Best time to visit Miami

Even though January is the coldest month on the Miami calendar, the conditions are mild. During the day, thermometer always points to marks over 20°C (68°F), rarely dropping lower than 21°C (70°F). However, under the influence of cold fronts, at night, the temperature might drop to 10°C (50°F). Such chill nights are more of an exception, and they don’t occur repeatedly. To make sure your stay is comfortable, bring a jacket or a sweater for evenings and early mornings. January is sunny, dry, and somewhat windy. Hence, you can do sightseeing without the risk of being caught by rain or bothered by the scorching heat. Moreover, the sea is warm enough for swimming, especially for the northern folks.

The weather in February is identical to the previous month. Fresh mornings are followed by pleasantly warm days that end with mild evenings. The temperature doesn’t deviate much from the mark of 20°C (68°F), except for several chillier nights. February is slightly warmer than January as the sky is clear most of the time, and Miami receives more sunshine. Together with December, February is one of the driest months of the year, and the risk of rain is nearly non-existent. If you don’t plan day-long sunbathing and swimming for vacation, February is an excellent time to come over. Miami has comfortable weather for long walks and occasional swimming. Fewer travelers are another perk of February as the main tourist season is still ahead.

March is the transition time between mild winter and hot summer. The beginning of the month resembles February, with its fresh nights and comfortably warm days. Towards the end of March, the temperature increases by several degrees. Being one of the driest months, March is also one of the sunniest. As the sky is cloudless all day long, the air may warm up to 26°C (79°F). Besides, the sea temperature is around 24°C (75°F). Hence, at noon, you can easily spend hours swimming and sunbathing. However, it gets windier in the afternoon, and evenings are still fresh enough to put on a jacket. Although March doesn’t meet all the requirements of a typical beach vacation, it’s suitable for sightseeing and having rest by the Atlantic Ocean.

In April, the weather gets dream-like. The temperature starts crawling up but stays in a reasonable range and remains comfortable. Even at night, it doesn’t drop below 23°C (73°F), and during the day, it might peak to 30°C (86°F). Owing to the light breeze from the Atlantic Ocean, the days are not sultry, yet pleasantly warm. Simultaneously, the water warms up and hits the mark of 26°C (79°F). Compared to the upcoming summer months, the weather is dry, with fewer short rainy episodes. When rain is over, the clouds vanish, and the sun keeps on shining until the evening. April is a great month to stop by Miami as the heat is not scorching, and there are no rains, which are more typical for summer.

The temperature keeps on rising, and it never falls below 20°C (68°F). At noon, the thermometer might show above 30°C (86°F). The heat is still bearable, but it’s better to spend the hottest hours indoors. The air is warm from the early morning, and you can dedicate an entire day to swimming and sunbathing. The sea is generally calm and as warm as 27°C (81°F). Besides, you can expect it to be sunny half of the day. Dry and adequately hot, the first half of May is as perfect for a visit as April. However, by the last week of the month, the sky may get cloudy in the afternoon, it starts to rain more often, the humidity increases, and occasional thunderstorms mark the transition to the wet season.

June is the official beginning of the wet season that will last until mid-October. From the very first days of the month, it starts raining a lot. Large amounts of precipitation make June one of the wettest months of the year. Hence, a raincoat or an umbrella will come in handy. Although showers are frequent and heavy, they never last long. The sky clears up quickly, and the sun shines for the rest of the day. The positive side of the rainy weather is that afternoon downpours and occasional thunderstorms moderate the heat. In June, the temperature rises together with humidity. Mornings are barely fresher than noons, and the difference between day and night temperatures is tiny.

In Miami, the peak summer season starts in July and lasts until September. These days the air and the water are at their hottest, with the temperatures no lower than 25°C (77°F) and 29°C (84°F) respectively. Luckily, the breeze from the Atlantic Ocean makes the heat more tolerable. Compared to the rest of the summer months, July is somewhat drier. Although it rains a lot, the showers are never torrential. After a short, yet heavy rain, you can enjoy a cloudless sky and spend a day sunbathing and swimming. However, the showers do not follow any schedule–a downpour may start suddenly, especially in the second half of the day.

In general, the Miami weather in August is almost the same as in July. During the day, the temperature peaks at 35°C (95°F) and doesn’t drop below 26°C (79°F) at night. Even the ocean breeze is as hot as 30°C (86°F). The only thing that differentiates August from July is the level of precipitation: in August it’s usually higher. Throughout the month, rain can catch you at any moment, but the chances are higher in the afternoon. Besides, August, especially the second half of the month, faces the peak of the tropical storm season: a heavy hurricane might hit the Miami coast. Although the risks are low, it’s better to take them into account when planning your trip to the city.

Although the calendar marks September as an autumn month, in Miami, it’s still summer, with a slight deterioration of the weather conditions. The temperature is identical to August, rising to 35°C (95°F) at noon and remaining as high as 25°C (77°F) at night. The water temperature is around 29°C (84°F). The number of sunshine hours decreases a bit as the days get shorter, but it’s still sunny enough for sunbathing. However, frequent rains may interrupt your beach holidays. September is among the rainiest months of the year, and it’s likely to rain almost every day. The good news is that downpours occur mainly in the evening and early morning, leaving you an entire day for enjoying the beach. The Atlantic hurricane season on the Florida coast is in full swing; thus, the risk of a heavy storm persists.

October is one of two months of a short Miami autumn. Even though the air is still hot, the temperature starts to decrease gradually, especially in the second half of the month. The sea remains hot, suitable for swimming. The days are as sunny as they were in summer, but occasionally the sky gets covered in clouds. Together with June and September, October is one of the wettest months. It’s likely to rain every other day, but the showers are lighter than those in September. Besides, by the end of October, the tropical storm season approaches its end, withdrawing the tension imposed by the risk of an abrupt hurricane.

In November, the amount of precipitation is three times lower than in October. Such a change introduces the beginning of the dry season in Miami. Rainy episodes still occur, but they are light, short, and occur mainly in the evening. The humidity decreases, and it becomes easier to breathe. Also, the temperature drops a bit. Even during the hottest hours of the day, it doesn’t exceed 26°C (79°F). The water temperature is identical. As the days are long enough, sunny, and dry, November is a good time for visiting Miami. You can spend days on the beach and go sightseeing as the number of tourists declines.

Although the calendar winter officially begins in December, the weather in Miami is mild and spring-like: it never snows and never gets truly cold. The temperature drops to around 20°C (68°F) and fluctuates around this mark until March. At lowest, the thermometer points to 16°C (61°F). Throughout the month, you may notice two-three chilly nights brought by cold fronts from the north. During the day, the sun warms up the air, and the weather is generally comfortable enough for sightseeing. Swimming is also an option, as the sea is as warm as 24°C (75°F). Besides, December is one of the driest months of the year, with less than 45 mm (1.8 in) of precipitation.