AI-generatedFort Lauderdale at a glance
- Best time
- Nov – Apr
- Warmest month
- Aug · 31°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 29.9°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,410 h
- Rain a year
- 1,193 mm
- Climate
- Subtropical
- Time zone
- UTC−5 / UTC−4
- Elevation
- 1 m
Climate in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale has a subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 31 °C, while January is the coolest at 23 °C. With around 2,410 hours of sunshine a year, Fort Lauderdale is sunny; April is the sunniest month with 7.6 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: November – April
October is the peak of the hurricane season
Keep in mindFrequent rainStorm season
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 24°
- Midday, 13:00: about 28°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 28°
- Evening, 20:00: about 26°
- Night, 23:00: about 25°
07:1918:54
Warm enough for a T-shirt in the evening.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 07:04–07:50 · evening 18:23–19:08
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:55–07:04 · evening 19:08–19:17
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Fort Lauderdale in October?
In October, Fort Lauderdale is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 28.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 116 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Fort Lauderdale.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 35 min07:19 – 18:54
- UV index
- 7 · highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 26 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 20 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 54 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 2 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−4America/New_York
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %89 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %50 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %24 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Fort Lauderdale
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 27.9 – 28.9 °C
Swimming season: All year
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Fort Lauderdale ranges from 24.5 °C in February to 29.9 °C in August. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
From October to February the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 29.2 and 30.4 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 24.6° | 23.7° | 25.4° | pleasant |
| FebruaryFeb | 24.5° | 23.7° | 25.2° | pleasant |
| MarchMar | 24.9° | 24.0° | 25.6° | pleasant |
| AprilApr | 25.8° | 25.0° | 26.4° | pleasant |
| MayMay | 27.1° | 26.5° | 27.5° | warm |
| JuneJun | 28.4° | 28.0° | 28.9° | warm |
| JulyJul | 29.4° | 28.8° | 30.0° | very warm |
| AugustAug | 29.9° | 29.2° | 30.4° | very warm |
| SeptemberSep | 29.4° | 28.7° | 30.0° | very warm |
| OctoberOct | 28.4° | 27.9° | 28.9° | warm |
| NovemberNov | 26.9° | 26.2° | 27.4° | warm |
| DecemberDec | 25.7° | 24.8° | 26.3° | pleasant |
Sunshine hours in Fort Lauderdale
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 6.0 of 11.6 hours of daylight in Fort Lauderdale, 52 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Fort Lauderdale
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 7 · highSeek shade around midday; sunscreen SPF 30+, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 12).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 20 min
- Fair skin
- about 20 min
- Light brown skin
- about 30 min
- Olive skin
- about 40 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Fort Lauderdale: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Fort Lauderdale has about 15 rainy days with 116 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Fort Lauderdale
How breezy and how cloudy Fort Lauderdale is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Fort Lauderdale typically peaks at 20 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting: Oct – May.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 54 % of the sky over Fort Lauderdale: variable cloud, with about 6.0 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Fort Lauderdale
How often the day gets hot in Fort Lauderdale (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Fort Lauderdale has about 2 hot days, with an average daytime high of 28 °C: often muggy. The air feels warmer than the thermometer says: light, airy clothes and slow days help.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Fort Lauderdale
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Pleasant 15–20°
- Warm 20–24°
- Hot 24° and more
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
HotOctober: nights around 24°. Hot nights: air conditioning makes sleeping much easier. Muggy on about 26 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in January (17°), the warmest in August (26°). Tropical nights of 20 °C and more are the rule from April to November; then air conditioning or a fan helps you sleep. Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from December to March. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 252 days a year, mostly from February to December.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 83 | 23° | 17° | 24.6° | 5.8 h | 7 | 43 |
| FebruaryFeb | 85 | 24° | 18° | 24.5° | 6.2 h | 7 | 38 |
| MarchMar | 85 | 25° | 19° | 24.9° | 6.6 h | 7 | 51 |
| AprilApr | 86 | 27° | 21° | 25.8° | 7.6 h | 8 | 62 |
| MayMay | 67 | 28° | 23° | 27.1° | 7.6 h | 13 | 105 |
| JuneJun | 48 | 30° | 25° | 28.4° | 7.0 h | 22 | 184 |
| JulyJul | 45 | 30° | 26° | 29.4° | 7.6 h | 22 | 136 |
| AugustAug | 43 | 31° | 26° | 29.9° | 7.4 h | 24 | 166 |
| SeptemberSep | 44 | 30° | 25° | 29.4° | 6.2 h | 22 | 186 |
| OctoberOct | 62 | 28° | 24° | 28.4° | 6.0 h | 15 | 116 |
| NovemberNov | 78 | 26° | 21° | 26.9° | 5.5 h | 9 | 59 |
| DecemberDec | 79 | 24° | 19° | 25.7° | 5.6 h | 8 | 47 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
26.12° N, 80.14° W · 1 m · America/New_York
Best time to visit Fort Lauderdale
The best time to visit Fort Lauderdale is from November to April. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go from November to April. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from November to April. Rain is most frequent from May to October; the wettest month is September with 186 mm.
Fort Lauderdale through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Fort Lauderdale in spring
Mar – May
Good
- 25–28 °C by day
- Sea 26 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 29 rainy days in all
Fort Lauderdale in summer
Jun – Aug
Fair
- 30–31 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 68 rainy days in all
Fort Lauderdale in autumn
Sep – Nov
Good
- 26–30 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 46 rainy days in all
Fort Lauderdale in winter
Dec – Feb
Excellent
- 23–24 °C by day
- Sea 25 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 22 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Fort Lauderdale for you.
Your best months: January – March
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Fort Lauderdale
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
April has the better holiday weather in Fort Lauderdale: score 86 against 62. In April, days are 1 °C cooler than in October. The sea is 3 °C cooler in April. April has 7 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 2 hours longer a day in April.
| Month | October | April |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 62 | 86better |
| Day high | 28° | 27° |
| Night low | 24° | 21° |
| Sea | 28.4° | 25.8° |
| Sunshine | 6.0 h | 7.6 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 15 | 8better |
| Rainfall | 116 mm | 62 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 26 | 16better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
Nov – Apr
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Nov – Apr
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
May – Oct
12 or more rainy days
Fort Lauderdale month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
83January23° · Sea 25° · 6 h
In January, Fort Lauderdale is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. The sea averages 24.6 °C – pleasant for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 43 mm. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale in January85February24° · Sea 25° · 6 h
In February, Fort Lauderdale is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sea averages 24.5 °C – pleasant for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 38 mm. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale in February85March25° · Sea 25° · 7 h
In March, Fort Lauderdale is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sea averages 24.9 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 51 mm. All in all, March is an excellent month for a holiday in Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale in March86April27° · Sea 26° · 8 h
In April, Fort Lauderdale is warm: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sea averages 25.8 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 62 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, April is an excellent month for a holiday in Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale in April67May28° · Sea 27° · 8 h
In May, Fort Lauderdale is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 27.1 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 105 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale in May48June30° · Sea 28° · 7 h
In June, Fort Lauderdale is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 28.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 22 days, adding up to 184 mm. On about 11 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale in June45July30° · Sea 29° · 8 h
In July, Fort Lauderdale is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 29.4 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It rains often – on about 22 days, adding up to 136 mm. On about 20 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale in July43August31° · Sea 30° · 7 h
In August, Fort Lauderdale is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 29.9 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 24 days, adding up to 166 mm. On about 22 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale in August44September30° · Sea 29° · 6 h
In September, Fort Lauderdale is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.4 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 22 days, adding up to 186 mm. On about 11 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is a so-so month for a holiday in Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale in September62October28° · Sea 28° · 6 h
In October, Fort Lauderdale is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 28.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 116 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale in October78November26° · Sea 27° · 6 h
In November, Fort Lauderdale is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sea averages 26.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 59 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale in November79December24° · Sea 26° · 6 h
In December, Fort Lauderdale is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sea averages 25.7 °C – pleasant for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 47 mm. All in all, December is a good month for a holiday in Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale in DecemberFort Lauderdale compared
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Fort Lauderdale vs. Boca Raton
In October the holiday weather in Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton is about equally good (score 62 vs. 62). During the day it is about as warm in Boca Raton as in Fort Lauderdale. The sea in Boca Raton is 1 °C warmer.
| in October | Fort Lauderdale | Boca Raton |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 62 | 62 |
| Daytime high | 28° | 28° |
| Sea | 28° | 29° |
| Sunshine | 6 h | 6 h |
| Rainy days | 15 | 14 |
| Best time | Nov – Apr | Oct – May |
Through the year
USA in October: the best places
In October, Fort Lauderdale ranks 31 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Panama City Beach25°26°90
- 2Sarasota28°27°89
- 3Clearwater Beach26°27°89
- 4Destin26°26°89
- 5Mobile26°25°87
- 6Naples29°28°86
- 7Fort Myers Beach28°28°86
- 8St. Pete Beach27°27°86
- 31Fort LauderdaleThis page28°28°62
Planning a trip to Fort Lauderdale
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Fort Lauderdale in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Fort Lauderdale has its best school-holiday weather during the Easter holidays (score 86) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 44).
- 86
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
ExcellentBest holidays
- 26 °C by day
- Sea 26 °C
- 7.3 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming, Sightseeing & walks
- 63
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 27 °C
- 7.5 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 44
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Fair
- 30 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 7.5 h of sun a day
- 23 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
- 62
October half-term
Oct
Good
- 28 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 6.0 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
- 81
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Excellent
- 24 °C by day
- Sea 25 °C
- 5.7 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming, Sightseeing & walks
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 9 h
- Distance
- 7,070 km
- Time zone
- UTC−4
- Jet lag
- About 3 days (5 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Storm season
Fort Lauderdale lies in an area that Atlantic hurricanes can reach. The hurricane season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June: Season
- July: Season
- August: Peak
- September: Peak
- October: Peak
- November: Season
- December
Official season dates of the regional warning centres (NOAA, JMA, IMD, Météo-France, BoM); not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions about Fort Lauderdale
When is the best time to visit Fort Lauderdale?
The best time to visit Fort Lauderdale is from November to April. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Fort Lauderdale?
The sea temperature in Fort Lauderdale ranges from 24.5 °C in February to 29.9 °C in August. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Can you swim in Fort Lauderdale in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 28.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming.
What is the warmest month in Fort Lauderdale?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 31 °C and nights around 26 °C. January is the coolest month at 23 °C.
When does it rain most in Fort Lauderdale?
Rain is most frequent from May to October; the wettest month is September with 186 mm. The driest month is February with 38 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Fort Lauderdale get?
Fort Lauderdale gets around 2,410 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is April with 7.6 hours a day; in November there are 5.5 hours a day.
What time zone is Fort Lauderdale in?
Fort Lauderdale uses the time zone America/New_York: UTC−5 in January and UTC−4 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Fort Lauderdale?
A nonstop flight from London to Fort Lauderdale takes about 9 h, for a straight-line distance of about 7,070 km.
When is hurricane season in Fort Lauderdale?
Fort Lauderdale lies in an area that Atlantic hurricanes can reach. The hurricane season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
Which school holidays are best for Fort Lauderdale?
Fort Lauderdale has its best school-holiday weather during the Easter holidays (score 86) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 44). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 86, May half-term 63, Summer holidays 44, October half-term 62, Christmas holidays 81.
Near Fort Lauderdale
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Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Fort Lauderdale's – good alternatives.