Florida is one of America’s most popular destinations for a holiday. The sunshine state is known for its amazing weather and for cities like Miami and Orlando that have a whole host of attractions, including famous spots like Universal Studios, Disney World, Miami Beach and the Florida Keys.
There is more than enough to fill even a fortnight’s trip, so researching a travel guide to Florida for the best time to visit is essential if you want to make the most out of your holiday. Here’s our breakdown of what the weather looks like every month and the best things to do throughout the year.
Even though January is the coldest month of the winter in Florida, temperatures are still pretty high by European standards. It’s usually around 16°C in Florida in January, with peaks of around 22°C when the sun comes out.
Despite the cooler weather, there are still usually 7 hours of sunshine every day in January in Florida, with only 9 days of the month seeing only a small amount of rain.
Many people from other parts of the USA and further afield decide to visit Florida in January as a way to escape the cold weather where they are and enjoy a milder climate. It’s not quite beach weather, but it’s the perfect time to enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, cycling and sailing, as well as sightseeing around places like Jacksonville and Tampa.
In February, the weather in Florida is pretty similar to that in January, with an average daily temperature of 16°C and a good amount of sunshine every day. There’s quite a low chance of rain, and when the sun comes out the temperature can get up to 23°C in the middle of the day, which is ideal for getting out and about.
Although February falls in the coldest season of the year in Florida, the sea temperature remains a warm 23°C and is still suitable for swimming, unless you’re particularly sensitive to cooler water.
February is considered the start of the high season in Florida, with visitors starting to flock to the beaches and fill out the coastal resorts. The weather is still relatively cool and fresh at this time of year however, so it’s still a good time to enjoy more active holidays and spend time in the centre of the state.
February is also one of the best months to visit Orlando and go to Universal Studios if you want to avoid the high season crowds who start to descend in the next couple of months.
Things start to heat up as Spring arrives, with an average high temperature in Florida in March of 26°C. Temperatures usually stay in the low twenties during the day and only drop down to 13°C, as well as there being an average of 9 hours of sunshine between dawn and dusk.
March is one of Florida’s driest months of the year, with a very small amount of rain predicted to fall. As well as air temperatures improving, the ocean around Florida also gets warmer and averages at 24°C which will feel very pleasant to swim in.
Spring Break for American students often falls in March, and many of them will descend on Miami, Orlando, Florida’s Panhandle and the Space Coast to celebrate the occasion. Bear in mind that these areas can be particularly busy because of this, which is why it’s a great time of year to visit some of the state’s less famous areas like Polk County or Jacksonville.
Tourism starts to ramp up in Florida in March so there tend to be quite a few events organised across the state throughout the month. The Florida Strawberry Festival is a brilliant event in Plant City, whilst music fans will enjoy the Sarasota Jazz Festival.
April is the best month to visit Florida if you’re looking for warm weather but don’t want to overheat too much during your visit to the state. The average high temperature is 28°C, dropping down to 16°C at the lowest in the evenings which allows a bit of a breather from the warm weather.
This month sees the lowest amount of cloud cover all year, so there is very little rain and the days are mostly clear and sunny.
If you’re looking for a beach holiday early in the year then April is the best month to visit Florida, as the chances of rain aren’t too high but temperatures are climbing throughout the month. Miami and the Florida Keys are obvious choices to enjoy spending time by the sea, but West Palm and Apalachicola are also excellent places to stay on the coast if you’d rather have your destination mainly to yourself.
April is also one of the best months to visit Orlando, as this month is the lull between the spring and summer high season and the city and its attractions won’t be too busy. It’s the perfect time for a trip to Disney World!
The summer season in Florida begins in May, with an average daily temperature of 25°C. It can get up to 32°C in the middle of the day when the sun is out, and only tends to drop to 18°C in the evening which is still very mild and allows for lots of evenings spent outdoors. The average water weather is 27°C, which sees plenty of travellers and locals hitting the beach to swim in the sea.
As the temperature starts to rapidly rise in May however, so does the chance of rain in Florida. 12 days of the month are predicted to see rain at this time of year, and these instances are often heavy showers with thunderstorms which can be very disruptive, so it’s worth packing a waterproof coat if you visit at this time.
May marks the start of the summer season in Florida, so hitting the beach is at the top of many travellers’ lists when they come and visit at this time of year. Most hotels and resorts have their last few weeks of cheap prices before the high season begins and costs massively increase, so if you’ve been eyeing up a luxurious resort break, now is the time to book it!
It’s also one of the best times to visit the Florida Keys in May, as the weather on the coast is particularly warm and there aren’t an overwhelming amount of other tourists coming to visit yet.
The heat continues to rise in June, making this one of the best times of year to go to Florida if you’re hoping for a beach holiday. The average high temperature is 32°C and the average low is only 21°C, along with 9 hours of bright sunshine every day on average.
Despite being one of the hottest times of the year, June is also one of the wettest months in Florida with a similar level of thunderstorms and heavy showers as May. The humidity around these storms can feel very intense, so be aware of this before you travel and pack lots of light layers to help you stay cool if you’re going to be out and about.
June is when tourism in Florida really starts to pick up, so places like Miami and Orlando will be full of families and groups of travellers starting to enjoy their summer holidays. If you don’t mind crowds then it’s a good time to visit places like Universal Orlando and Disney World, although be aware that sudden thunderstorms may get in the way of your plans.
For alternative places to visit at this time of year, Tallahassee is a brilliant city with lots to do for all ages, making it ideal for a family holiday. Polk County is another underrated destination that actually has a lot going for it, or the Emerald Coast of the state is quite quiet in June and great if you still want to spend some time at the beach.
Like many of the summer months in Florida, July’s weather is characterised by high temperatures and high chances of short but heavy storms. There are an average of 15 days a month that see rain, and these showers often come on very suddenly and clear up just as quickly, leaving the sky overcast and humidity still quite high.
The average high temperature in Florida in July is 33°C, with an average low of
22°C. With 10 hours of bright sunshine most days and an average water temperature of 29°C, it’s a very popular time to visit the state despite the probability of wet weather.
The high temperatures and humidity in July mean that beach holidays in Florida are firmly on the agenda for a lot of travellers, although this weather might be too hot for some visitors who don’t cope well with a lot of heat. Anna Maria Island is a good place to go if you want to spend time by the sea, as is Panama City Beach.
Independence Day falls on the fourth of July this month, which is celebrated across North America and will involve a wide range of events in various places around Florida, which are well worth attending.
Florida’s weather in August is very similar to conditions in July. It’s one of the hottest and wettest months of the year, with high humidity and an average of 15 days of rain. The chances of wet weather actually decrease as the month progresses however, so you’ll likely get more sunshine if you visit towards the end of August.
The average high temperature in Florida in August is 33°C and the average low is 22°C, so it’s a good idea to plan some activities indoors this month where there will be good air conditioning and a chance to escape the heat.
The first half of August is still incredibly busy with travellers on their summer holidays in Florida, but the end of the month tends to see a drop in crowds across the state as American schools reopen after the holidays. A trip to somewhere like Disney World or Universal Orlando at this time can be a great idea if you want to make the most of the summer events but don’t want it to be overly busy.
If you’d rather avoid the areas that tend to be heavily populated by other tourists, destinations like Tallahassee, Panama City Beach and St. Augustine all have plenty to do indoors and outdoors to help you keep dodging the rain.
The last month of the real summer season in Florida is September, where there is still hot and wet weather across the state. Temperatures can still reach up to 32°C during the month, and don’t tend to drop below 22°C in the evenings and early mornings.
Chances of rain in Florida in September drop quite a bit from their levels in August, although there is still quite a high likelihood of thunderstorms and most days will be at least partly overcast.
September is part of the hurricane season in Florida, which tends to put people off visiting. However, if you’re willing to risk the weather then it’s still a very warm time of year that is great for trips to the beach as well as visits to popular cities like Miami.
At this time of year, we recommend planning visits to Venice Beach, Sarasota or St. Petersburg for an alternative experience to the very touristy areas in Florida.
It starts to get cooler in October as the Florida rainy season draws to an end. This doesn’t mean that the weather turns cold however; the average high temperature during the day is still 29°C and there are usually 8 hours of bright sunshine.
The chances of tropical storms in Florida are still quite high in the first half of October, so you’re not quite out of the woods with avoiding wet weather.
If you’re not too bothered about extremely hot and sunny weather then October is the best time to visit Florida to enjoy some of its top-rated attractions. The cooler weather also means that it’s a great time to hike the Florida National Scenic Trail if you’d like to explore parts of the state on foot and get out and about to enjoy the autumn sunshine.
Halloween is quite a big deal in some parts of Florida, and towards the end of October there will be a wide range of different events planned which can be very fun to attend, whether you’re getting dressed up for a festival or just going pumpkin picking.
The dry season begins in Florida in November, with chances of thunderstorms and hurricanes reducing a lot as the month draws on. There are only usually 10 days that see any kind of proper rain, and showers tend to be quite light in comparison to storms earlier in the year.
Average temperatures in Florida in November hover around 19°C, with highs never going above 25°C and low temperatures of 13°C possible. The sea temperature is still a warm 26°C throughout the month however, so swimming in the ocean is still a popular activity.
Thanksgiving tends to fall in November, so Florida is full of other Americans travelling across or into the state to see and celebrate with family. Prices for accommodation and events are pretty low, so if you’re visiting on a budget then winter in Florida is an excellent time to come and stay.
It’s also still pretty warm and dry in Florida in November, so it’s a good time to enjoy sightseeing around cities like Tampa, St. Augustine, Sarasota and Naples.
The weather in Florida at Christmas is mild and quite dry, with only 7 days tending to see any real rain during the month.
Temperatures can reach 22°C at the end of the year which does feel pretty warm, and the average low is 10°C so it never gets close to freezing. If you’re looking for a white Christmas, you’re highly unlikely to find one in Florida!
Christmas in Florida is quite a busy time of year for the state, as many people from both the USA and further afield decide to come and enjoy the relatively warm weather and winter sunshine that floods across the state. Places like Orlando are particularly busy with holidaymakers, so if you’re not a fan of crowds then we recommend you stay in some of Florida’s more overlooked destinations to avoid getting caught in too many crowds.
There are a wide range of different festive events held all over Florida at this time of the year, and it’s worth looking up what’s going on wherever you decide to stay to see how the winter season is celebrated somewhere subtropical! Disney World is particularly magical in December, whilst Miami offers an alternative seaside experience.
The weather in Florida is warm all year round, so there’s no real bad time to go. Because it’s such a popular holiday destination there are events and key attractions every month across the different areas, so no matter where you visit you’re sure to find plenty of things to see and do.
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