You’ll find here, close to the Gulf of Mexico, that temperatures are all the more scorching in the best possible way, particularly between April and October, when the thermometers climb to highs well above 30°C, even touching or surpassing 35°C on average in months like June and July.
Once more, the winter months give some reprieve from the heat, although you’ll not be packing duffel coats and mittens by any means. Even in the midst of January, the average low is no less than a reasonable 12°C in this part of Florida, with highs of 25°C comparable to even our most optimistic British summer.
Rainfall
As much as we love the Florida sun, we have to respect its tropical climate, which makes for some pretty hefty rainfall from time to time that should be factored into your plans. Luckily, when you’ve got some advanced knowledge, the only time you can expect to get wet is when you’re swimming in that 30°C ocean water.
Rain in Florida varies very little from north to south and east to west, thanks partly to the narrowness of the state as a whole. Every major city and point on the map can expect an average of around 100 days of rain per year, with an annual average of 50 inches of accumulated rainfall in the same timespan. Summer monsoons are common, so bear that in mind when you visit to take advantage of the hottest months that Florida can provide.