If you have already read our article on the climate of Florida, you will have noticed that in this state, stretching from north to south, and covering different latitudes, there are various climate zones. Dividing Florida into two main bands for weather conditions, Orlando is located in the northern one, purely subtropical.
Unless your stay is limited to the theme parks of Orlando, I suggest you also take a look at the climate of Miami, which represents the weather conditions of the southern belt of the state. Florida is one of the states with the best climate in the USA and Orlando, being located more or less in the center, not far from the Tropic of Cancer, perfectly represents this definition.
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Best Time to Visit Orlando: Climate and Temperatures
Hot summers that can be sultry, mild winters but with the possibility of some cold spells: in general in Orlando you can feel good all year round, with a warm climate but rarely so hot to be unbearable like in other U.S. cities. The fact that the city was built in the middle of an immense swamp means, however, that the climate is quite humid throughout the year.
Being in the center of the peninsula, with the Atlantic on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other, it suffers like the whole of Florida from the influences of the two seas. The two main seasons of the year are hot and rainy, and cool and dry. Over 47 inches of rain falls on the city each year, most of it in the months between June and September. The end of summer is also the time when hurricanes can strike: Orlando is far from the coast, but there are no mountains to protect it and it is only 100 feet above sea level.
Fortunately, however, it is not so frequently hit by storms that are too violent. Moreover, the really dangerous tornadoes that caused casualties, were recorded in the middle of winter: in 1998 and 2007, in both cases in February. In any case, while in the entire U.S. South there is the possibility of severe storms and tornadoes, the relative distance from the coast allows the city a good warning time even for these rare critical situations.
Summer in Orlando
The summer months are very popular with tourists. The main attraction in the city are the numerous theme parks, many of which are full of water attractions. It is therefore obvious that these types of parks are frequented most during the hottest months of the year.
Average temperatures in June and September are around 80°, rising an average of one degree in July and August. The lows throughout the summer average between 61° and 70°, while the highs during these months are rippling around 89°-91°. Even the heat peaks are never too high in this area of the country, and rarely exceed 95°.
The only drawback is the humidity, which is why the perceived heat is usually higher than the real one, and the frequent rain contributes to greatly increase this factor in the summer. In the summer months, it rains about 15 days a month: a good 50% chance of having to pull out the umbrella. Especially in the second half of the season, there are numerous thunderstorms, albeit brief. It often happens that the most sultry days are interrupted in the afternoon by a downpour, which is not always bad: the evenings following the summer rains are the coolest and most pleasant.
Fall in Orlando
Fall, especially the early weeks, is one of the best periods to visit Orlando and fully enjoy its theme parks. The climate is decidedly optimal: in October the minimum temperatures are on average 66° and the maximum 84°, which couldn’t be better to take a ride on the rides at Walt Disney World.
Even the probability of rain lowers to an average of 8 days per month, gradually decreasing until November when the average is around 6 days. Thanksgiving Day should be marked on the calendar as the start of the most expensive time for park admission, which lasts until mid-December. If you go to Orlando in the fall, before this date, you will find a good compromise between pleasant weather and not too high prices.
Winter in Orlando
Who doesn’t associate Florida in winter with “Home Alone 2”? The protagonist family of this famous Christmas movie is not the only one who appreciates the favorable weather conditions on this peninsula which is the gateway to the Caribbean. Moving south during the Christmas holidays is a decision taken every year by many people from the large northern cities, where snow and frost are the masters. It must be said that in order to be wrapped up in the Christmas spirit, other locations in the States are preferable, but the winter months are optimal for amusement parks.
January is the coldest month of the year, but forget about snow and ice: average temperatures are around 59° and minimums rarely drop below 48°. Of course, there have been extreme cases over the years, but you have to be really unlucky to hit zero. December and February are very good months: in both cases the average minimum is 51° and the average maximum around 73°.
Approaching spring, March is a transitional month: with average temperatures that return to around 68°. The main characteristic of winter is that it’s a dry season. Given the humidity that characterizes Orlando, we are not talking about a desert drought, but these are the least rainy months of the year: about one week per month of rain, with February and March as months with more abundant rainfall. The mild climate and low rainfall is why the winter months are favored by tourists heading to non-water theme parks.
Spring in Orlando
Spring is a short season in Orlando, which we could sum up in the month of April. With an average of 6 days of rain, this is the driest month of the year. The rainfall that gradually increases between February and March suddenly dulls, then returns a bit more frequently in May, until the true summer rainy season.
April is also a month where temperatures are really good for enjoying the parks: minimums 59° and highs of 82°, with a daily average of almost 71°. The month of May already begins to warm up more, with daily averages exceeding 77°.
Best Months to Visit Orlando Theme Parks
If you love water slides and swimming pools, there’s no doubt about it: choose summer, but favor the beginning, where the probability of rain is lower. In any case, when the sun is blazing, an afternoon thunderstorm does not necessarily ruin a day of diving and swimming.
However, you’re more likely to be headed here for Disney World or Universal Studios Orlando. In that case, if you can decide on the time of your trip, avoid the height of summer. At the same time, if you want to save a few bucks and avoid the mile-long lines as much as possible, December is not the best month. As I already mentioned, the period following Thanksgiving is more expensive than the previous one, and even the Christmas holidays are not kind on wallets. Otherwise, having to choose by considering weather conditions, winter and mid-seasons are definitely good for this type of visit.
The Sunshine State also has a lot more to offer, starting from the crystal clear waters with heavenly beaches and the very special Keys Islands, not to mention the fascinating natural area of the Everglades. If you have the opportunity to plan a larger tour of the peninsula, take a look at Florida weather to leave prepared for all the weather conditions in this large and diverse southern state.
