Understand
When people think of Orlando, most think of theme parks and a vast urban sprawl. However, the city proper contains none of the major theme parks Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, dinner attractions Arabian Nights, Medieval Times, or even most small theme parks Gatorland, Holyland Experience, Ripley's Believe-it-or-not, etc. However, since Orlando is the larger city associated with most of these popular attractions, you will find details and descriptions of them below.
When to visit
Most tourists visit Orlando between June and August, while another peak time for tourism is March and April. Ironically, the less busy times for tourism correspond to the best weather in the Orlando area; the summer months can be exceptionally busy with families who are making a trip while kids are on summer vacation. Visiting when the weather isn't so hot means less people in the area and that provides some advantages, but you will be able to enjoy cooler weather.
| Climate | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| High°F | 72 | 73 | 77 | 83 | 88 | 91 | 93 | 93 | 89 | 84 | 77 | 73 |
| Low°F | 50 | 51 | 55 | 61 | 67 | 73 | 75 | 73 | 72 | 65 | 56 | 51 |
| Precipitation in | 2.1 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 6.5 | 8.1 | 7.5 | 6.8 | 3.9 | 1.7 | 2.1 |
| Forecast | Check Orlando's 7 day forecast at NOAA. |
Many say central Florida has two seasons: hot and hotter. Orlando has warm, balmy springs and autumns; hot summers complete with daily thunderstorms; and temperate winters affected by the occasional cold front. That being said:
Spring
in Orlando has highs in the 80s 27°C in March & April transitioning to around 90°F 32°C in May and low-mid 90s in June. Spring is the driest time of year here, and in the past decade some spring months have seen less than a half-inch of rain! This is the time of year in which many small wildfires appear around the region, but this should not bother anyone who stays within the urban area. March and April are great times to visit with dry days, clear skies, and warm temperatures and no cold fronts. However, late May and early June are arguably the worst time to visit filled with hot, humid, dry days.Florida Cold & Snow
While most think of Florida as a year-round paradise, many Americans would be surprised to learn that there are at least 10-15 mornings a year in which lows fall into the 30s 2°C in Orlando, at least once down to freezing or below. Lows in the mid 20s -4°C occur every 2-3 years. But don't worry, even on the coldest of mornings, highs will rebound into the 50s and 60s! It is always clear when it gets that cold, many hours after the cold front and any precipitation has passed. Nevertheless, every 3-4 years, snow flurries will mix with rain somewhere in the region, the most recent being 3 January, 2008. However, only once since records began in 1948 has any measurable snow fall at the airport 0.2" in/0.5 cm Jan 1977. So if you visit between November and March, bring a jacket...it may be warmer than northern states, but not as warm as you think it will be!
Summer
begins with the start of daily thunderstorms around mid-June. Highs from mid-June to mid-September are in the mid 90s, with 90ºF 32°C often being reached by 10-11AM, and lows in the 70s 23°C. Due to Orlando's proximity to two coasts, thunderstorms form everyday during this period from ocean breezes which heat over land, rise, and cool in the atmosphere to create sometimes violent thunderstorms see the "Stay Safe" section. However, they often will drop temperatures into the low 80s 28°C after passing...a welcome relief from the hot temperatures earlier in the year.Autumn
varies much more from year to year than spring. The daily thunderstorms taper off in September leaving highs in the mid-high 80s 29°C until mid-October. The first cold front of the season will usually pass between mid and late October, plunging highs into the 70s 24°C and lows into the 50s 12°C and high 40s 10°C. The cooling trend continues into November and December, with highs falling into the 70s 24°C by late December and lows into the 50s 12°C, affected only by the occasional cold front which can plunge highs into the 60s 18°CNov and 50s 12°CDec and lows into the 40s 7°CNov and as low as freezing 32ºF/0ºC by mid December.Winter
is much the same as November and December. Highs are in the 70s 24°C, lows in the 50s 12°C, affected every week or two by cold fronts. Following a cold front, highs can drop into the 50s 12°C, lows into the 30s 2°C.