Best time to visit the Florida Keys
- Best time
- Late Apr–May
- Avoid
- Sep
- Warmest month
- August · 91°F
- Wettest month
- September · 7.2 in
- Peak crowds
- Jan · Feb · Mar · Dec
The Keys are warm all year — the winter average high in Key West is in the mid-70s °F — so the real choice is between the dry, sunny and expensive winter season and the hot, humid, cheaper summer that falls inside hurricane season. Spring is the sweet spot, and a few events change the feel of a whole week.
the Florida Keys month by month
Average high / low and rain are NOAA 1991–2020 normals (Key West Intl Ap, Fl Us). Crowd levels and what is open are our reading of each season, not official counts.
January
Good- High / low
- 76° / 66°F
- Rain
- 1.8 in
- Crowds
- Peak
Everything
Dry and breezy; cool fronts can make the water too chilly for some. High season prices.
February
Good- High / low
- 77° / 67°F
- Rain
- 1.5 in
- Crowds
- Peak
Everything
Dry, sunny, busy. Presidents’ Day weekend sells out.
March
Good- High / low
- 80° / 69°F
- Rain
- 1.5 in
- Crowds
- Peak
Everything
Warm and dry; spring break crowds, top prices.
April
Best- High / low
- 83° / 73°F
- Rain
- 2.1 in
- Crowds
- Busy
Everything
Dry season continues; crowds fall after Easter.
May
Best- High / low
- 86° / 76°F
- Rain
- 3.1 in
- Crowds
- Busy
Everything
Warm water, calm seas, rain starts late in the month.
June
Mixed- High / low
- 89° / 79°F
- Rain
- 4.2 in
- Crowds
- Moderate
Hurricane season starts (1 June)
Hot and humid with short afternoon showers; good diving visibility.
July
Mixed- High / low
- 90° / 81°F
- Rain
- 3.6 in
- Crowds
- Busy
Everything
Lobster mini-season in the last week brings divers and boats; Hemingway Days in Key West.
August
Mixed- High / low
- 91° / 81°F
- Rain
- 5.4 in
- Crowds
- Moderate
Everything
Regular lobster season opens; hottest month, storm risk rising.
September
Avoid- High / low
- 89° / 79°F
- Rain
- 7.2 in
- Crowds
- Quiet
Some businesses close for a break
Peak hurricane risk, quietest month, lowest prices.
October
Mixed- High / low
- 86° / 77°F
- Rain
- 5.7 in
- Crowds
- Busy
Everything
Still storm season; Fantasy Fest takes over Key West for ten days at the end of the month (adults-only street parties).
November
Good- High / low
- 81° / 72°F
- Rain
- 2.0 in
- Crowds
- Busy
Everything
Less humid, fewer storms, crowds return for Thanksgiving. Hurricane season ends on 30 November.
December
Good- High / low
- 78° / 68°F
- Rain
- 2.2 in
- Crowds
- Peak
Everything
Dry season begins; Christmas to New Year is the most expensive week.
Temperatures and rain
Seasons and events to plan around
Atlantic hurricane season
1 June to 30 November
Peak activity from mid-August to mid-October. Monroe County orders visitors to leave the Keys when a hurricane threatens, and there is only one road out.
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center · checked Oct 27, 2026
Spiny lobster mini-season
Last Wednesday and Thursday of July (28–29 July in 2027)
Two days when recreational divers can catch lobster before the regular season, with a lower daily limit in the Keys and no night diving there. Expect busy boat ramps and full rooms.
Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission · checked Oct 27, 2026
Fantasy Fest
Late October (22–31 October in 2027)
Key West’s ten-day costume festival, with parades and street parties on Duval Street; parts of it are strictly adults-only. Rooms sell out early.
Source: Fantasy Fest Key West · checked Oct 27, 2026
Travelling in hurricane season
- Book refundable rooms and a flexible car rental.
- Buy travel insurance before a storm is named — policies stop covering a storm once it exists.
- Follow the National Hurricane Center and Monroe County emergency alerts the week before and during your stay.
- Keep a buffer day at the end: the Overseas Highway is the only way out by road.
The verdict
Best month
Late Apr–May
Still the dry season, the water warm enough for long snorkels, spring-break crowds gone and hotel rates easing. Seas are usually calm for the trip to Dry Tortugas.
Avoid
Sep
The peak of hurricane season, hot and humid, with many businesses taking their annual break. If you go, book refundable and watch the forecast.
When to visit the Florida Keys: your questions
What is the best month to visit the Florida Keys?
Late April and May: dry season weather, warm water, fewer crowds and lower prices than in winter.
When is hurricane season in the Keys?
From 1 June to 30 November, with the highest risk from mid-August to mid-October.
Is it too cold to swim in the Keys in winter?
Rarely. The sea is usually comfortable for most swimmers, but a cold front can chill it for a few days in January or February.
When is the cheapest time to visit Key West?
September, and the rest of late summer and early fall, outside Fantasy Fest. You trade lower prices for heat and storm risk.
Written by Kylian Dev · Last reviewed October 21, 2026. Event dates move from year to year: always confirm on the organiser’s site.