The weather in Orlando is often said to be divided into 2 seasons: hot and hotter. Florida isn’t known as The Sunshine State for no reason! While the subtropical climate in America’s southernmost state is certainly a lot warmer than most of the rest of the country, it still has 4 distinct seasons, including warms springs and autumns, hot summers and cool winters.

The peak seasons for tourist arrivals in Orlando depend on school and work schedules but, if you have a bit of flexibility, there are better times to visit when you’ll have more bearable weather and shorter queues at the major attractions. While picking your time carefully is certainly important for a memorable trip, the common saying in Florida is that, if you don’t like the weather right now, wait a minute and it’ll change.

  • Best time to go to Orlando

    Best time to go to Orlando

    The best time to visit Orlando is from mid-September to early November. During this admittedly quite brief time, the temperatures are down from their summer highs of 90°F (32°C) into a more comfortable range of around 75°F (23.9°C). Daily thunderstorms, which often start around mid-June, begin to taper off in September and the humidity reduces. Most significantly, this is well after the school holidays peak, meaning that the city and its hotels are less crowded.

    Alternatively, the spring weather of late April to early June offers roughly the same temperatures as the autumn, with similarly low rainfall. The big difference in conditions is the lower humidity, which drops to an average of 49% compared to 60% in summer and 56% in the autumn. If you book your holiday in May, you’ll also dodge the spring break crowds of March and April, as well as the Atlantic hurricane season (June to November).

  • Hottest time in Orlando

    Hottest time in Orlando

    The weather in Orlando is at its hottest from mid-June to mid-September. Temperatures average as high as 82°F (28°C) in August, with nighttime lows rarely dropping below 72°F (22°C). Afternoon thunderstorms occur almost every day which, while providing a welcome relief from the heat, can be quite violent.

    The Atlantic hurricane season occurs during Orlando's long summer. On average, each season creates around 10 powerful storms, with 6 of them becoming hurricanes. These mostly turn south and miss Orlando, but the risk is still there. It’s best to keep an eye on the local news, just in case.

  • Peak seasons in Orlando

    Peak seasons in Orlando

    Orlando gets really busy with tourists during 2 periods each year. As Florida is among the top destinations for domestic travel in mainland USA (and with Orlando having so many great attractions for families), these 2 peaks naturally coincide with the school holidays – spring break in March and April and summer vacation from June to September.

    The summer vacation, as the name suggests, coincides with Orlando’s summer, with high temperatures and humidity and daily thunderstorms. Conditions are much more comfortable during spring break, with temperatures rising from their winter lows to reach around 70°F (21°C). Rainfall and humidity are also low, which can result in small brush fires on the outskirts of the city.

  • Low season in Orlando

    Low season in Orlando

    It could be said that Orlando’s low season is any time of the year when it isn’t a school holiday since these are the times when the tourist numbers (and, as a result, hotel prices) are at their lowest. This is particularly true during the winter months from November to March. Temperatures drop as far as 48°F (9°C) and can go even lower every few years.

    While winter in Orlando enjoys the lowest rainfall of the year, it can sometimes come with snow and sleet, so it's advisable to bring a few warm clothes. However, this is an exception rather than rule, and Florida deserves its reputation as a year-round paradise. The average temperature over the whole period is rarely lower than 60°F (15.5°C).

Ben Reeves | Óforbetranlegur ferðalangur