Orlando Weather and a Few ‘Myth’takes Visitors Wrongly Assume.
Myth #1) There Are Lots of Hurricanes in Orlando
Mr Walt Disney did a lot of research about Orlando weather when he decided to open Disney World Orlando. And he decided it was more than safe to make Orlando the home of the Mouse.
But packing for an Orlando trip needs careful planning.
Florida has a sub tropical climate giving us year round sunshine and short bursts of rain. The result is warm weather, glorious skies and lush landscapes.
But along with that comes tropical storms. Hurricane season is officially June 1st to November 20th. From mid August to mid October is the highest risk.
Check out our Things to do in Orlando when it Rains
Thankfully, most hurricanes take a path bypassing the State. If they do hit land, it’s generally coastal areas that take the brunt. Orlando is right in the center of Florida, 60 miles away from the coastline. By the time a storm reaches inland it’s usually nothing more than strong gusts and heavy rainfall. In fact, many coastal areas evacuate TO Orlando.
If a tropical storm does develop, Hurricanes can be detected well in advance with storm trackers. Orlando is extremely well prepared and has advanced warning systems and plenty of TV and radio alerts.
Pop Pop Jack Soaking Up the Glorious Florida Sunshine
How Many Times Has Disney Closed for Hurricanes in Orlando?
Surprisingly, not that many and sometimes only for a partial day:
- 1999 Hurricane Floyd
- 2004 Hurricane Charley
- 2004 Hurricane Frances
- 2004 Hurricane Jeanne
- 2016 Hurricane Matthew
- 2017 Hurricane Irma
- 2019 Hurricane Dorian
- 2022 Hurricane Ian
Disney during a hurricane is well ahead of the game though – they have the NOAA Storm Ready Status. So Disney is really one of the safest places to be if a hurricane hits.
Myth #2) It’s the Sunshine State, it’s Always Sunny, Right?
With the Everglades and over 30,000 Lakes? You’ve Gotta be Kidding!
We get rain. A lot of it. The sub tropical Orlando weather blesses us with year round warm sunshine, but we get nature’s fury too with rain storms.
Usually, the storms are quick short bursts in the afternoons. It’s kind of like taking a nice warm shower with your clothes on.
And the heat soon dries everything off.
Sometimes though, torrential rain is in for the day. Stay indoors and cozy up with a movie, or go outside and play in the rain. The parks will be much quieter.
There’s plenty of things to do in Orlando when it rains though: Things to Do in Orlando When it Rains
Myth #3) It Never Snows in Orlando
Wrong! It Snows Every Night in December!
Ok, so it’s fake and blown from machines, but who cares? The atmosphere is magical, the kids love it and excited squeals warm your heart. Nightly Snowing in Celebration is an annual tradition loved by visitors and locals alike. There’s ‘snow’ too at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. And that’s pretty magical too! Snowfall flurries on Main Street with Cinderellas Castle as the backdrop. Is there anything more magical?
Although it’s very rare, it has actually snowed in Florida on occasions. Admittedly not the deep-build-a-snowman-have-a-snowball-fight kind of snow. But white flurries all the same. The latest snow was actually reported in Jacksonville in January 2016.
What to Pack for Orlando Weather
We dress in layers For Orlando Weather. Summer and Winter.
On a winter’s day, the morning could start off fairly cool so you’ll need a jacket. By the afternoon you could be baking hot in glorious sunshine and blue skies. By the evening, you might have chattering teeth standing there watching the fireworks.
You’ll need layers you can take off and put back on again, so pack things that are light and easy to roll up and carry in a back pack.
If you’re going back out in the evenings for fireworks and parades, pack a few blankets to take with you. (There’s plenty provided if you’re staying in one of our Orlando vacation homes). These may be useful to wrap around you while you’re waiting for the fireworks or standing watching the parade go by. If you don’t want to carry blankets around, take a few towels to wrap around and huddle up.
It’s a Hot One.
On a summer’s day, the morning will start off pleasantly warm. The humidity builds at a rapid pace as the day gets hotter. You’ll be stripping off as much as you legally can!
Then you’ll have the rain to contend with.
Ponchos are a vital fashion accessory all year-long.
In summer they’ll protect you from the afternoon showers. In winter, they’ll protect you from the odd rain storm, but they are great wind breakers too. The winter breezes can be cold, so put a sweater over a t-shirt and have a poncho at the ready. If you’re staying in one of our vacation homes, you’ll find poncho’s in the closets.
Footwear is another important consideration too. If you get caught in the rain, there’s nothing worse than squelching your way around the rest of the day. Flip flops, Crocs or water shoes are perfect for rainy summer days.
Slather on the Lotion
Summer and winter, sunscreen lotion is essential. Even on a cloudy dull day, the harmful UV rays will penetrate through.
Check out our packing guide: Essential Packing Tips for Visiting Orlando to get more ideas.
Average Temperatures in Orlando
Hottest Day Ever Recorded in Florida: 109°F / 43°C – June 29th 1931
Coldest Day Ever Recorded in Florida: -2°F / -19°C – February 13th 1899
Most Rainfall in 1 Calendar Day Ever Recorded in Florida: – 15.5 inches – April 29th 2014
January: Average High = 71°F | Average Low = 49°F | Average Rainfall = 2.74 inches
February: Average High = 74°F | Average Low = 52°F | Average Rainfall = 2.83 inches
March: Average High = 78°F | Average Low = 56°F | Average Rainfall = 3.79 inches
April: Average High = 83°F | Average Low = 60°F | Average Rainfall = 2.49 inches
May: Average High = 88°F | Average Low = 66°F | Average Rainfall = 3.30 inches
June: Average High = 91°F | Average Low = 72°F | Average Rainfall = 8.74 inches
July: Average High = 92°F | Average Low = 74°F | Average Rainfall = 7.10 inches
August: Average High = 92°F | Average Low = 74°F | Average Rainfall = 7.823 inches
September: Average High = 90°F | Average Low = 73°F | Average Rainfall = 6.02 inches
October: Average High = 85°F | Average Low = 66°F | Average Rainfall = 3.29 inches
November: Average High = 79°F | Average Low = 59°F | Average Rainfall = 2.42 inches
December: Average High = 73°F | Average Low = 52°F | Average Rainfall = 2.63 inches
Bad Hair Days in Orlando Weather
You have to face facts. When the air is humid, your hair will totally take on a life of its’ very own. Humidity and hair do NOT go well together. They never will.
That’s why scrunchies were invented.
You can battle with the hairdryer, lash on loads of hair products and try to tame the beast.
Or you can scrunchie up and go with the frizz.
Monica’s Bad Hair Day in Friends
Once you’ve been on a few roller-coasters, the odd water ride and got caught in afternoon showers, your hair is never going to perfect anyway.
If you really don’t want to do a Monica, there are some products you can try:
- Aveda Be Curly
- Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum
- Bed Head’s Foxy Curls
- Redken’s Curvaceous Full Swirl
So Don’t Let Orlando Weather Myths put you off. A record-breaking 130 MILLION visitors came to Florida in 2019.
It didn’t dampen their enthusiasm or vacation!
If you are looking for a super cozy place to stay during your Orlando rip, we would love to welcome you to one of our family friendly vacation homes near Disney.
- 3 Bedroom Resort Home – Sleeps up to 6-8 from $200 a night
- 5 Bedroom Pool Home – Sleeps up to 12 from $360 a night
I read that Orlando area does not have tornadoes, hurricanes, because Orlando is not situated close to the Atlantic ocean, unlike the othet parts . It does only as a heavy rain. But Orlando has frequent floods.
Now we have completely different information.
Could you clarify, if Orlando has the same type of hurricanes or they differ by quality, time range & etc.
This information is very important to us, since we are planning to move from the north of this country to the south.
Thank you
Orlando does get hurricanes and tornadoes, you can see the list that have caused closures above. However, as Orlando is inland, generally by the time a hurricane reaches here, it has usually weakened in terms of strength. It can still cause terrible damage and disruption though, but thankfully it is rare. Tornadoes do also occur in Orlando, but they are generally not long-track tornadoes.
Thank you Brother!