Florida's Wet and Dry Seasons

You may not realize it when you hear about the "Sunshine State", but Florida has rather distinct wet and dry seasons. 

Simple geography, right?  The state is, after all, largely a peninsula bordered on three sides by water.  

How sharp is the seasonal difference?  Miami, for example, receives 75 percent of their average annual rainfall in a six-month period from May through October.  

Why does Florida's rainfall have a split personality?  Let's delve into each season starting with the wet season.  

Florida's Wet Season:  May - October

Late spring through early fall is the time for, ahem, "Liquid Sunshine" in Florida.

Typically by mid-late May, potent cold fronts no longer penetrate into the state, allowing warmth and humidity to build.

As cooler air is pulled inland from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean, thunderstorms erupt along the so-called sea-breeze fronts.  At times, these thunderstorms can be virtually a daily occurrence, dumping a quick couple of inches of rain due, in part, to their slow movement.  

(MAP:  Florida interactive radar) 

Oh yes, we didn't forget about hurricane season. 

Consider an otherwise unspectacular Tropical Storm Fay in 2008, which meandered over the peninsula, dumping over 20" of rain near the Space Coast, and also near Tallahassee.  

(MORE:  Tropical Storm Fay 2008) 

Keep this all in mind if you're vacationing in Florida in summer.  Afternoon thunderstorms are the "norm".  Think of it as the state's "natural air conditioning", without a dehumidifier, that is. 

Florida's Dry Season:  November - April

From late fall through early spring, cold fronts frequently plunge southeastward through the state, sweeping away hot and humid air. 

Cool, dry air in the front's wake from the heart of the U.S., originating in Canada, stabilizes the atmosphere, effectively squashing the almost daily afternoon thunderstorms typical of the summer months.  

Any rain associated with the passage of these cold fronts is usually in the form of thin lines that sweep through quickly before they can dump significant rainfall.  

No wonder the annual migration of "snowbirds", or those Northerners weary of winter, to Florida.  With average highs in the 60s in north Florida, low 70s in central Florida, and upper 70s in South Florida, along with low humidity and much lower chances of rain, what's not to love?  

(MORE: Vacation and Travel Planner)