Winter in Florida

[rachel1998]

Since I am new to the East Coast I need some help for winter vacations. I guess Northern Florida is pretty much out until around March or April. Is this correct? How far south do you have to go to get good weather in the winter? I wasn't very impressed with the Orlando area. Do I have to go all the way down to So. Florida or is Jacksonville ok?

 

[silvib]

You can get pretty chilly in Jacksonville in the winter during the cold spells. We live in the center, about 1 hour south of the Disney area, so you might want to start and think of a line across the state at that level as being your most northern point for a winter vacation.
Depends on what you are looking for too, what you want to see and do.

 

[theo]

Frost free zones...

Since I am new to the East Coast I need some help for winter vacations. I guess Northern Florida is pretty much out until around March or April. Is this correct? How far south do you have to go to get good weather in the winter? I wasn't very impressed with the Orlando area. Do I have to go all the way down to So. Florida or is Jacksonville ok?

I have a friend who has lived in the Tampa / St. Pete area for many years. It is his assertion that you have to go south to Fort Myers to reach the "no frost" point in FL (where temperatures never reach freezing, or 32 degrees). He further claims that this is also the reason why certain particular sub-species of palm trees (I don't personally claim to know the differences between Sabal, Queen -or Dead- palm trees, myself) supposedly do not thrive in FL north of Fort Myers.
Then again, maybe he's just pulling his Yankee buddys' leg....

 

[The Conch Man]

He's pulling your leg a little! All tho we haven't been in the 30's for a long time, there was a freeze many years ago, even Key West got below 40! Ifin you Yankees stop sending them "Cold Fronts" down here, we'd be warm all the time! Its been awhile since we have been cold but it doesn't take much ifin the morning temps are low 50's or high 40's, its cold!

Earlier this month & most of November we were a little chilly, unusally for that time of year. Had to turn-on the heater but Xmas was in the mid 80's & ya can't beat that!

Then again, maybe he's just pulling his Yankee buddys' leg....

 

[rapmarks]

I live south of Fort Myers in the winter. Most days it is above 70. those darn newscasters have to learn not to scare us Northerners by saying a cold snap is coming, and then saying the high will only be 77 degrees.
We stayed in Ocala one winter and Orlando another, and thre is a significant different between there and where we live. But my friends in St. Petersburg say they have the same temperatures we do, despite the weather forecasts to the contrary.

 

[lvhmbh]

We are in Boca and it CAN get cold here (low 60's is cold to a Floridian) but April should be really nice. Linda

 

[theo]

Pointing fingers...

Ifin you Yankees stop sending them "Cold Fronts" down here, we'd be warm all the time!

Here, we blame Canada (everyone needs to blame someone, eh?).

Cold only passes through here --- it doesn't actually originate here. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.....

 

[Kola]

Cold only passes through here --- it doesn't actually originate here. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.....

Cold originates in Chicago. Period. That's my opinion.

You can have yours.:ignore:

K.

 

[Jim Bryan]

We had a freeze here last year. So far this year it's been cool and warmed up over Christmas. Palms grow all over Florida but you don't get Coconuts except S. Florida and along the coast up to about the N. Central coastal area, on both Coasts. It can get quite cold here (Winter Haven) at times. I lost two Plumeria last year.

 

[JoAnn]

We live about 20 miles east of Ft. Myers and we have had 'light' freezes here...seldom, but we do get them. Then we are out covering the garden to protect the veggies...and the flowers. The further inland you go...the colder it can get. But I'll still take winters in SW Florida over anything 'up North'. They've had a horrible winter so far this year.

 

[midesuda]

No, Jacksonviille Is Not Warm In The Winter If You Want To Swim, Etc. It Is Pleasant But Not Warm Enough To Swim. If You Want Temps In The 70's & 80's You Must Go South To Around Pompano Beach.

 

[Gramma5]

Hooray for Florida in the winter...

We live north of Ft. Meyers about an hour or so and this past weekend we were at the beach and swimming in the Gulf. Fabulous weather. especially since we had just arrived back on Fri. night and the temps in MN were BRUTAL. We had a couple of days that began at -12 and with the windchill. it was -30!
Oh how we love Florida in the winter!!!!
Sherry

 

[lvhmbh]

Expected to be in the 70's today and tomorrow with lows in the 50's and 60's tonight and tomorrow night. I checked because we're going to a NYE party at someone's house on the beach - they always have their parties outdoors.