You’d be surprised at how many people visit Florida and expect sunny skies during the summer. Sure, we’ll get a few hours of beautiful sunny (and humid) weather but more times than not it’s going to rain during the summer months. And we’re not talking a little shower. When it rains in Florida, it really rains. The sky turns dark gray, lightning brings thunder and there is a full out production of rain, wind and sometimes hail. If you’ll be visiting Florida these summer months, we thought we’d equip you with some tips that can better help you navigate the state during our rainy season.
Umbrellas
If you’re flying, we don’t recommend traveling with an umbrella. Chances are you’ll lose it or misplace it and sometimes it’s just not worth the hassle of trying to travel with one. Of course if you plan on road tripping, it may be beneficial to carry a large golf umbrella with you. Otherwise, we think your best bet would be to purchase a small umbrella that you can easily toss in a bag. You never know when you’re going to be caught in a downpour so you’ll want to be prepared.
-Ponchos
Thought those oversized trash bags with holes were just for those attending theme parks? Think again! They’re easy to store and are amazingly useful. Ponchos can be found at just about every drugstore in Florida and they are affordable and do a great job at protecting clothes in the event of a downpour.
-Knowledge of flood-free areas
If you are road tripping, get an idea of what the weather will be like before you make it to your destination. If rainy weather looks inevitable, you may want to look for alternative routes or detours. Make sure that the areas you’ll be visiting aren’t flood zones and if they are, see if you can make arranges to avoid them. If they aren’t, drive with extreme caution.
-An evacuation route
-Even if you’re only in town for a few days, if non-stop rain is headed your way, it may be a good idea to find the nearest evacuation route to you. Bad weather can quickly turn into tornadoes, tropical storms and depressions and travelers should always keep an eye out for this.
