Best time to visit Fort Lauderdale
The best time to visit Fort Lauderdale is November–April, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23.4 °C / 74 °F | 17.7 °C / 64 °F | 43 mm / 1.7 in | best month |
| February | 24.3 °C / 76 °F | 19 °C / 66 °F | 41 mm / 1.6 in | best month |
| March | 25.2 °C / 77 °F | 19.8 °C / 68 °F | 46 mm / 1.8 in | best month |
| April | 26.9 °C / 80 °F | 22 °C / 72 °F | 65 mm / 2.6 in | best month |
| May | 28.3 °C / 83 °F | 23.8 °C / 75 °F | 114 mm / 4.5 in | good month |
| June | 29.6 °C / 85 °F | 25.5 °C / 78 °F | 187 mm / 7.4 in | neither best nor good |
| July | 30.3 °C / 87 °F | 26.3 °C / 79 °F | 151 mm / 5.9 in | neither best nor good |
| August | 30.5 °C / 87 °F | 26.5 °C / 80 °F | 177 mm / 7 in | neither best nor good |
| September | 29.8 °C / 86 °F | 25.8 °C / 78 °F | 194 mm / 7.6 in | neither best nor good |
| October | 28.3 °C / 83 °F | 24.3 °C / 76 °F | 120 mm / 4.7 in | good month |
| November | 26 °C / 79 °F | 21.3 °C / 70 °F | 64 mm / 2.5 in | best month |
| December | 24.7 °C / 76 °F | 19.8 °C / 68 °F | 51 mm / 2 in | best month |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: best
- FFebruary: best
- MMarch: best
- AApril: best
- MMay: good
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: neither
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: best
- DDecember: best
- Best
- November–April
- Good
- May, October
Fort Lauderdale is best for exploring on foot from November through April, when it is warm, dry and sunny apart from a touch of humidity; May and October are good as rain and humidity build in the shoulder seasons, while June through September turn hot, muggy and wet with the year's heaviest downpours.
Why these months
January · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 23.5 °C / 74 °F, average daily high 23.4 °C / 74 °F, precipitation 43 mm / 1.7 in, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, wet days 7.1 days, average daily low 17.7 °C / 64 °F.
Against: relative humidity 72%.
Watch out for: Martin Luther King Jr. Day closures, New Year's Day closures, Thanksgiving-to-New-Year travel crowds.
February · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 25.1 °C / 77 °F, average daily high 24.3 °C / 76 °F, precipitation 41 mm / 1.6 in, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, days with heavy rain 0.9 days, wet days 6.8 days, average daily low 19 °C / 66 °F.
Against: relative humidity 72%.
Watch out for: Presidents' Day closures.
March · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 26.1 °C / 79 °F, average daily high 25.2 °C / 77 °F, precipitation 46 mm / 1.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, wet days 6.6 days, average daily low 19.8 °C / 68 °F, relative humidity 69%.
Watch out for: Easter closures, Good Friday closures.
April · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 29 °C / 84 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, average daily high 26.9 °C / 80 °F.
Against: wet days 8.8 days, days with heavy rain 2.1 days, relative humidity 71%, precipitation 65 mm / 2.6 in, average daily low 22 °C / 72 °F.
Watch out for: Easter closures, Good Friday closures.
May · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 88%, average daily high 28.3 °C / 83 °F.
Against: wet days 13.8 days, precipitation 114 mm / 4.5 in, days with heavy rain 3.5 days, relative humidity 74%, feels like (high) 31.9 °C / 89 °F, average daily low 23.8 °C / 75 °F.
Also on: Air show.
Watch out for: Memorial Day closures.
October · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 85%, average daily high 28.3 °C / 83 °F.
Against: wet days 15.4 days, precipitation 120 mm / 4.7 in, days with heavy rain 4 days, relative humidity 76%, feels like (high) 31.5 °C / 89 °F, average daily low 24.3 °C / 76 °F.
Also on: Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Sea turtle hatchling release.
Watch out for: Columbus Day closures, Halloween closures.
November · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 27.3 °C / 81 °F, average daily high 26 °C / 79 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, precipitation 64 mm / 2.5 in, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, wet days 9.4 days, average daily low 21.3 °C / 70 °F.
Against: relative humidity 74%.
Also on: Holiday Boat Parade, Sea turtle hatchling release.
Watch out for: Thanksgiving-to-New-Year travel crowds, Thanksgiving travel and closures, Veterans Day closures.
December · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 25.6 °C / 78 °F, average daily high 24.7 °C / 76 °F, precipitation 51 mm / 2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, wet days 8.2 days, average daily low 19.8 °C / 68 °F.
Against: relative humidity 75%.
Also on: Holiday Boat Parade.
Watch out for: Christmas closures, Thanksgiving-to-New-Year travel crowds.
Beach and swimming
Hot, dry and sunny. Penalises the monsoon hard.
- JJanuary: good
- FFebruary: good
- MMarch: best
- AApril: best
- MMay: best
- JJune: good
- JJuly: good
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: good
- OOctober: best
- NNovember: best
- DDecember: good
- Best
- March–May, October–November
- Good
- June–September, December–February
Fort Lauderdale's beach season peaks March through May and again October-November, when air, sea and rain all line up well; January, February and December are good but a touch cool, while June through September bring feels-like heat above the ideal ceiling and the year's heaviest, most frequent rain, dropping them to good.
Why these months
January · good
In its favour: precipitation 43 mm / 1.7 in, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, wet days 7.1 days, feels like (high) 23.5 °C / 74 °F, average daily low 17.7 °C / 64 °F, wind (daily max) 21 km/h / 13 mph.
Against: average daily high 23.4 °C / 74 °F, sea temperature 24.5 °C / 76 °F.
Watch out for: Martin Luther King Jr. Day closures, New Year's Day closures, Thanksgiving-to-New-Year travel crowds.
February · good
In its favour: precipitation 41 mm / 1.6 in, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, days with heavy rain 0.9 days, feels like (high) 25.1 °C / 77 °F, wet days 6.8 days, average daily low 19 °C / 66 °F, wind (daily max) 20 km/h / 13 mph.
Against: average daily high 24.3 °C / 76 °F, sea temperature 24.7 °C / 76 °F.
Watch out for: Presidents' Day closures.
March · best
In its favour: precipitation 46 mm / 1.8 in, average daily high 25.2 °C / 77 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, feels like (high) 26.1 °C / 79 °F, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, wet days 6.6 days, average daily low 19.8 °C / 68 °F, wind (daily max) 22 km/h / 13 mph.
Against: sea temperature 24.9 °C / 77 °F.
Watch out for: Easter closures, Good Friday closures.
April · best
In its favour: average daily high 26.9 °C / 80 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, feels like (high) 29 °C / 84 °F, average daily low 22 °C / 72 °F, wind (daily max) 21 km/h / 13 mph.
Against: wet days 8.8 days, precipitation 65 mm / 2.6 in, days with heavy rain 2.1 days.
Watch out for: Easter closures, Good Friday closures.
May · best
In its favour: average daily high 28.3 °C / 83 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, feels like (high) 31.9 °C / 89 °F, average daily low 23.8 °C / 75 °F, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: precipitation 114 mm / 4.5 in, wet days 13.8 days, days with heavy rain 3.5 days.
Also on: Air show.
Watch out for: Memorial Day closures.
June · good
In its favour: average daily high 29.6 °C / 85 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, average daily low 25.5 °C / 78 °F, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 10 mph.
Against: precipitation 187 mm / 7.4 in, wet days 21.8 days, days with heavy rain 6.1 days, feels like (high) 34.8 °C / 95 °F.
Also on: Sea turtle nesting season.
Watch out for: Juneteenth closures.
July · good
In its favour: average daily high 30.3 °C / 87 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 84%, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph, average daily low 26.3 °C / 79 °F.
Against: precipitation 151 mm / 5.9 in, wet days 22.6 days, days with heavy rain 4.2 days, feels like (high) 36.1 °C / 97 °F.
Also on: Sea turtle nesting season.
Watch out for: Independence Day closures.
August · good
In its favour: average daily high 30.5 °C / 87 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph, average daily low 26.5 °C / 80 °F.
Against: precipitation 177 mm / 7 in, wet days 23.8 days, days with heavy rain 5.3 days, feels like (high) 36.4 °C / 98 °F.
Also on: Sea turtle nesting season.
September · good
In its favour: average daily high 29.8 °C / 86 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, average daily low 25.8 °C / 78 °F, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph.
Against: precipitation 194 mm / 7.6 in, wet days 22.8 days, days with heavy rain 6.5 days, feels like (high) 35.1 °C / 95 °F.
Also on: Sea turtle hatchling release.
Watch out for: Labor Day closures.
October · best
In its favour: average daily high 28.3 °C / 83 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, feels like (high) 31.5 °C / 89 °F, average daily low 24.3 °C / 76 °F, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: precipitation 120 mm / 4.7 in, wet days 15.4 days, days with heavy rain 4 days.
Also on: Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Sea turtle hatchling release.
Watch out for: Columbus Day closures, Halloween closures.
November · best
In its favour: average daily high 26 °C / 79 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, precipitation 64 mm / 2.5 in, feels like (high) 27.3 °C / 81 °F, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, average daily low 21.3 °C / 70 °F, wind (daily max) 20 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: wet days 9.4 days.
Also on: Holiday Boat Parade, Sea turtle hatchling release.
Watch out for: Thanksgiving-to-New-Year travel crowds, Thanksgiving travel and closures, Veterans Day closures.
December · good
In its favour: precipitation 51 mm / 2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, feels like (high) 25.6 °C / 78 °F, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, wet days 8.2 days, average daily low 19.8 °C / 68 °F, wind (daily max) 20 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: average daily high 24.7 °C / 76 °F.
Also on: Holiday Boat Parade.
Watch out for: Christmas closures, Thanksgiving-to-New-Year travel crowds.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Sugar Mountain Resort, 1124 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 23.5 °C | 25.1 °C | 26.1 °C | 29 °C | 31.9 °C | 34.8 °C | 36.1 °C | 36.4 °C | 35.1 °C | 31.5 °C | 27.3 °C | 25.6 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 1.1 days | 0.9 days | 1.2 days | 2.1 days | 3.5 days | 6.1 days | 4.2 days | 5.3 days | 6.5 days | 4 days | 1.4 days | 1.4 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 3 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 5 pm | 5 pm | 4 pm | 5 pm | 4 pm | 5 pm | 4 pm | 5 pm | 3 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 9.2 h | 10 h | 10.6 h | 11.8 h | 11.9 h | 10.9 h | 11.4 h | 11.1 h | 10.1 h | 9.8 h | 9.3 h | 9.1 h |
| Relative humidity | 72% | 72% | 69% | 71% | 74% | 79% | 79% | 79% | 80% | 76% | 74% | 75% |
Sea temperature
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature 2022–2025 | 24.5 °C | 24.7 °C | 24.9 °C | 26 °C | 27.9 °C | 29.4 °C | 30.7 °C | 31.1 °C | 30.7 °C | 29 °C | 27.6 °C | 26 °C |
| Sea temperature (daily max) 2022–2025 | 24.7 °C | 24.9 °C | 25.1 °C | 26.2 °C | 28.1 °C | 29.6 °C | 30.9 °C | 31.3 °C | 30.9 °C | 29.1 °C | 27.7 °C | 26.1 °C |
- Very cold 10 °C or less
- Cold 10 to 15 °C
- Cool 15 to 20 °C
- Comfortable 20 to 25 °C
- Warm 25 to 28 °C
- Very warm over 28 °C
The words describe how the water feels to swim in. They are ours, not an official standard.
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 9.4 µg/m³ | 8.9 µg/m³ | 10.2 µg/m³ | 9.5 µg/m³ | 9.3 µg/m³ | 10.8 µg/m³ | 13.3 µg/m³ | 10.6 µg/m³ | 7.9 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | 8.2 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 12.7 µg/m³ | 12 µg/m³ | 13.2 µg/m³ | 12.2 µg/m³ | 12.4 µg/m³ | 15.2 µg/m³ | 18 µg/m³ | 14.8 µg/m³ | 11 µg/m³ | 11.3 µg/m³ | 11.3 µg/m³ | 11.3 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Reasons to go
- Air show
22–31 May, dates vary from year to year
- Sea turtle nesting season
June, July and August
- Sea turtle hatchling release
September, October and November
- Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show
October, dates vary from year to year
- Holiday Boat Parade
November and December, dates vary from year to year
Worth knowing before you go
- New Year's Day closures
1 January
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day closures
15–21 January, dates vary from year to year
- Thanksgiving-to-New-Year travel crowds
22 November–1 January, dates vary from year to year
- Presidents' Day closures
15–21 February, dates vary from year to year
- Good Friday closures
March and April, dates vary from year to year
- Easter closures
March and April, dates vary from year to year
- Memorial Day closures
25–31 May, dates vary from year to year
- Juneteenth closures
19 June
- Independence Day closures
4 July
- Labor Day closures
1–7 September, dates vary from year to year
- Halloween closures
31 October
- Columbus Day closures
8–14 October, dates vary from year to year
- Veterans Day closures
11 November
- Thanksgiving travel and closures
22–30 November, dates vary from year to year
- Christmas closures
24–25 December