What to expect for the holidays in Florida

The peak of the holiday season means large crowds in the sunshine state. And this year it looks like the weather will cooperate for outdoor activities. 

The stretch between Christmas and New Year’s Day is a very busy time. Whether you’re visiting or are a Florida resident, almost all of us have outdoor plans during that stretch.

Between going to the beach, visiting the theme parks, or attending bowl games, there’s a lot going on in the final week of the year.

And the weather doesn’t always cooperate.

Despite the thinking that Florida is always warm and dry in late December, that’s not always the case. Warm and cold spells can impact the region, along with rainfall.

Just last year, a cool spell hit the sunshine state right on Christmas Day. Daytime highs only hit 53 degrees in Orlando with an early morning low of just 35 degrees on Dec. 26.

In 2018, New Year’s Day featured light rain and cool temperatures only in the upper 50s.

It can also be quite warm in late December. In 2015, Christmas Day featured a high of 86, with many locations seeing temperatures soar into the upper 80s on the day after.

In 2021, a comfortable and mostly dry holiday week is becoming likely.

While it is too early to nail down exact highs and rain chances, we can begin to see trends for the final week of the year.

The Climate Prediction Center’s 8-14 Day Outlook is forecasting above-average temperatures for the stretch between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

For precipitation, the same outlook is forecasting the likelihood of below-average rainfall for the entire state.

So what does that mean for the weather in Orlando?

The average high in Orlando for late December is 72 degrees, with an average low of 51.

The average rainfall for this seven-day stretch is 0.52 inches.

At this time, we are expecting highs to be in the mid to upper 70s with low rain chances much of the week.

While this doesn’t mean rain is impossible, it does mean a multiple-day rain event is unlikely.

The warm and dry conditions are courtesy of a La Niña pattern. This pattern moves the jet stream away from Florida, keeping mostly warm and dry weather across the region.

So whether you’re visiting or you’re already a Floridian, the weather is looking good this holiday season.