Weather

Storm clouds growing over the dunes at the Fort Matanzas National Monument beaches.

NPS

Millions of people around the world flock to Florida for the seemingly endless summers. With temperatures warm enough to have a day at the beach in December, there’s no wonder why Florida has earned the name “The Sunshine State”. The summers here in North Florida are long, very warm, and fairly humid. This is one of the reasons why during the summer, rangers put emphasis on drinking water and staying hydrated at the park.
Another thing summers bring to Fort Matanzas are afternoon thunderstorms. If you’re visiting the park in the afternoon, it’s best to always come prepared with a rain jacket or an umbrella. On average, thunderstorms occur on about half of the summer days and can seemingly come out of nowhere. Since thunderstorms are prevalent during the summer, expect trips to the fort to be canceled due to safety concerns. With thunderstorms, lightning isn’t far behind. Florida has been deemed the lightning capital of the United States, so the park takes extra precautions to make sure every visitor is safe. On average, Florida has 3,500 cloud to ground lightning flashes per day and 1.2 million flashes per year. If lightning strikes within 10 miles of the park the boating operations are shut down until the storm passes to keep everyone out of harm’s way.
Compared to hurricanes, a little thunderstorm can seem miniscule. A hurricane is another strong weather event that has found itself on the shores of Fort Matanzas National Monument more than once. Hurricanes are tropical storms that develop over warm water and sometimes come ashore, bringing massive flooding and devastating winds to vulnerable coastlines. They can really cause havoc for people and the delicate dune ecosystems upon which we depend for defense against flooding. Hurricane season in Florida typically lasts from June 1^st through November 30^th, but most of the storms form later in the season, with September historically producing the most. Hurricanes are defined as having winds of at least 74 miles per hour. They strengthen until they come into contact with land or cooler water. When they come onto land the heavy rain, strong winds, and huge waves can damage buildings, trees, and cars. The heavy waves called storm surges can cause dramatic flooding to coastal ecosystems and developments.
Once hurricane season is over winters start to move in. In Florida, winters are mild with an average of 52 degrees Fahrenheit. There are even times in December it can be warm enough to have a day at the beach!