May Overview
- High temperature: 85°F (29°C)
- Low temperature: 75°F (24°C)
- Hours daylight/sun: 11 hours
- Water temperature: 81°F (0°C)
May in Fort Lauderdale has the ideal combination of spring weather with some summer influences on offer. This means highs of 85°F together with an Atlantic Ocean water temperature of 81°F. It doesn’t get colder than 72°F in May and the sun will be shining for 11 hours a day! The average number of rainy days has increased to 7 for the month of May. But that’s still not many since the real rainy season starts in June when there will be 12 days of rain on average. It is also not so humid yet and the hurricane season has not started.
The weather will allow you to have a full on beach vacation before everyone else arrives in June to enjoy the same. And in case you are after something else in addition to the stunning beaches, Fort Lauderdale in May has a lot on offer on the event front as well. You could visit the NSU Museum of Art for free every first Thursday of the month or the Live Jazz Sunday Brunch every first Sunday of the month. Las Olas Boulevard is the place to go to enjoy a wide range of restaurants and bars.
Best Time to Visit Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is one of the beautiful places in the world that has fantastic warm weather all year round. If asked for the most pleasant months weatherwise, most would probably say December until April. During that period you will have warm but not too hot weather, it is less rainy and humid than in summer and there aren’t any hurricanes. However, the summer months in Fort Lauderdale have so much to offer - it’s hot so perfect weather for diving into the Atlantic Ocean and the more frequent summer rain showers do usually pass quickly. So if you pack some rain gear and good sunscreen, you can have a great summer vacation in Fort Lauderdale too. More care should be taken from August until November, when the peak hurricane season is on.
Things to know about Fort Lauderdale
Whilst Fort Lauderdale is a busy vacation destination during school holidays and Spring Break, it offers peace and quiet on the beach and in the surrounding areas at any other time of the year. Fort Lauderdale boasts many beautiful hotels, restaurants and malls and most importantly its promenade where everyone comes to see and be seen!
Here are some tips on what to do and things to explore whilst there:
The south end of the beach is particularly beautiful as it gets much wider and less crowded. Take a stroll through the city south of Las Olas Boulevard. In between the skyscrapers runs the Tarpon River and the beautiful promenade allows you to observe the passing boats. On the west end of the promenade it gets particularly beautiful as you head towards Old Fort Lauderdale.
Old Fort Lauderdale is where you can see some of the original houses of Fort Lauderdale as well as a little museum.
From Las Olas Way you can take Boat trips, which are highly recommend. The boat will take you through canals passing the most amazing houses of the rich and famous.
On Birch Road you will find the Bonnet House which is well worth seeing. In the middle of the beautiful park resides this stunning historic building. When taking a tour through the house you can find out much more about Hugh Taylor Birch who bought the estate in 1895 as a wedding gift for his daughter. It is a most incredible summer house and a snapshot into how people used to reside in Old Fort Lauderdale!
Whilst in Fort Lauderdale you might also feel like exploring the area a bit. You could take a trip to the Everglades to see some of the most stunning nature and no doubt some alligators too.
You can take a trip down the coast to South Beach in Miami Beach - especially if you haven’t been there yet. The historic Art Deco District and Ocean Drive are must sees!
Whether into gambling or not, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino might also be worth a visit.
And finally, Florida has some of the greatest (outlet) malls. Sawgrass Mills, for example, is the largest mall in the States!
