Climate of Florida

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Köppen climate types of Florida, using 1991–2020 climate normals.

The climate of the north and central parts of the U.S. state of Florida is humid subtropical. South Florida has a tropical climate.[1] There is a defined rainy season from May through October when air mass thundershowers that build in the heat of the day drop heavy but brief summer rainfall.

In October, the dry season sets in across much of Florida (starting early in the month in northern Florida and near the end of the month in deep southern Florida) and lasts until late April most years. Fronts from mid-latitude storms north of Florida occasionally pass through northern and central parts of the state which bring light and brief winter rainfall. Mid and late winter can become severely dry in Florida. In some years the dry season becomes quite severe and water restrictions are imposed to conserve water.[2] While most areas of Florida do not experience any type of frozen precipitation, northern Florida can see fleeting snow or sleet a few times each decade.

The USDA Hardiness Zones for the state range from Zone 8B (15°F to 20°F) in the extreme northwestern panhandle, to Zone 12A (50°F to 55°F) in the lower Florida Keys.

The Gulf Stream running through the Florida Straits and then north of the eastern Florida coast keeps temperatures moderate a few miles inland from around Stuart on the east coast to Fort Myers on the west coast of the state year-round, with few extremes in temperature. The tropical ocean current also provides warm sea surface temperatures, giving Florida beaches the warmest ocean surf waters on the United States mainland. Florida's geography also makes it vulnerable to the effects of climate change, both in the intensification of extreme weather such as intensified hurricanes as well as coastal flooding and other effects of sea level rise.

Pressure[edit]

The low pressure measured from an extratropical cyclone was 28.84 inches/976.7 hPa during the Storm of the Century (1993).[3] From a tropical cyclone, the lowest pressure measured was 26.35 inches/892 hPa in the Florida Keys during the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935.[4] The highest known pressure measured statewide was 30.74 inches/1041.1 hPa in Tallahassee on February 5, 1996, and January 4, 1979.[3]

Wind[edit]

Over the winter prevailing winds are out of the north across the panhandle south to near Orlando, but are variable in the rest of the state. The summer season sees generally east and southeast winds across the peninsula. During the summer months, the average wind pattern implies a surface ridge axis which normally lies across central Florida, with easterly winds from Tampa southward and southwest winds across northern Florida. The peak wind gust during the 1930 through 1997 period was 115 miles per hour at Miami International Airport during Hurricane Andrew.[5]

African dust outbreaks[edit]

In July, the trade winds south of the northward-moving subtropical ridge expand northwestward into Florida. On occasion, dust from the Sahara moving around the southern periphery of the ridge moves into the state, suppressing rainfall and changing the sky from a blue to a white appearance and leading to an increase in red sunsets. Its presence negatively impacts air quality across the Southeastern United States during the summer, by adding to the count of airborne particulates. This is in sharp contrast to the normally clean air over Florida and the southeastern USA, which on average is the cleanest air in the USA.[6] Over 50% of the African dust that reaches the United States affects Florida.[7] Since 1970, dust outbreaks have worsened due to periods of drought in Africa. There is a large variability in the dust transport to the Caribbean and Florida from year to year.[8] Dust events are possibly linked to a decline in the health of coral reefs across the Caribbean and Florida, primarily since the 1970s.[9]

Winter[edit]

Fall foliage in North Central Florida.

On average, Florida has the mildest winters in the continental United States. Average lows range from 65°F in Key West to nearly 41°F degrees at Tallahassee, while daytime highs range from 62°F at Tallahassee to 77°F at Miami.[10][11] Predominant tropical easterly winds across central and southern Florida keep temperatures warm during the winter. Occasional strong cold fronts move southward down the peninsula with freezing or near-freezing temperatures on a few nights into inland areas of central Florida every few years. A few times each decade Miami might see a winter nightfall below 45°F. El Niño winters tend to be cooler due to increased cloud cover, but tend to have fewer freezes.[12]

Five hardiness zones exist. USDA Zone 12A, the warmest zone found within the state, with average extreme annual lows between 50°F to 55°F, is found in the Dry Tortugas area. USDA Zone 11B, with average annual lows between 45°F and 50°F, is found between Key West and Marathon. USDA Zone 11A, with average annual lows between 40°F and 45°F, is found in the remaining Florida Keys, Miami Beach, and parts of downtown Miami. USDA Zone 10B, with average annual lows between 35°F and 40°F, is found in coastal South Florida and much of the Everglades. USDA Zone 10A, with annual average lows between 30°F and 35°F, is found in the rest of South Florida, and in certain coastal regions as far north as St. Petersburg on the western coast of the state, and roughly Vero Beach on the eastern coast of the state. USDA Zone 9B, with average annual lows between 25°F and 30°F, is found in interior Central Florida, continuing north towards Fernandina Beach. USDA Zone 9A, with average annual lows between 20°F and 25°F, is found along an area stretching from Ocala to Pensacola. USDA Zone 8B, the coolest zone found within the state, with average annual lows between 15°F and 20°F, is located in extreme northwestern Florida along the northern portions of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, and Holmes counties.[13][14]

Florida has experienced 12 major freezes. This includes four "impact" freezes, sufficiently severe to kill entire groves of citrus trees, resulting in a noticeable economic effect on citrus growers, prompting them to shift groves further southward. These impact freezes are indicated by asterisks in the following: Great Freeze of 1894-1895*, February 13–14, 1899, February 2–6, 1917, December 12–13, 1934, January 1940, December 12–13, 1957, December 12–13, 1962*, January 18–20, 1977, January 12–14, 1981, December 24–25, 1983*, January 20–22, 1985, and December 22–26, 1989*.[15]

Despite being the mildest on average, the winter climate was a crucial contributing factor of the Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986, in which overnight temperatures at Titusville, adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center, had dropped as low as 24°F[16] and were still below freezing at 28.0°F to 28.9°F on launch day. The severe cold had caused the O-Rings on the right-side SRB to crack as they only had a redline tolerance of 39°F.

Summer[edit]

Typical summer afternoon shower from the Everglades travelling eastward over Downtown Miami.

During the summer, average high temperatures range from near 95 °F (35 °C) in northern Florida to near 90 °F (32 °C) in the Keys. Maximum temperatures during the summer average in the higher 90s  Fahrenheit statewide.[17] Heat indexes can easily reach 103°F–110°F. Relief from the heat during the summer comes in the form of afternoon and evening thunderstorm activity, late morning and afternoon sea breezes off the relatively cooler ocean, and during the passage of a tropical cyclone. The record high temperature for the state is 109 °F (43 °C) at Monticello in 1931.[18]

Fog[edit]

Like the remainder of the Southeastern United States, Florida has a winter maximum in dense fog conditions. Unlike the remainder of the region, the maximum in Florida contains roughly half of the annual occurrences per year, on average. Its summer minimum is less than the remainder of the Southeast. The annual number of heavy fog days (with visibility of .25 miles (0.40 km) or less) has ranged from 50 in Tallahassee, to 1 in Key West, the least foggy region in the state. The two types of fog that are most common in Florida are advection and radiational. Fog can be hazardous to early morning commuters. On January 9, 2008, when fog on Interstate 4 combined with smoke from a nearby fire, visibility was reduced to nearly zero. As a result, five individuals died in a 70-car pileup.[19][20]

Precipitation[edit]

Map of Florida showing relative rainfall. Florida's panhandle has the highest, with central Florida and south central Florida relatively less.
Average Rainfall for Florida

Averages[edit]

Statewide, the highest rainfall amounts occur during the summer months. In northern Florida, there is a weak winter secondary maximum while statewide the driest months of the year are during the spring.[17] During El Niño, Florida sees greater rainfall between November and March.[12] Due to the lack of the secondary maximum across the peninsula, a distinct dry season is seen in the averages from winter through spring. This dry season provokes brush fires annually as temperatures rise during the late spring, before they fade during early June as the rainy season gets underway.

Extremes[edit]

Hurricane Easy's Rainfall across the Southeastern United States

The heaviest rainfall to occur in 24 hours was measured in Yankeetown during Hurricane Easy (1950), 38.70 inches (983 mm). This is also the highest known point storm total maximum related to any tropical cyclone which has impacted Florida,[21] and by itself would be the highest known rainfall total for any month from any location within Florida. This rainfall amount remained the national 24-hour rainfall record until Tropical Storm Claudette (1979).[22] Heavy rainfall events have fallen due to stalled fronts near the state as well, and occur during the March through May and October through November timeframe.

The wettest month recorded at a Florida climate station was during May 1891 when Gainesville, Florida received 30.90 inches (785 mm).[23] The wettest year on record for a Florida climate station was during 1879 when 127.24 inches (3,232 mm) fell at Pensacola, Florida.[24] The driest year for a climate station statewide was during 1974 when only 19.99 inches (508 mm) fell at Key West.[25]

One of the worst years for wildfires was in 1998, at the end of an El Nino cycle. 480 wildfires consumed 500,000 acres (2,000 km2) statewide.[26] In 2010, the National Weather Service issued more fire alerts in Florida than anywhere else in the nation.[27]

A statewide drought began in November 2005, one month after Hurricane Wilma's passage through the state, and persisted until 2009.[28] The previous significant drought occurred in 2000, which was the state's driest year on record.[29]

Snowfall[edit]

Snow in Jacksonville on December 23, 1989

Snowfall is rare in Florida. The earliest recorded occurrence of snow or sleet occurred in 1774 in the far northern portion of the state.[30] The latest occurrence of snow or sleet fell on January 16, 2022 as a winter storm brought snow flurries into Crestview and northern portions of the state.[31]

The state record for snowfall is 5 inches (13 cm), set in northern Florida during January 1800, though some debate exists about the accuracy.[32] The earliest in the season that frozen precipitation has fallen was during the Late November 2006 Nor'easter on November 21 across central Florida.[33] The latest in the season that snow or sleet has fallen was on April 8, 2007. Snow flurries have been reported in the air (not on the ground) as far south as Homestead, during a January 19, 1977 event.[34]

Thunderstorms[edit]

Florida reports more thunderstorms than any other US state. Some places report in excess of 90 thunderstorm days per year, making Florida one of the most thundery regions outside of the tropics. Florida receives the highest density of lightning strikes within the United States. Several deaths per year are blamed on lightning, making lightning one of the deadliest weather-related phenomenon in the state. However, since 1992, the number of lightning deaths has been slowly dropping despite a rising population, suggesting that lightning awareness programs are effective. The most likely targets of lightning strikes are construction workers and others who work outside, though 12 percent of the cases occurred indoors to people using electronic devices. Severe thunderstorms can sometimes produce hail, very strong straight line winds and tornadoes. Very heavy rainfall from thunderstorms can result in flash flooding. Thunderstorms occur most often during the summer but can occur at any time of the year.[35]

Tornadoes[edit]

There are more tornadoes per square mile in Florida than any other state.[36][37] However, these tornadoes tend to be much weaker and short-lived than in other states like the Midwest or Deep South. Strong tornadoes do occasionally form in Florida, usually in conjunction with a cold frontal passage in the winter or spring. A total of 42 people died in February 1998 from the deadliest such tornado outbreak in Central Florida, which occurred during the nighttime hours.[38]

While tornadoes in the Midwest are more severe, a higher rate of deaths are experienced in Florida, and Brevard County, specifically, due to higher population density and quantity of manufactured homes.[39]

Tropical cyclones[edit]

Hurricane Wilma (2005)

The earliest in the year a tropical cyclone has struck the sunshine state was the Groundhog Day Tropical Storm in 1952. The latest impact was from a hurricane which struck near Tampa on December 1, 1925. The strongest hurricane to strike Florida was the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. Hurricane Easy in 1950 produced the wettest known point total from any tropical cyclone.[21] The record number of hurricane strikes on the state in one season is four in 2004.[40] Hurricanes typically spawn tornadoes within their northeast quadrant.[41]

Tropical cyclones have affected Florida in every month of the year but March. Nearly one-third of the cyclones affected the state in September, and nearly three-fourths of the storms affected the state between August and October, which coincides with the peak of the hurricane season. Portions of the coastline have the lowest return period, or the frequency at which a certain intensity or category of hurricane can be expected within 86 miles (138 km) of a given location, in the country. Monroe County was struck by 26 hurricanes since 1926, which is the greatest total for any county in the United States.[42]

Effect of climate cycles[edit]

El Niño has the following effects on Florida climate: above average rainfall in the spring.[26] This is followed by wildfire threat when rain dries up. Northern Florida is more susceptible to severe weather; below normal temperatures, increased number of low pressure systems in the Gulf of Mexico during the winter, and "almost always" reduces the frequency of storms and hurricanes.[43]

La Niña has the following effects: often dry conditions prevail in late fall, winter and early spring, increased risk of wildfires in spring and summer months, the temperatures average slightly above normal, and the chance of hurricane activity increases substantially.[43]

Long term forecasts are made based on these effects. However, they are easily overridden, in winter, by the Arctic oscillation and North Atlantic oscillations, which can only be predicted about two weeks in advance.[44] These can drop the temperature noticeably from seasonal norms.

Climates of selected Florida cities[edit]

The climate regime for much of the state is humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa), though the Miami Metropolitan Area, southwest Florida from Fort Myers southward, and all of the Florida Keys, qualify as tropical wet-and-dry (Köppen Aw). Florida counties with tropical climates include Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Lee, Collier, and Monroe counties. A narrow eastern part of the state including Orlando and Jacksonville receives between 2,400 and 2,800 hours of sunshine annually. The rest of the state, including Miami, receives between 2,800 and 3,200 hours annually.[45]

Pensacola, Florida
Climate chart (explanation)
J
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5.3
 
 
61
43
 
 
4.7
 
 
64
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6.4
 
 
70
52
 
 
3.9
 
 
76
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4.4
 
 
83
66
 
 
6.4
 
 
89
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8
 
 
91
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6.9
 
 
90
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5.8
 
 
87
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4.1
 
 
79
60
 
 
4.5
 
 
70
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4
 
 
63
45
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: NOAA[46]
Metric conversion
J
F
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136
 
 
16
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119
 
 
18
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163
 
 
21
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99
 
 
25
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112
 
 
29
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162
 
 
32
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204
 
 
33
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174
 
 
32
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146
 
 
31
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105
 
 
26
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113
 
 
21
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101
 
 
17
7
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Tallahassee, Florida
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
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4.4
 
 
64
40
 
 
4.9
 
 
67
42
 
 
5.7
 
 
73
47
 
 
3.7
 
 
80
53
 
 
4.3
 
 
87
62
 
 
7.1
 
 
91
69
 
 
8.3
 
 
92
72
 
 
7.3
 
 
91
72
 
 
5.4
 
 
88
69
 
 
3.2
 
 
81
57
 
 
3.3
 
 
72
47
 
 
4.2
 
 
66
41
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: Florida Climate Center[47]
Metric conversion
J
F
M
A
M
J
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111
 
 
18
4
 
 
123
 
 
19
5
 
 
145
 
 
23
9
 
 
95
 
 
27
12
 
 
108
 
 
30
17
 
 
181
 
 
33
21
 
 
210
 
 
33
22
 
 
186
 
 
33
22
 
 
138
 
 
31
20
 
 
81
 
 
27
14
 
 
85
 
 
22
8
 
 
106
 
 
19
5
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Jacksonville, Florida
Climate chart (explanation)
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3
 
 
65
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3.4
 
 
68
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3.7
 
 
74
50
 
 
2.8
 
 
80
56
 
 
3.4
 
 
86
64
 
 
6
 
 
90
70
 
 
6.6
 
 
92
73
 
 
7.2
 
 
91
73
 
 
7.8
 
 
87
70
 
 
3.9
 
 
80
61
 
 
1.9
 
 
73
51
 
 
2.6
 
 
67
44
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: Florida Climate Center[48]
Metric conversion
J
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M
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77
 
 
18
6
 
 
87
 
 
20
7
 
 
94
 
 
23
10
 
 
72
 
 
27
13
 
 
86
 
 
30
18
 
 
152
 
 
32
21
 
 
167
 
 
33
23
 
 
184
 
 
33
23
 
 
199
 
 
31
21
 
 
100
 
 
27
16
 
 
48
 
 
23
10
 
 
66
 
 
19
7
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Orlando, Florida
Climate chart (explanation)
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2.4
 
 
71
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2.4
 
 
74
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3.8
 
 
78
56
 
 
2.6
 
 
83
60
 
 
3.5
 
 
88
66
 
 
7.6
 
 
91
72
 
 
7.3
 
 
92
74
 
 
7.1
 
 
92
74
 
 
6.1
 
 
90
73
 
 
3.3
 
 
85
66
 
 
2.2
 
 
78
59
 
 
2.6
 
 
73
52
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: NOAA[49]
Metric conversion
J
F
M
A
M
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60
 
 
22
10
 
 
60
 
 
23
11
 
 
96
 
 
26
13
 
 
65
 
 
28
16
 
 
88
 
 
31
19
 
 
193
 
 
33
22
 
 
185
 
 
33
23
 
 
181
 
 
33
23
 
 
154
 
 
32
23
 
 
84
 
 
29
19
 
 
55
 
 
26
15
 
 
66
 
 
23
11
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Daytona Beach, Florida
Climate chart (explanation)
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2.7
 
 
68
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2.8
 
 
71
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4.2
 
 
75
54
 
 
2.2
 
 
79
59
 
 
3.1
 
 
85
65
 
 
5.8
 
 
88
71
 
 
5.8
 
 
90
73
 
 
6.4
 
 
90
73
 
 
7
 
 
87
72
 
 
4.2
 
 
82
66
 
 
2.7
 
 
76
58
 
 
2.6
 
 
71
51
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: Florida Climate Center[50]
Metric conversion
J
F
M
A
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70
 
 
20
9
 
 
71
 
 
22
10
 
 
108
 
 
24
12
 
 
55
 
 
26
15
 
 
80
 
 
29
19
 
 
148
 
 
31
22
 
 
148
 
 
32
23
 
 
163
 
 
32
23
 
 
177
 
 
31
22
 
 
107
 
 
28
19
 
 
68
 
 
24
14
 
 
67
 
 
21
10
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Tampa, Florida
Climate chart (explanation)
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2.3
 
 
70
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2.7
 
 
72
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2.8
 
 
76
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1.8
 
 
81
62
 
 
2.9
 
 
86
69
 
 
5.5
 
 
89
74
 
 
6.5
 
 
90
75
 
 
7.6
 
 
90
75
 
 
6.5
 
 
89
74
 
 
2.3
 
 
84
68
 
 
1.6
 
 
78
61
 
 
2.3
 
 
72
55
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: Florida Climate Center[51]
Metric conversion
J
F
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58
 
 
21
11
 
 
68
 
 
22
12
 
 
72
 
 
25
15
 
 
46
 
 
27
17
 
 
72
 
 
30
21
 
 
140
 
 
32
23
 
 
165
 
 
32
24
 
 
193
 
 
32
24
 
 
166
 
 
32
24
 
 
58
 
 
29
20
 
 
41
 
 
26
16
 
 
58
 
 
22
13
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Miami, Florida
Climate chart (explanation)
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1.8
 
 
76
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2.1
 
 
77
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2.5
 
 
80
64
 
 
3.2
 
 
83
68
 
 
5.9
 
 
86
72
 
 
9.3
 
 
88
75
 
 
6.2
 
 
90
77
 
 
8
 
 
90
77
 
 
9.1
 
 
88
76
 
 
7
 
 
85
72
 
 
2.9
 
 
81
68
 
 
2
 
 
77
62
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: Florida Climate Center[52]
Metric conversion
J
F
M
A
M
J
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46
 
 
24
15
 
 
54
 
 
25
16
 
 
63
 
 
27
18
 
 
81
 
 
28
20
 
 
150
 
 
30
22
 
 
237
 
 
31
24
 
 
158
 
 
32
25
 
 
202
 
 
32
25
 
 
231
 
 
31
24
 
 
177
 
 
30
22
 
 
74
 
 
27
20
 
 
50
 
 
25
17
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Key West, Florida
Climate chart (explanation)
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2
 
 
75
65
 
 
1.6
 
 
76
66
 
 
1.7
 
 
79
69
 
 
1.8
 
 
82
72
 
 
3.1
 
 
85
76
 
 
4.6
 
 
88
78
 
 
3.7
 
 
89
80
 
 
5.3
 
 
90
79
 
 
6.6
 
 
88
78
 
 
5
 
 
85
76
 
 
2.5
 
 
80
71
 
 
2
 
 
76
67
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: Florida Climate Center[53]
Metric conversion
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
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O
N
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50
 
 
24
18
 
 
41
 
 
24
19
 
 
42
 
 
26
20
 
 
46
 
 
28
22
 
 
78
 
 
30
24
 
 
117
 
 
31
26
 
 
94
 
 
32
26
 
 
135
 
 
32
26
 
 
166
 
 
31
26
 
 
128
 
 
29
24
 
 
63
 
 
27
22
 
 
52
 
 
25
19
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Köppen Classification Map, clearly showing South Florida has a true tropical climate (the image will take a few seconds to load)
  2. ^ "Dry season and drought are not the same". UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County. May 21, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  3. ^ a b National Weather Service Forecast Office Tallahassee, Florida. Tallahassee Weather Extremes. Retrieved on June 3, 2007. Archived October 14, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Eric. S. Blake, Edward N. Rappaport, and Christopher W. Landsea. The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Tropical Cyclones from 1851 to 2006 (AND OTHER FREQUENTLY REQUESTED HURRICANE FACTS). Retrieved on June 3, 2007.
  5. ^ National Climatic Data Center. Climatic Wind Data for the United States. Retrieved on June 2, 2007. Archived June 13, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Science Daily. African Dust Called A Major Factor Affecting Southeast U.S. Air Quality. Retrieved on June 10, 2007.
  7. ^ Science Daily. Microbes And The Dust They Ride In On Pose Potential Health Risks. Retrieved on June 10, 2007.
  8. ^ Usinfo.state.gov. Study Says African Dust Affects Climate in U.S., Caribbean. Archived June 20, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on June 10, 2007.
  9. ^ U. S. Geological Survey. Coral Mortality and African Dust. Archived May 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on June 10, 2007.
  10. ^ Southeast Regional Climate Center. Tallahassee WSO AP Averages from 1948-2005. Archived March 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on June 2, 2007.
  11. ^ Southeast Regional Climate Center. Key West WSO AP Averages from 1948-2005. Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on June 2, 2007.
  12. ^ a b South Florida Water Management District. EL NINO IN SOUTH FLORIDA. Retrieved on June 2, 2007. Archived September 16, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Interactive Map | USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map". Archived from the original on July 4, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  14. ^ Kridler, Chris (March 5, 2011). "Freeze frazzled? Seek hardier plants". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 1D.
  15. ^ "Timeline of major Florida freezes". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. January 15, 2017. pp. 14A. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  16. ^ "National Weather Service Climate". w2.weather.gov. Select 'Titusville, FL'
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