Florida State Center Wiki: The Florida Wet, Or Rainy, Season

The Florida Rain Season

The Wet Season is typically considered to begin in the latter part of May and resembles "summer" across much of the remainder of the country. Warm temperatures (mid to upper 80s) begin earlier, but usually do not coincide with the beginning of frequent summer-like rains. The primary difference between summers in east central Florida and those at higher latitudes is that the heat and humidity are relentless (i.e. there are no synoptic scale fronts that bring significant cooling and drying). Though it does not rain every day during the summer, the frequency of rainfall usually begins to increase in late May. The start of the Wet Season is occasionally delayed until June and in rare cases, even as late as early July (e.g. 1998).

The onset of the Wet Season in east central Florida happens when the frequency of rainfall increases, often before dew points and minimum temperatures stay above 70 degrees. This is most likely due to the lower sea surface temperatures adjacent to east central Florida. The Gulf Stream being farther offshore compared to south Florida is the primary reason for the delay in the near shore sea surface temperature rise. Another minor factor for the delay in heating of the waters is a slightly lower sun angle compared to south Florida. Heating of land areas in east central Florida is also affected by the sun angle. In some years this may be a small factor that delays the destabilization of the atmosphere and the associated onset of more frequent showers and thunderstorms along the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic sea breeze boundaries.

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Daily Fact

Most Gulf Coast residents can name several hurricanes - from Hurricane Andrew (Florida and Louisiana), Audrey (Southwest Louisiana), Betsy (Southeast Louisiana), Camille (Mississippi and Louisiana), Hugo (S. Carolina), Opal (Florida and Alabama), to the most recent episodes of Georges (that swept through Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi), and Ivan, Jeanne, Karl, and Nicole.

Source: Louisiana State Center