Climate and Storm History of South Florida

The region of South Florida, located at the southern tip of the state and including the Florida Keys, experiences what is termed a subtropical monsoon climate.  This is otherwise known as Köppen climate classification Aw.  The city of Miami and most of the surrounding South Florida metropolitan area all undergo roughly the same weather at the same times throughout the year.  The summer months are hot and humid, with high temperatures averaging between 88 degrees and 92 degrees Fahrenheit.  Lows in the summer months average between 70 and 75 degrees.  The all-time record high temperature is 100 degrees, which was recorded on 21 July 1942.

Winters in South Florida are mild, but on average are cooler than nearby coastal areas that are warmed by trending from the Atlantic Ocean.  In winter, the area sees cold fronts that bring cold weather for short periods starting in November and continuing through March.  The lowest temperature ever recorded is 26 degrees Fahrenheit on 13 December 1934.  This was recorded at Homestead Air Force Base, located further inland than some of the coastal towns of the South Florida area.

In the agricultural areas located more than 10 miles from the coast, frosts and freezes are common approximately 5–10 times per year.  High temperatures in winter average between 65 and 80 degrees, and lows average between 47 and 57 degrees Fahrenheit.

Summer is the season when most of the rain occurs, with South Florida experiencing a wet season lasting from mid-May to early October. The dry season sees little if any rain, with most of it coming with the passing of cold fronts.  Snowfall is extremely rare, but was recorded once at Homestead Air Force Base, on January 20, 1977.  This event marked the farthest south that snowfall has ever been reported in the lower 48 United States.

Hurricanes do pose a threat to the South Florida area, and even reach those regions that are not located on the immediate coast.  In recent history, the strongest one was Hurricane Andrew, in 1992, which devastated many towns and agricultural areas of South Florida.  It took 5 to 10 years for things to recover. Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma brushed by in 2005, but did not pass directly over South Florida.