Well, first of all, welcome to the Sunshine State! With 23 miles of beaches in the Daytona area, you will have plenty of opportunities to soak up the rays. But you should know that it's not all bikini weather here in Florida. Daytona surprisingly has cool temperatures as well as a “wet season” where you probably won't want to be out there on the sand! Whether you are heading to the beach, out running errands or visiting the pool at your apartment, you'll quickly pick up on Florida weather patterns.
Daytona Beach features a subtropical climate and like all of Florida, humidity is just a given. Your flat iron is of no use here in Florida! By mid-afternoon in the summer, hair tends to frizz, backs begin to sweat against hot leather car seats and you'll find yourself parched if working outdoors.
Like most of Florida, May through October usually brings afternoon showers (wet season) while November through April are typically dryer. And speaking of those afternoon showers, they can be fierce. Thunder and lightning and downpours resembling the force of a car wash are common. Floridians are used to them, but if you are new to the Daytona area, take care when driving, as these storms usually dump a lot of water on the roads in mere minutes. Lightning in Florida is also nothing to take lightly. It can be deadly and proper precautions should always be taken.
Summers are hot, with average highs in the 80's and low 90's. However, the heat index can get up into triple digits, so it's important to stay hydrated and possibly get any outdoor activities done in the morning hours. At night in the summer, the temps drop into the 70's, providing a welcome relief from the sweltering days.
The typical fall and spring months are near perfect featuring warm and sunny days with highs averaging from 75 to 80 degrees and lows in the 50's and 60's. This is when you typically will see Floridians actually roll down their car windows and put the top down on those convertibles! It's the perfect time to sit on your apartment balcony or porch and listen to the birds with warm cocoa in your hand.
The coolest time of year is winter of course (December through February). Temps are usually in the mid 60s to 70s with overnight lows in the 40's to 50's. The occasional cold front does make its way to Florida, and can bring temps into even the teens. Hard freezes and frost occur only a handful of times per year, so you won't have to cover your outdoor plants too often.
Hurricane season in Florida runs from June 1 through November 30, so it spans three seasons! Before hurricane season begins, make sure you and your family have a hurricane preparedness plan. It may include an evacuation route from your Daytona apartment, supplies, lists of Daytona shelters and more. Be prepared by visiting emergency preparation websites such as Volusia County's emergency management site and FloridaDisaster.org.
The leaves don't change too much in Daytona and you won't find snow, but when it's October or March and you find yourself enjoying the beautiful blue skies and warm breezes, you won't really miss those northern weather patterns.