Fort Lauderdale boasts a tropical climate with warm, sunny weather year-round. Summers are hot, humid, and wet, while winters are short, comfortable, and mostly dry. Average highs range from 24°C in January to 32°C in July and August, making the city a favourite for beach lovers and outdoor enthusiasts at any time of year.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Fort Lauderdale’s tropical rainforest climate means little seasonal variation in temperature but clear wet and dry seasons. The wet season runs from May to October, bringing hot, humid days with average highs of 30–32°C and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Rainfall peaks in June to September, with monthly totals often exceeding 200 mm. Humidity is high, but showers are typically brief, leaving plenty of time for sun. The Atlantic hurricane season overlaps with the wet season, peaking in September and October, though direct hits are rare.
The dry season lasts from November to April, offering warm, comfortable weather with average highs of 24–28°C and lower humidity. Nights are pleasantly cool, dipping to 15–20°C. Rainfall is much less frequent, and sunshine is abundant – Fort Lauderdale enjoys about 3,000 hours of sun annually. Sea temperatures stay warm year-round, ranging from 24°C in winter to 29°C in summer, making swimming possible in any month. Winds are generally light to moderate, averaging 12–18 km/h, but can pick up during storms. Snow is virtually unknown, and frosts are extremely rare.
| Average climate data for Fort Lauderdale, United States | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 23 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 26 | 24 | 31 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 18 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 22 | 20 | 18 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 10 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 43 | 50 | 58 | 68 | 44 | 38 | 24 | 17 | 396 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 9 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 17 | 13 | 10 | 179 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 72 | 73 | 68 | 70 | 71 | 74 | 73 | 72 | 73 | 75 | 74 | 76 | 73 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 23 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 26 | 24 | 27 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 33 | 30 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 30 |
| Average UV index | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
The best time to visit Fort Lauderdale is from March to May. During these months, you’ll enjoy warm temperatures (26–30°C), low humidity, minimal rainfall, and plenty of sunshine. The ocean is inviting, and the city is lively but not overcrowded, making it perfect for beach days, boating, and outdoor events.
The least favourable time to visit is from August to October, when the wet season peaks. Expect hot, humid days, frequent heavy rain, and the highest risk of tropical storms or hurricanes. Outdoor plans may be disrupted, but you’ll find fewer tourists and lower accommodation prices if you don’t mind the rain.
Average highs in Fort Lauderdale range from 24°C in January to 32°C in July and August. Even in winter, daytime temperatures are warm, and nights are comfortably mild.
The rainy season runs from May to October, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms and high humidity. June to September are the wettest months, each often seeing over 200 mm of rain.
Yes, Fort Lauderdale’s beaches are enjoyable year-round. Sea temperatures stay between 24°C in winter and 29°C in summer, making swimming and water sports possible any month.
Fort Lauderdale is in a hurricane-prone area, with the official season from June to November. Major storms are most likely in September and October, but direct hits are rare. Always monitor weather forecasts if visiting during this period.
The city enjoys about 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, with the sunniest months from March to August. Even in the wet season, most days have several hours of sun between showers.
Cold weather is rare, with winter lows typically around 15–18°C. Frosts are extremely uncommon, and snow has been recorded only once in the city’s history.
Pack light, breathable clothes, sun protection, and a swimsuit. Bring a rain jacket or umbrella for summer visits. Light layers are useful for cooler winter evenings.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (30.7 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (22.9 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 26.9 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (27.9 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (17.9 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 23.4 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (30.2 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is February (23.4 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 26.7 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is August (67.7 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is January (9.9 mm). Over the whole year there are 396.1 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is September (23.6 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is February (8.3 days). Over the whole year there are 179.2 days of rain on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is December (75.8 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is March (67.9 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 72.6 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is January (18.2 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is July (12.6 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 16.1 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is November (34.4 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is March (27.3 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 30.3 %.
The months with the longest days, so the most daylight, are June and July (Average daylight: 13.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 10 h). Over the whole year there are 11.7 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is August (Average sunshine: 10.2 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is October (Average sunshine: 6 h). Over the whole year there are 8.2 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are May, June, July, August and September (UV index: 7). The months with the lowest average UV index are January and December (UV index: 5). Over the whole year the average UV index is 6.2.
