Weather in Florida USA in December: Where It’s Warmest

The weather in Florida USA in December is warm in the south and mild in the middle of the state. Miami averages a high of 76.6°F (24.8°C), Key West 75.0°F (23.9°C) and Orlando 72.9°F (22.7°C). That means shorts in the afternoon, and Key West is the only one of the three where the nights stay warm too.

Every number on this page is a 20-year average (2006–2025) from WeatherApex, not a forecast. A single week can run warmer or cooler, so use the averages to choose where to go, not what to wear on one specific day.

Weather in Florida USA in December at a glance

Miami has the warmest afternoons. Key West has the warmest nights, with an average low of 71.8°F. Orlando is the coolest on both counts, and it's the only one of the three where you'll want a jacket after dark.

Key West in December

Key West averages a high of 75.0°F (23.9°C) and a low of 71.8°F (22.1°C) in December. The gap between day and night is small, so you can stay in a T-shirt long after sunset. It's the 4th coolest month of the year there, and even so, the January high is still 72.7°F.

It's also fairly dry. Expect about 6 rainy days and about 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain across the month. Daylight lasts 10 h 38 min, and the sun shines for about 89% of it, roughly 9.5 hours a day. Humidity stays high, so the air feels soft and sticky rather than crisp.

Key West suits slow trips: walking Old Town, boat days, sunset on the waterfront. If you want a long sandy beach day, know that the island isn't famous for big beaches. The other downside is distance. It's a long way from the rest of Florida, so it works best as its own trip or a planned road trip stop. See the Key West weather in December page for the full month.

Miami in December

Miami is the warmest of the three in the daytime, with an average high of 76.6°F (24.8°C). The average low is 67.6°F, so evenings are comfortable but a little cooler than Key West. You'll get 9.1 hours of sunshine a day, which is plenty for the beach.

[IMAGE: Miami beach in the afternoon with palm trees and light clouds | alt: Miami beach with palm trees on a sunny afternoon, weather in Florida USA in December]

The catch is rain. Miami has about 9 rainy days in December, the most of the three places. That doesn't mean nine washed-out days, but it does mean you should keep a light rain jacket handy and have a backup plan, like a museum visit or a long lunch in Wynwood.

Miami is the best pick if you want beach time and city life in the same trip: restaurants, Art Deco streets, shopping and nightlife. The downsides are the rain count and the traffic, which is a problem all year. Check Miami weather in December for the full numbers.

Orlando in December

Orlando is the mildest of the three, with an average high of 72.9°F (22.7°C) and an average low of 56.3°F. Days are pleasant for walking around theme parks. Evenings are a different story. You'll want a jacket, especially for fireworks and late rides.

Rain is light, with about 5 rainy days in the month, the fewest of the three. Sunshine averages 8.1 hours a day, the lowest of the three, though that's still a lot for a winter trip.

Orlando suits families and theme-park trips best. Cooler daytime air means long queues are easier on you than in summer. The downsides are that there's no beach in the city, and the chilly mornings and nights can make a hotel pool feel cold. Our Orlando weather in December page has the full month.

Is it warm enough to swim in Florida in December?

It depends on where you are and how you feel about cool water. In Key West and Miami the air is warm enough for a beach day, and plenty of people do swim. The sea is cooler than it is in summer, though, and we don't track sea temperatures, so we won't give you a number.

Can you swim in Florida in December? Where it works best

Your best bets are Key West weather in December, with its warm nights and about 9.5 hours of sun, and Miami weather in December, with the highest afternoon temperatures. In Orlando you're limited to a pool, so ask your hotel whether it's heated.

Tips for a December swim

Go in the afternoon, when the air is at its warmest. Bring a towel and a windbreaker, because wet skin feels much colder in a breeze. Keep dips short, and remember that kids get cold faster than adults. If the water feels too cool, a beach walk and a cold drink is still a good day.

[IMAGE: Swimmer wading into calm water on a Florida beach in winter | alt: Person wading into the sea on a Florida beach, can you swim in Florida in December]

North vs South Florida in December

The rule is simple: the further south you go, the warmer it gets. Key West, at the bottom of the state, and Miami, near the southern tip, sit ahead of Orlando in the middle. Head north of Orlando and it gets cooler again, with chillier nights and a better chance that a cold front brings a real winter day. We don't have numbers for cities north of Orlando here, so we won't guess them.

Which part of Florida is warmest in December?

It depends on what you mean by warm. Miami has the highest average afternoon high at 76.6°F. Key West has the warmest nights, with an average low of 71.8°F, and its high is 75.0°F. Pick Miami for the warmest afternoons and Key West for warmth that doesn't fade after dark.

Check the forecast before you go

December weather in Florida can swing. A cold front can bring a few cool, windy days, even in the south. Check the 16-day forecast in the WeatherApex trip planner one to two weeks before you travel, then adjust your bag. If Florida isn't warm enough for you, our guide to where it's warm in December covers places outside the state.

What to pack for Florida in December

Pack for warm afternoons and cooler evenings, and bring layers you can add or drop.

• Shorts, T-shirts and sundresses for afternoons in the south.
• A swimsuit and a quick-dry towel.
• A light jacket or sweatshirt for cool evenings, especially in central Florida (the Orlando December weather average low is 56.3°F).
• A light rain jacket, mainly for Miami, which has about 9 rainy days.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. Sunshine runs from 8.1 to about 9.5 hours a day depending on the city.
• Walking shoes and sandals.
• A windbreaker for boat trips and breezy beaches after a cold front.

If you're splitting your trip between the coast and Orlando, pack for the coolest stop. It's easier to wear less than to wish you'd brought more.

How we picked these numbers

These numbers for weather in Florida USA in December come from WeatherApex month pages and are 20-year averages for 2006–2025. We compared three popular December stops and sorted them by average high. We don't use sea temperatures or any figure we don't have, and we never treat averages as a forecast.

For warnings and live conditions close to your trip, check the National Weather Service. For events and local travel advice, try Visit Florida. You can also browse weather across US cities to compare other destinations.