South Florida has a tropical savanna climate with distinct wet and hot (May-Oct)
and dry and mild (Nov-April) seasons. Eighty percent of the 140 cm of rain
that falls each year falls in the wet season, mostly in the form of afternoon
thunderstorms.
|
Rainfall in South Florida |
|
Almost 80% of south Florida's rain falls between May and October |
 |
 |
Historically
summer was also the time of fires ignited by lightning from these storms.
Although many people see the need to prevent and control fire, many plants
and animals in south Florida are adapted to and in some cases even require
fire to survive (Maehr 1997).
Sometimes tropical storms and hurricanes strike in the fall and may
dump 20 cm of rain or more in a short period. Flooding, high winds, and
storm surge resulting from hurricanes may dramatically affect both plants
and animals.
Average monthly temperatures range from 18.6° C in January to 28.3° C in August. Even in south Florida cold spells and even freezing temperatures sometimes occur in the winter.
 Current Range
 Back to Top
 Soils
|
