We live in the Fort Lauderdale suburbs and are often asked when is the best time to visit Fort Lauderdale? The best time to visit Fort Lauderdale is generally in the range of December to May. There’s a great climate, which will range between the high 50’s at it’s coolest and the mid 80’s in the hottest months, and there is very little rain. It will be high tourism season, so you’ll have to deal with that, but Fort Lauderdale restaurants and excursions are never hard to book, especially if you plan ahead.
The Summer and fall months tend to have much more rain, and you’ll also encounter hurricane season, which could possibly ruin your trip all together. Hurricane season in Fort Lauderdale starts June 1 and runs until November 30th. The Summer has become unbearably hot, so make sure to pack very light clothes, bring an umbrella (or borrow one from your hotel, the good ones supply one for you), and of course, plenty of sunblock.
I do recommend getting travel insurance if you are worried about your trip being delayed due to storms. Often times in the Summer months flights are delayed because of lightning and heavy rain.
Our Personal Take on the Best Time to Visit Ft. Lauderdale
While you won’t get the gorgeous fall changes that I got to experience growing up in Minnesota, I recommend starting to look at visiting from October onward. There are plenty of events in Fort Lauderdale, coupled with hockey, football, and basketball in full swing, so if you follow professional sports, we have all three live in October!
November brings in yet another event, with the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show being an annual event! It’s never a dull moment and we’re often amazed at how every year the yachts just keep getting bigger and better! Average lows in November are in the low 60’s, so it’s a comfortable climate for everyone, even if it does “cool off” a little bit. I use that term lightly, hailing from the cold state of Minnesota. Low 60’s means our shirts are off and women are sun bathing up there!
You can find year round weather in Fort Lauderdale here.
Entering the month of December, it cools off a bit more. I’ve had Christmas parties each year that fell on the same weekend of the Fort Lauderdale Boat Parade and we’ve had to dress in sweaters, so it does feel a bit like the Holidays, which I like. By the way, Christmas in Fort Lauderdale is a great time as well.
Then again, we have had days in the 80’s as well, so you never know what to expect with global warming.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high in ºF | 75 | 77 | 78 | 82 | 85 | 89 |
| Average low in ºF | 57 | 59 | 62 | 66 | 71 | 74 |
| Av. precipitation in inch | 2.62 | 3.24 | 3.58 | 3.52 | 6.20 | 9.81 |
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high in ºF | 90 | 90 | 89 | 86 | 81 | 77 |
| Average low in ºF | 75 | 76 | 75 | 72 | 66 | 60 |
| Av. precipitation in inch | 7.41 | 8.00 | 9.45 | 6.40 | 3.90 | 2.39 |
As we get into January, things start to heat back up, but this last year we did have a couple cold fronts when playing pickleball in the morning. Then again, the sun comes up and the hoodies come right off, so don’t expect the cool weather to ruin your day. January is the coldest month in Fort Lauderdale over time, but not much cooler than February.
As we March into the Spring Break era, which put Fort Lauderdale and it’s history on the map in the 1980’s, the temperatures range in the high 70’s and low 80’s. Fort Lauderdale’s Beach is jam packed with locals and tourists during these months, so plan accordingly. You’ll also have the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Las Olas BLVD, which is always a blast, and of course the Florida Panthers and Miami Heat are usually entering their playoff runs.
May also features the always busy Fort Lauderdale Air Show, which this year was held Mother’s Day Weekend. You can expect hotel rooms to be pricier during this weekend, so make sure to check out the dates each year as you’ll definitely pay more for your accommodations.
As we enter the Summer months of June, July, and August, you can expect heavy rain and VERY hot days. The humidity is out of control, and that’s when we usually decide to visit Minneapolis’ North Loop and spend time in the land of 10,000 lakes. August is typically the hottest month in Fort Lauderdale, and the least amount of tourism takes place in that month.
As September comes, we’re ready to start welcoming tourists once again, but know that it’s the month of the most rain in Fort Lauderdale.
And back we go to October!
Also, if you find yourself on a layover or stuck in town, I put together this guide on 1 day in Fort Lauderdale so you can take advantage of your time here. Also, make sure you know that while Fort Lauderdale is a safe town, there are some areas to avoid which we speak about on the linked page.
Summary
That’s our take on the best time to visit the Fort Lauderdale area. There really is no bad time to visit, but do know the pro’s and con’s of visiting during the lesser traveled, more rainy Summer months. As always, we do advise you get travel insurance during these months just so you are safe. If we can help you with anything in regards to planning a trip to Fort Lauderdale, use the comments below or send us an email.
About Peter C.
Peter is a digital nomad who largely writes from Asia, Europe, and South America. Always following the "vibe," he sets up shop in hostels and AirBNB's and continues to entertain us with wild stories from life abroad. Ask him anything in our community forum.
