Florida in Sept?
 

I was told by a tour agent not to go to Florida September9-20 as it's hurricane and storm season. In fact, she did not take my reservation nor deposit. It seems logical to go to Florida after the Summer, and especially in Sept as school starts and there wont be college kids, or any kids at all, on the beach, or in the parks, etc.
But, am I taking my chances if I do go sept.9-20? How bad does it get? Is it better to go in Oct., or maybe in Apr/May?

Yes, September is hurricane season. But the whole of June 1 to Nov 30 is hurricane season.

Just to let you know. A hirricane isn't just a storm. You can see a hurricane coming and track it for days. A hurricane lasts a couple of hours maximum and only causes damage in the area where it hits. There has not been a hurricane in South Florida for about five years since Wilma hit.

Now the other side. June and Spetember are the rainiest months. Not because of weather systems. The days start off sunny and as you get into early afternoon black clouds form from the heat. Often there'll be a thunderstorm and it clears by mid-afternoon and you have a beautiful evening.

So what you plan on is to do your beaching in the morning and do your malling when it's raining and then back out in the evening.

It's just a matter of planning your time around the weather.

October, April and May are beautiful.

POMAH,
Your travel instincts are correct - your tour agent's are not. For the reasons you gave, September is a good time to come, however October is even better. You will find shoulder-season rates, warm (but not so hot) air temps, lower humidity, bluer skies and a diminished probability of hurricanes or named storms is what you'll encounter.

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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

According to NOAA, late August and early September are the peak of hurricane season. But that doesn't mean October will be free and clear. Yes, our hurricane season goes through November so your best bet is to visit in the spring. I agree with Myer, October, April and May are lovely - my favorite months in Florida. However, if you're worried about crowds you'll want check spring break calendars for schools and colleges to make sure they're not off if you decide to visit in April. Personally, I think May is perfect - air temperatures are warm, water is still refreshing, kids are in school and hurricane season has not yet started.

I live in Florida
hurricanes do not last for just a couple of hours. They are horriffic, frightening and can last for 24 hours or more if they turn around and come back - the after results besides downed trees and wires, no electric,no a/c can be very uncomfortable.

August and September are high incidence of hurricane if we are going to have any, which I hope we wont.

Wilma, 4 years ago in October was a big surprise - unusual to have one so late, but we did have 4 that yearbut haven't had any since. I dont recall any in November, although on the West coast there were a couple in Feb/March about 18 years ago.

October would be a good time if you keep your eye on weather reports. I'm wondering if you can take out trip insurance ?

I lived in FL many years, and still visit frequently. So here's my 2 cents:

September is peak hurricane season, so you take a chance coming during that time, even if there is not a hurricane, could still have a depression or tropical storm giving a few rainy/windy days, OR you could have no storms whatsoever during your stay and typical summer weather which is hot/humid and sometimes p.m. storms, its a chance you take. It is still hot in September, and I find the water on both coasts still warm enough for me to swim. You are right, it also gets less crowded. I remember a few years ago going to Universal on a weekday, sometime after Labor Day, and we had no to minimal lines all day- bliss.

Oct- like others have said, its still hurricane season, so there's a chance, but not peak. Weather transitioning from summer, may be cooler or dryer than summer (but can vary), water temps starting to cool off. Theme parks still less crowded.

April/May- Can be crowded around the school spring break times. Weather usually nice, not cold and not getting too hot/humid yet until end of May. On east coast, water temps. may still be too chilly (for my taste anyways).

IMO the tour agent is being too alarmist to say not to go in Sept., and it looks like you have 10 days planned, so unless a very catostrophic storm came thru the whole state(God forbid), chances are your whole trip is not ruined.

I went in 2012 in september to florida and it was great.

We had minimal lines in the parks, 10min waiting max.

The first week we had perfect weather(everyday 30 degrees) , the second week we had a few days rain, but it is still hot and warm then so that didn't matter.

We had no hurricanes/tropical storm(and the last years there also hasn't been one) so i think your travel agency is a bit overreacting, but you have to be precausious

Check the NHC site to track the hurricanes

September is a lovely time to visit Florida (my brother has lived there for 30 years). Hurricanes give plenty of warning of their existence, and 24-48 hours out they are able to give a closer estimate of where it will hit. And if a hurricane is heading towards an area, it would be impossible not to know of its approach since it will dominate the news, giving you plenty of time to decide to leave or stay.

And agree, it does not last for "a few hours"; and it may be rainy and windy for a day before, longer if it slows down and spirals rain bands on-shore.

But chances are it will be warm, sunny and less crowded.

My guess is the tour agent is (a) a bit uninformed, (b) very cautious and (c) engaging in CYA. He/she probably doesn't want to get blamed in you go to FL in September and get hit by a hurricane.

These things are very unpredictable. You can go years without having one, and then have two or three in the space of 90 days. The good news is that if one is coming, you'll usually have plenty of warning and you can pack up and head to a safer locale. Have a back-up plan.

Let me guess -- the tour agent doesn't have any tours available for your dates in Florida. What kind of travel agent (is that what you mean) would refuse to sell you Florida for September. I'd agree that perhaps the best "shoulder month" to go is May! But if you refuse to go in September for fear of hurricanes, then I assume you will NEVER travel to California (or much of anywhere else)-- where there can be a fire or an earthquake ANY TIME!

Let me guess - this trip has come and gone as the OP posted three years ago.

What would roberto996 be thinking to find this thread and respond to it.

Maybe I'll look for a trip report from POMAH.

When will I learn to look at the dates of posts?

ok, my Florida trip went fine. No rain, no alien abductions, no one got swept by a twister to OZ.
I didnt care too much for the hotel, 'Thunderbird'. Cold jacuzzi, no shuttle anywhere before 5pm, bad food, too noisy because of a bar, front desk lady was rude, maid shut the door infront of my face, etc.