Florida rainy season: When does it start and ... - FOX 35 Orlando
Forecasters break the season down into three distinct acts: when is the raining season in florida
To understand why this season occurs when it does, one must look at the clash of two air masses. During the winter and early spring, the jet stream dips low, allowing dry, stable air to dominate the peninsula. But as the sun reaches its highest arc in the sky, the land heats up rapidly. This creates a "sea breeze collision." The Atlantic and Gulf breezes push inland, heating as they cross the hot land, then rise like invisible geysers. When these moisture-laden updrafts hit the cooler upper atmosphere, they condense into the iconic "Florida anvil" cumulonimbus clouds. The result is not a gentle drizzle but a violent, theatrical downpour: the 3:00 PM thunderstorm. Approximately 60 to 70 percent of Florida’s annual rainfall occurs during these five months, with places like Tampa and Orlando receiving over 30 inches of rain during this window alone. Florida rainy season: When does it start and