Climatic Conditions : Florida

The climate of Florida is mild and sunny. Average annual temperatures range from 65° to 70°F (18° to 21°C) in the north, and from 74° to 77°F (23° to 25°C) in the southern peninsula and on the Keys. The climate of Florida not only helps the natural resources to flourish but also makes it an important tourist destination.

However, Florida faces a lot of humidity because of its proximity to the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, and the numerous inland lakes and ponds that surround the state. Florida enjoys abundant rainfall, although precipitation can vary greatly from year to year and serious droughts have occurred. At Jacksonville, the average annual precipitation (1971–2000) was 52.3 in (132.8 cm), with an average of 116 days of precipitation a year. At Miami during the same period, precipitation averaged 58.5 in (148.6 cm), with 130 rainy days a year. Rainfall is unevenly distributed throughout the year in the months from June to September. Though southern Flordia hardly receives snow, the northern peninsula and the panhandle receive occasional snowfall. Florida's long coastline makes it highly vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical storms, which may approach from either the Atlantic or the Gulf coast,. Hurricane Donna, which struck the state in September, 1960, and Hurricane Andrew in 1992 were the most destructive hurricanes in Florida’s history. In addition to hurricanes and tropical storms, tornadoes and waterspouts are not uncommon in Florida.