Florida's Dry Season Has Arrived. Here's What That Means

Florida's dry season appears to have arrived already, providing relief to residents from persistent heat, humidity and the siege of hurricanes we've seen recently.

W​ait, Florida has seasons? This may surprise those who don't live there year-round, but the Sunshine State isn't perpetually hot and humid.

It has two rather distinct seasons, with contrasting weather.

Florida's dry season usually arrives by late October, lasting through the "winter" months into early spring.

D​uring this time, cold fronts sweep through the state as more northern areas turn colder, wiping away any warm and humid air. Rain associated with these fronts is usually in the form of thin bands that push through quickly before they can dump significant rainfall.

The cooler air behind the front stabilizes the atmosphere, suppressing the almost daily showers and thunderstorms seen in the summer months.

T​he sunset of hurricane season also takes its torrential rainfall potential off the table in the dry season.

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I​ts arrival is eagerly anticipated. Weather.com staff writer, reporter and resident of Florida's Space Coast Jan Childs had a straightforward take on this time of year:

"The onset of the dry season means what is usually Florida's worst stretch of weather each year is nearing its end."

One reason for this is simply the opportunity to open windows and air out.

"​I can't wait for those lower evening temps when I can finally sleep with the windows wide open, feeling that cool Florida breeze," said weather.com content producer and editor Joy Kigin, also a Florida resident.

C​hilds also said there's another benefit to the dry season's arrival.

"​Drier weather also means fewer mosquitoes and other bugs, so it's more comfortable to be outside."

W​ith these more frequent cold fronts, afternoon temperatures and humidity become much more pleasant, as you can see below.

These temperatures are the main attraction for the state's influx of part-time "snowbirds" fleeing colder winter climates.

W​hile arctic cold air masses can and do briefly sweep into Florida each winter, they usually only last a few shivering days before it warms back up again. Just make sure to pack a jacket for any chilly mornings or breezy days behind a cold front, if you visit in what's considered "winter" in the rest of the U.S.

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A​n even drier dry season? There's reason to believe this November through April could be even drier than usual.

A​ccording to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, a weak La Niña is expected to develop by late fall or winter.

W​hile it's only one factor influencing the weather pattern, a look back at the last 12 weak La Niña dry seasons since 1950 indicates a rather strong signal for an even drier than usual dry season ahead in Florida.

W​hat about the other season? We're leaving behind Florida's wet season.

From late spring through early fall, cold fronts no longer penetrate that far south, so warmth and humidity simply build.

Instead, thunderstorms often erupt along small-scale sea breeze fronts. At times, these thunderstorms can almost seem like a daily occurrence. Sometimes they move very slowly, quickly dumping several inches of rain.

Keep this in mind if you're planning a summer trip. Afternoon thunderstorms in the summer are the norm. Think of it as the state's natural air-conditioning without a dehumidifier.

Then, there's hurricane season, another contributor in this wetter season. And you don't need a strong hurricane to dump prodigious rain on the Sunshine State.

I​n some parts of the state, the rainfall contrast between the two seasons is particularly sharp. As you can see below, Miami typically picks up more than three-quarters of its yearly rainfall from May through October.

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him on X (formerly Twitter), Threads, Facebook and Bluesky.