What Makes Florida Keys Weather So Desirable?

Our local Florida Keys weather is the magnet that draws Snow Birds and others south. Even Florida mainland residents retreat to the Keys for a change in weather.

Situated between the Gulf of Mexico, Florida Straits, and waters of the Atlantic the Florida Keys occupy a unique location in the United States. Did you know this location has a direct impact on our daily weather?

Even though the Keys are further south and closer to the equator, summer temperatures are cooler here than in Miami because of the balmy ocean breezes. In winter all that surrounding water keeps our air temperatures more comfortable and stable than the mainland.

Geographically the island chain sits at a subtropical latitude; our weather however is tropical and very similar to other islands in the Caribbean. It is the only frost free section of Florida.

Florida Keys weather is characterized by two main seasons—dry and wet. During the wet season, which occurs in the summer between June and October, brief showers pass through the area. Normally the showers are not extensive enough to impact outdoor recreational plans to any great extent.

The rain usually lasts only long enough to shade or cool a small area, then the sun peeks out again to fulfill the predictable daily summertime forecast of a high of 90F, a low of 80F, and a chance of showers with an isolated thunderstorm.

Hurricane season coincides fairly closely with the rainy season and officially begins June 1 and ends November 30. The greatest potential for storms occurs between August 1 and October 20 with peak season near mid-September.

Rest assured that modern day meteorologists have the ability to forecast tropical weather and hurricanes well in advance of any dangerous approach to land. Hurricane information and warnings will give residents and visitors plenty of time to take appropriate action. If a hurricane warning is given local emergency management personnel will issue an evacuation order first for visitors and then for residents.

The dry season kicks off in the fall after a cold front or two has passed through our island chain. A cold front passage here in the tropics is not at all like what one would experience at more northerly latitudes. Usually a weak frontal passage will cause the wind to breeze up and veer from east to north. Stronger fronts yield more wind and maybe accompanied by a drop in temperature. Rainfall with a frontal passage here is normally limited. Very little rain falls in the Florida Keys between mid-November and May.

Sea water temperatures remain warm year round, a point of delight for those enjoying in-the-water ocean recreation.

We have recently added weather pages for three Florida Keys locations. The Key Largo weather page goes into a bit more detail and has links to nearby stations. Even though the closest distance between Key Largo and Marathon is only about 50 miles. The lay of land in the island chain was enough for us to add a Marathon weather page to cover some of its differences. Lastly we added a Key West weather page because of its unique location at the end of the island chain.

Florida Keys weather is a big part of what makes our home here heaven on earth.