[tampaboy]

I'm sick of all the bull from people living in Florida exaggerating ten-fold how hot it is, and I'm sick of people visiting Florida claiming the weather is perfect. Both are lies. Don't believe people who give you a one-sided answer on the topic.

Here's the facts:

Avg. Temp. in Tampa:

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
(Highs)
70 72 76 81 86 89 90 90 89 84 78 72
(Lows)
52 54 58 62 69 74 75 75 74 68 61 55

Highest all time high: 99
Lowest all time low: 18

Source:
Average Weather for Tampa, FL - Temperature and Precipitation

First off, I'm using Tampa because it is not too close to the shore, but isn't too far away either. It's also halfway down the state, so I think it is a suitable choice.

All of Florida GENERALLY has similar temperatures during the summer, but north Florida has colder temperatures than south Florida during the winter. These are well known facts by anyone who knows about Florida weather.

Tampa happens to have winter temperatures about halfway between south Florida and north Florida.

The highest January high in south Florida is 78 in Hialeah.

Source:
Average Weather for Hialeah, FL - Temperature and Precipitation

The lowest January high in north Florida is 61 in Pensacola.

Source:
Average Weather for Pensacola, FL - Temperature and Precipitation

Now, obviously 90 degrees in Florida does not feel like 90 degrees, right? That's where that humidity everybody ******* about comes in.

Here's the data for relative humidity for Tampa:

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
(Mornings)
87% 86% 87% 86% 85% 86% 87% 90% 91% 89% 88% 88%
(Afternoons)
60% 57% 55% 52% 53% 60% 63% 65% 62% 58% 58% 60%

Source:
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

Let's look at the temperature data for Tampa, but this time with the heat index factored in, based on the relative humidity.

Avg. Temp. in Tampa INCLUDING the heat index:

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
(Highs)
70 72 76 81 88 98 102 103 97 87 78 72
(Lows)
52 54 58 62 69 74 75 75 74 68 61 55

Highest all time high: 126
Lowest all time low: 18

Okay, that's pretty hot. But the humidity only affects weather from May-October. And that's still not even as hot as cities like Phoenix get in the summer.

Here's avg. temp. in Miami INCLUDING the heat index:

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
(Highs)
76 78 82 86 92 103 104 105 102 90 83 78
(Lows)
60 61 64 68 72 75 77 76 76 72 68 62

Highest all time high: 130
Lowest all time low: 27

Sources:
Average Weather for Miami, FL - Temperature and Precipitation
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

Here, the humidity affects weather from March-November. But it's still not as hot as Phoenix.

Now here's the same thing with Orlando:

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
(Highs)
72 74 79 83 91 100 104 105 100 88 79 73
(Lows)
50 51 56 60 66 71 73 73 72 65 59 53

Highest all time high: 130
Lowest all time low: 27

Here, humidity affects the weather from May-October. STILL not hotter than Phoenix.

Sources:
Average Weather for Orlando, FL - Temperature and Precipitation
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

I plan on adding more information about how many thunderstorms their ACTUALLY are and debunking the myth that it thunderstorms everyday during the summer... which is NOT true whatsoever.

I also plan on adding a UV index to this, as the sun plays an important role in how hot it feels, especially in a place like Florida where direct sun is much more intense than, say, New York.

[Spring Hillian]

A day without a thunderstorm SOMEWHERE in the Tampa Bay area is rare.


The rest of the data seems to be accurate.

Originally Posted by tampaboy

I'm sick of all the bull from people living in Florida exaggerating ten-fold how hot it is, and I'm sick of people visiting Florida claiming the weather is perfect. Both are lies. Don't believe people who give you a one-sided answer on the topic.

Here's the facts:

Avg. Temp. in Tampa:

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
(Highs)
70 72 76 81 86 89 90 90 89 84 78 72
(Lows)
52 54 58 62 69 74 75 75 74 68 61 55

Highest all time high: 99
Lowest all time low: 18

Source:
Average Weather for Tampa, FL - Temperature and Precipitation

First off, I'm using Tampa because it is not too close to the shore, but isn't too far away either. It's also halfway down the state, so I think it is a suitable choice.

All of Florida GENERALLY has similar temperatures during the summer, but north Florida has colder temperatures than south Florida during the winter. These are well known facts by anyone who knows about Florida weather.

Tampa happens to have winter temperatures about halfway between south Florida and north Florida.

The highest January high in south Florida is 78 in Hialeah.

Source:
Average Weather for Hialeah, FL - Temperature and Precipitation

The lowest January high in north Florida is 61 in Pensacola.

Source:
Average Weather for Pensacola, FL - Temperature and Precipitation

Now, obviously 90 degrees in Florida does not feel like 90 degrees, right? That's where that humidity everybody ******* about comes in.

Here's the data for relative humidity for Tampa:

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
(Mornings)
87% 86% 87% 86% 85% 86% 87% 90% 91% 89% 88% 88%
(Afternoons)
60% 57% 55% 52% 53% 60% 63% 65% 62% 58% 58% 60%

Source:
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

Let's look at the temperature data for Tampa, but this time with the heat index factored in, based on the relative humidity.

Avg. Temp. in Tampa INCLUDING the heat index:

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
(Highs)
70 72 76 81 88 98 102 103 97 87 78 72
(Lows)
52 54 58 62 69 74 75 75 74 68 61 55

Highest all time high: 126
Lowest all time low: 18

Okay, that's pretty hot. But the humidity only affects weather from May-October. And that's still not even as hot as cities like Phoenix get in the summer.

Here's avg. temp. in Miami INCLUDING the heat index:

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
(Highs)
76 78 82 86 92 103 104 105 102 90 83 78
(Lows)
60 61 64 68 72 75 77 76 76 72 68 62

Highest all time high: 130
Lowest all time low: 27

Sources:
Average Weather for Miami, FL - Temperature and Precipitation
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

Here, the humidity affects weather from March-November. But it's still not as hot as Phoenix.

Now here's the same thing with Orlando:

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
(Highs)
72 74 79 83 91 100 104 105 100 88 79 73
(Lows)
50 51 56 60 66 71 73 73 72 65 59 53

Highest all time high: 130
Lowest all time low: 27

Here, humidity affects the weather from May-October. STILL not hotter than Phoenix.

Sources:
Average Weather for Orlando, FL - Temperature and Precipitation
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

I plan on adding more information about how many thunderstorms their ACTUALLY are and debunking the myth that it thunderstorms everyday during the summer... which is NOT true whatsoever.

I also plan on adding a UV index to this, as the sun plays an important role in how hot it feels, especially in a place like Florida where direct sun is much more intense than, say, New York.

[user8]

i've said it before and i'll say it again, the UV index should not be ignored. i know you mentioned it in the end of your post but people who are considering a move down to florida really need to consider how being closer to the equator = more direct sunlight hitting your skin. it makes a hell of a difference.

[JM1822]

Your stats are definately correct. 100 degree temps are very very rare in Florida. However, I find the Florida heat to be wicked. I'm 36 and I've been here 14 years and I seem to tolerate the heat less and less each year. You showed the temperature and the humidity, but when you combine the two it makes for a miserable heat index. Where I am, it is currently 87 degrees but the heat index is 105. Yesterday, the heat index was 115.

I also find the winters to be quite cold due to the humidity. When I visit the northeast in the winter time, I can go outside in jeans and a t-shirt and shovel snow. When it gets to 50 degrees in Florida I'm shivering and looking for a jacket.

[jefffla01]

Lets not consider Florida purgatory regarding heat----that being said, we need to be honest.

I have lived in South Florida for almost 27 years----no way around it, it is extremely hot and humid down here for 6-7 months a years.

To throw up a graph and show that the high temps approach 90 only for only about 4 months a year is misleading. The humidity is a killer, and it is suffocating on a daily basis. The humidity is South Florida, on an average summer day, runs between 55-65%. When factoring in 91-93 degrees, the heat index is usually between 100-105 degrees.

There is no let up in the heat---it is constant without break for about 6 months. The nights are just as sultry---the nights are just as humid and soaking.

There is no way to sugarcoat South Floridas climate in the summer. It is enormously hot, muggy, and can be miserable. It is part of full time life in South Florida----you try to live with it the best way you can----but no denying it is uncomfortable.

[jambo101]

Originally Posted by jefffla01

There is no way to sugarcoat South Floridas climate in the summer. It is enormously hot, muggy, and can be miserable. It is part of full time life in South Florida----you try to live with it the best way you can----but no denying it is uncomfortable.

Uncomfortable for some, absolutely wonderful for others, all depends on what you like,personally i prefer a cold Canadian winter to a hot and humid Florida summer.

[doggiebus]

Originally Posted by jambo101

Uncomfortable for some, absolutely wonderful for others, all depends on what you like,personally i prefer a cold Canadian winter to a hot and humid Florida summer.

Exactly, this is a hard questions to answer as each one of us will have a different opinion on what is hot. To me 70-80F degrees is warm, anything above 80F is hot. All depends on who you ask.

[Jkgourmet]

I quite agree that Phoenix is hotter than Florida. Absolutely, positively. But that thing about dry heat? It has an element of truth to it.

The humidity makes it difficult for some people to breath. The humidity makes you sweat MORE than the higher, drier temperatures. The sweat makes you feel dirty.

And May-Oct is one-half of the year. Which explains why so many people in Florida are snowbirds.

Me, I love the heat. Humidity is way worse (and I used to live on Long Island and Philly, so I do know what humidity feels like, at lower temps than Florida.)

All that said, if I could locate a place in Florida or the Gulf Coast that was only incredibly humid 2-3 months a year, or had less humidity, or even a constant breeze, I'd be looking through the MLS right now. (I suspect this is one of the main reasons that real estate is so horrendously expensive in San Diego).

[seeriously]

I live on Cape Cod and it was 90 today but the difference from Florida is that in a few hours it will be in the mid 60s and I can go out and take a nice breezy walk. We get sea breezes off the ocean. Same thing in the morning. Florida nights don't cool down much. It's 24/7. And the humidity just plain sucks.

[observer]

I don't think so much how hot it is, even though it does get real hot. I think what most people do not like is how long the hot weather lasts!

At least in South Florida, I consider the "Hot" season from May-Oct. However, even within those months there are degrees of uncomfortable heat.
June, July, August, and September is generally the time of the year where it can be uncomfortable and you can get many days with the highs 90-93 with the heat index well over 100.

June and September (the outer 2 months of the 4) are quite similar. July and August are quite similar with July and August generally being the HOTTEST months of the year with usually very little relief from the heat. For example, the last few days, and it is forecasted for the next few as well, the low temperature in Miami is expected to be 80!

May and October you can get days where it is between 90-93, but no where near like you would in July and August. In October, those days are few and far in between. Even though in the fall of 2009 it seemed as if the summer was greatly extended and we had quite a few days even in late Oct. where it was 90; but that is generally not the norm.

Depending on the year, April can be nice with highs in the upper 70's and maybe lower 80's. Some years like this past spring we had many days in the mid 80's and upper 80's.

We definitely get warm/hot weather for many months, but people exaggerate and will say it is 10 months out of the year. For me, Dec., Jan., and Feb., are generally the best months out of the year weather wise for me in South Florida. As March is usually nice as well, but it usually begins to gradually warm up. March is usually not hot nor cold, and it usually is fairly dry as we usually do not get much rain; at least for most of March.

If I was a snowbird, I would be out of South Florida by May 1st, and would not return until Nov. 1st at the earliest.