Weather & Seasons

 

Each and every single season has something to offer - see below.

 

Peak/Snowbird Season - November to April 

Due to its balmy winter temperatures, the term “snowbird season” has affectionately been coined to reference the visitors here who want to escape the cold weather in the winter months. For this reason, you will find that peak season in Key West will generally fall between November and February, with snowbird season lasting until the end of April. With November marking the end of hurricane season, the beautiful blue skies open up once again, the humidity drops, bugs and seaweed disappear, the tradewinds pick up and the beginning of the heavy tourism months begin.

  • Upside to Peak Season
    • Great Weather - heat that’s not unbearable, low rain, low humidity 
  • Downside To Peak Season
    • Higher volumes of tourists means more planning ahead to get reservations into the more popular restaurants and tours
    • Higher Prices 
    • Winds can make boating unpredictable. If boating is part of your trip itinerary, you may want to keep a few days open to ensure you will get ideal conditions. 

Summer Season - May to August

May through to late August mark the summer season of Key West. While it gets warm here, it’s not typically any higher than the northern states - this is not central Florida. It definitely gets hot, but rarely over 90 (but also remember - full sun, you’ll feel this heat!)  This also coincides with the start of rain and hurricane season, and its location in the upper fringes of the Caribbean puts it at risk.  A rainstorm tends to pass through most afternoons, but rarely does an unnamed storm system bring full or multiple days of cloudy skies and rain. 

  • Upside to Summer Season
    • Lower Occupancy = Lower prices
    • High Heat – if you like the heat, then this is the perfect season to visit
  • Downside to Summer Season
    • Weather Unpredictability 
    • Mosquitos and no-see-ems can be out and about in the evening
    • It’s HUMID – leave the makeup at home, because you’ll probably sweat it off!

 

Offseason - September & October

Marked as off-season, September and October are considered to be the wettest months at the heart of hurricane season. There is no guarantee that a hurricane will occur, hurricanes can go years between episodes (Ian skirted KW in September 2022, and the last direct hit was Irma when it landed in Cudjoe Key in September 2017) . If you do decide to travel during this time, it is worth being flexible with your travel plans and don't be surprised by flight cancellations. That being said, if you love to relax and watch the world go by at the heart of a downpour and thunderstorm, then you will not beat Key West for Instagram-worthy footage. Remember rainclouds make for the best sunsets!

  • Upside to Offseason
      • The Mesmerizing Thunderstorms – If, like us, you like to watch a good thunderstorm roll by, then these off-season months will showcase the best in the world
      • Restaurant Availability – Sample the best Key West has to offer with lots of availability due to a much smaller visitor volume
      • Humidity starting to drop slightly, but you'll still be plenty warm!
  • Downside to Offseason
    • Unpredictable Weather, peak hurricane season

 

Hurricane Season (June 1 - November 30)

Worst case scenario our house is stilted to limit water damage, and the house, roof and windows are rated against hurricanes

  • https://www.nhc.noaa.gov
    • This is the official tropical weather tracking page from NOAA, and the source of those warning cones and maps on TV (sometimes altered by Trump and his Sharpie). This is the source of official warnings. 
  • https://spaghettimodels.com
    • Mike’s Weather Page is a busy but highly useful page run by a Florida native, and unofficially regarded by locals as an invaluable source of predictions of incoming weather. When storms are coming he is very active on Twitter and posts several updates a day on his YouTube channel and Facebook page. In addition to useful info for your trip planning, he has great, entertaining and easy to understand info on weather, hurricane formation and meteorology in general.