Florida weather is a bit of a liar. You see the postcard of a palm tree against a blue sky and think, "Perfect, I'll pack a swimsuit and be done with it." Then you land in Orlando in January, and it’s 45 degrees with a wind that cuts right through your Mickey ears. Or you visit in August, and the air feels less like atmosphere and more like a warm, wet blanket that’s trying to drown you.
Honestly, if you're asking hows the weather in florida, the answer depends entirely on where you are standing and what month is on the calendar. The state is nearly 450 miles long. While someone in Miami is sipping a mojito in 80-degree heat, a person in Pensacola might be scraping frost off their windshield. It’s a wild, subtropical ride.
The Two-Season Reality
Forget spring, summer, fall, and winter. Florida doesn't play by those rules. For the locals, there are basically two modes: The Dry Season and The Wet Season.
The Dry Season (roughly October through May) is why everyone moves here. The humidity drops. The sky stays that deep, crisp blue. You can actually walk from your car to the grocery store without needing a second shower. According to the Florida Climate Center, this is when the "Bermuda High" pressure system shifts, blocking those massive moisture plumes from the Gulf.
Then there’s the Wet Season. From June to September, it’s a different world. You can set your watch by the 3:00 PM thunderstorms. They aren't just rain; they are theatrical events. Lightning in Florida is no joke—the state consistently leads the U.S. in lightning-related deaths because our storms pack a higher electrical charge than almost anywhere else.
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Hows the Weather in Florida Month-by-Month
If you’re planning a trip, you need the granular details. Averages are fine, but they don't tell the whole story.
January and February: The Wild Cards
This is the coldest it gets. In 2026, we’ve seen some weirdly chilly dips. Central Florida can see nights in the 30s, though the days usually bounce back to the 60s. South Florida stays milder, usually hovering in the low 70s. It’s the driest time of year, making it peak season for theme parks, provided you bring a jacket.
March and April: The Sweet Spot
This is arguably the best Florida ever gets. Humidity is still low, and temperatures sit comfortably in the high 70s or low 80s. The water is starting to warm up, but the "lovebugs" (those annoying flies that stick to your car) haven't quite swarmed yet.
May: The Warning Shot
May is the transition. It gets hot—often hitting the 90s—but the daily rains haven't started yet. This can actually be the most uncomfortable month because it’s dry, dusty, and baking hot without the cooling effect of a late-afternoon downpour.
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June through August: The Steam Room
This is the heart of the "Sunshine State" irony. It’s sunny until it’s not, and then it’s a deluge. Highs are consistently 90-95°F, but the heat index (what it actually feels like) can hit 110°F. The humidity is often 90% in the morning, dropping only to about 60% in the afternoon. Basically, you’re breathing water.
September and October: The Hurricane Peak
Technically, hurricane season starts June 1, but peak activity hits from mid-August through October. This is when the Atlantic is at its warmest, fueling those big systems. Even if there’s no named storm, these months are soggy. October is a favorite for many because the first "cold" front (which just means it drops to 80 degrees) usually arrives late in the month.
November and December: The Great Reset
The humidity breaks. The mosquitoes finally go back to whatever hole they crawled out of. It’s glorious.
The Regional Divide: North vs. South
People often forget that Jacksonville and Miami are in different climate zones. North Florida is humid subtropical; South Florida is true tropical.
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In the Panhandle (Tallahassee, Pensacola), they actually get a hint of fall color and occasional freezes. They get "gray" winters. South Florida (Miami, the Keys) almost never freezes. In fact, if it hits 40 degrees in Miami, the local news starts warning people about "falling iguanas" because the cold-blooded lizards lose their grip on the trees and tumble to the sidewalk.
What No One Tells You About the Rain
Newcomers always worry about a forecast that says "80% chance of rain." In most places, that means a ruined day. In Florida, that means it’s going to pour for 20 minutes, the sun will come back out, and then the water on the asphalt will evaporate, creating a literal sauna effect.
Pro tip: Don't bother with a heavy raincoat in the summer. You’ll just sweat so much inside it that you’ll be just as wet as if you’d stood in the rain. Get a cheap poncho or a sturdy umbrella that won't flip inside out when the wind kicks up.
Survival Guide for Florida Weather
If you want to actually enjoy your time here without melting or shivering, follow these non-negotiables:
- Hydrate or die. Not to be dramatic, but the heat exhaustion is real. If you aren't drinking twice as much water as usual, you're doing it wrong.
- The "Shadow" Rule. In the summer, if you’re outside between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM, find shade. The Florida sun is stronger than northern sun; you will burn in 15 minutes without protection.
- Morning People Win. If you want to hike, golf, or hit a theme park, do it at 8:00 AM. By 1:00 PM, the heat and the clouds are moving in.
- Check the Radar. Don't just check the "weather app" with the little sun icons. Use a live radar app like MyRadar or Windy. If you see a red blob moving toward you, you have about 10 minutes to get under a roof.
Florida’s weather is a temperamental beast, but it’s manageable if you stop expecting it to be a constant 75-degree paradise. It's intense, it's loud, and it's very, very wet—but there’s nothing quite like a Florida sunset right after a massive summer storm clears the air.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Download a high-quality radar app before you land; don't rely on the default weather app on your phone.
- Pack layers, even in July, because Florida businesses keep their air conditioning at "Arctic Circle" levels.
- Schedule outdoor activities for the morning hours to avoid both the peak UV index and the inevitable afternoon thunderstorms.