Wednesday marks the official end of rainy season and the start of dry season here in Southwest Florida.<\/p>\n
Dry season runs from Wednesday to May 15. During that time, Southwest Florida receives only about a quarter of our yearly rainfall total. That begs the question of why does mother nature’s faucet turn off during the dry season?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The main factors that result in the switch from rainy to dry season include lower humidity and lower air temperatures. A subtropical ridge sits over Southwest Florida during the rainy season, bringing higher humidity and light winds. This is what sparks the daily sea breeze-driven showers and thunderstorms. Significant daytime heating is also necessary for the summertime sea breeze.<\/p>\n
Around the middle of October, a dip in the jet stream typically nudges that subtropical ridge out of the region. Humidity decreases, cold fronts begin to move across Florida, and the daily sea breeze-driven showers and thunderstorms are no longer in play.<\/p>\n
Most of the rain received during the dry season is a result of stronger fronts that move through Southwest Florida, providing enough energy and moisture in the atmosphere to squeeze out showers and storms. The occasional low-pressure system can also provide enough lift in the atmosphere to produce rain.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Features of our dry season include lower humidity, cooler nighttime temperatures, less cloud cover, less rainfall, and eventually a higher fire risk due to dry vegetation.<\/p>\n
Communities in Southwest Florida along and east of Interstate 75 are the big winners of the rainy season, while communities closer to the coast are seeing a rainfall deficit this year.<\/p>\n
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