Is this weather typical? Just moved here from Illinois.

[Rosethorn]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?

[golfing eagles]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?

Don't you know? These cold temperatures are the result of global warming! :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

But seriously, usually we get a cold snap in January. Last year and this it has hit around Christmas time. Wait for July, you'll be warm enough:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[Laker14]

This is not unusual for this time of year, but unlike Illinois, it will warm up here a lot sooner and more often. When I was living in Upstate NY, trying to decide where I'd like to spend my retirement winters, I wondered if TV would be warm enough for me. My folks spent their retirement winters in the Naples/Ft. Myers area and it's definitely warmer there, typically 10 degrees or so when we have these cold snaps. I opted for TV more for the lifestyle and relative affordability than for the weather. What I have found is that while the coldest days are definitely a bit snappy, in the winter months here in TV we get a lot of days that remind me of the beautiful Indian Summer days we'd get up north.
And, it will get toasty soon enough.

[asianthree]

We have been here in a January, that is snowed, didn’t stick, but 31 degrees on a golf course leaves plenty of tee times:a040:

So yes Florida get cold snaps, then pops back to 70s couple days later.

If you promised warm weather year round, mid state isn’t going to have those temps. My family is anywhere between Miami down to the keys. They think it’s cold this morning

[Altavia]

Spring, summer and fall can happen all in the same day this time of year.

[Babubhat]

Aberration. Random cold fronts passing through. Look at accuweather monthly chart for future forecast. I don’t trust any prediction more than a few days out

[biker1]

The average high in December is 72F and the average low is 51F. We were 41F this morning. As with almost any location, there can be fairly large variances on any given day or set of days. For example, I have seen lows in the upper 20s but the coldest average low is in January at 48F. We will be back around the averages tomorrow and then a few days above the averages with another cold spell possible the latter half of next week.

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?

[MrFlorida]

Don't worry, you'll be warm and toasty come July....

[tophcfa]

A couple brief cold periods happens every year in the Villages. Typically anytime between mid December through mid February. Still way better than up north where we are stuck through the holidays, where today’s high temperature is mid 30’s and tonight is forecasted to get down to 12 degrees. It’s all relative.

[pauld315]

Cold here in north central FL typically from mid December to mid February. Florida is a long peninsula. If you want warm weather year round you need to move to South Florida. I don't know how many people who have moved here have told me the same thing. They thought all of Florida had the same weather and it is so untrue. It could easily be 15 degrees warmer in the winter near Miami or Ft Lauderdale. than it is here.

[Papa_lecki]

It’s 34 in Edwardsville, it’s 54 in the villages. It’s going into he 70s in The Villages today.

That is not similar.

[vintageogauge]

Enjoy it while you can. We hit 90 during Feb., 2023

[manaboutown]

I remember visiting my aunt and uncle in Winter Haven in early January, 1969. I had never been to Florida and expected Miami weather. It was cold, raining and pretty miserable. My aunt chuckled and suggested my wife and I drive down to Miami and take a cruise to the Bahamas, which we did and had a ball in wonderful, sunny, warm weather.

[Laker14]

Cold here in north central FL typically from mid December to mid February. Florida is a long peninsula. If you want warm weather year round you need to move to South Florida. I don't know how many people who have moved here have told me the same thing. They thought all of Florida had the same weather and it is so untrue. It could easily be 15 degrees warmer in the winter near Miami or Ft Lauderdale. than it is here.

that observation reminds me of my first ever visit to Florida. I drove from NY to Miami. When we hit the Georgia-Florida border I thought "we're here!"....yeah, right. This was in 1978, and the speed limit was 55. Took what seemed like forever to get down there.

[ThirdOfFive]

Closing in on four years here now...Dec. and Jan. have some cold(er) days, even a frost or three on the really cold nights. I recall our first January here...forecast was for a low of 30 f. overnight and there was a "severe weather warning" out as a result, with parents being urged not to let Junior out of the house unless he was wearing a hat AND mittens. Being from Minnesota I got a chuckle out of that: I recall months when the daytime temps rarely got above zero, and -40 at night was not uncommon.

But things (and folks) change. We used to be amused by locals wearing long coats, hats and gloves when the temps hovered around 40, now I'm one of them.

[coffeebean]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?

This weather we are having right now is downright gorgeous!!!!!! I love the cooler weather. We do get some freezing temps occasionally over night in January and February. That is when my Ginger plants suffer from the cold but will come back beautifully when the warm weather is upon us.

[photo1902]

Spring, summer and fall can happen all in the same day this time of year.

Best post of the day!

[VApeople]

Is this typical weather here?

Yes, this is very typical for North Florida.

When we drove down here in 1989, the Welcome To Florida sign on I-95 had snow all over it.

[Chi-Town]

El Nino is good for Illinois, not so much in Florida. But you're still better off here. Welcome.

[CocoPuff]

We moved down here 3 years ago. Yep it’s definitely colder than normal. This feels like more January weather. Welcome!

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?

[kkingston57]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?

Except for the heavy rain this past week end this is average. 10-15 degrees cooler warmer S. Florida and cost of living 50% higher there.

[Randall55]

I have lived in Florida 40+ years. Most of the time, the weather is great and you do not need sweaters and jackets. It seems when there is an El Niño, it brings colder weather to Florida. After reading about Anchorage in early November, my wife and I dug out our hats, scarves, gloves, and warm socks. We are hoping we will not need them but have learned to be prepared. If January and February are unusually cold, it is difficult to find items to keep you warm. The stores sell out of them, quickly. With La Niña, it seems to bring more rain and more hurricanes.

Don't hold this as gospel truth. Mother Nature does as she wishes. My experience has been that most years are quite pleasant.

[Utah Flyfisher]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?

Wellllllll….it’s 30 degrees above average where I live so 🤷🏻*♀️ My house in TV still seems like it would be nicer to be at 😂 Seems to me that we should just enjoy retirement wherever it is. Right now I’m wishing that I was ‘cold’ in TV 😂

[dhdallas]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?

This is an El Niño winter which causes changes to the normal weather patterns. El Niño is a climate pattern that describes the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean and occurs every 2-7 years.

The National Weather Service (NWS) says that during strong El Niño events, average winter temperature favors warmer than normal conditions across the northern tier of most of the nation and colder than normal conditions over most of the southern states

El Niño generally brings above average precipitation to Florida during Fall-Winter-Spring with a higher risk of flooding. According to the NWS in Tallahassee, Central Florida averages between 8 to 10 inches of rainfall during a typical winter. But during El Niño winters, that rainfall total rises to between 10 and 13 inches. One El Niño winter season even brought 18 inches of rainfall during the winter. Central Florida leads the entire state for above average rainfall during El Niño winters, with some locations averaging as much as five inches above normal.

El Niño events, especially strong events, have been tied tightly to well above normal storminess and strong tornadoes across the Florida Peninsula between November and April.

[banjobob]

Not too unusual , the Villages in my opinion is about as far north in the state as you want to be , go 100 miles further south much better year round climate.

[bowlingal]

wait till Feb when you are watching blizzards on tv and then going out to play golf. that's the best. However, we have had a few nights here where the temp was 27....frost kills plants, so be aware. Last year there were a few nights like that.

[Rosethorn]

Thank you for the many thoughtful responses!!

Very helpful.

In the worst of the winter in the St. Louis area, temperatures often hit single digits and occasionally went below zero.

I’m mighty grateful to be out of that!

[Rwirish]

Way too cold here in the winter. Too bad TV wasn’t built much further South.

Thankfully we have beautiful weather April thru September. Once we start hitting 90’s everyday paradise has arrived.

[askcarl]

Florida Cracker here. Left crowded South Florida 14 years ago. Saw 28 degrees F one year, 3 days in a row. Wide swings happen.

January 19th 1977. Snow in Miami.

[GizmoWhiskers]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?
This is normal. Albeit a little early. The difference here is we can have 30 to 50 degree swings in one day. The cold season is over in a flash and then it's hot as heck and crazy humid. Spring and fall feel like they come and go in a flash. We do get frost here in T V. So certain plants need to be covered.

[HoosierPa]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?


Check historical weather data online and you will have your answer.

[merrymini]

I don’t even wear a jacket when it is cold like this. I know what’s coming.

[Dkintzer]

Don't you know? These cold temperatures are the result of global warming! :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

But seriously, usually we get a cold snap in January. Last year and this it has hit around Christmas time. Wait for July, you'll be warm enough:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Actually, last year 12/24 & 12/25 were freezing. I ride bicycle every morning and was bundled up & by the end of my 18 miles, I thought my toes were frost bitten! Every year since we originally moved to FL from the NE there have been periods of cold temps. You have to go to South FL (below the I-4 corridor) to get a bit warmer temps, HOWEVER, with the higher temperatures you get higher cost of living!😜

[midiwiz]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?

North of I4 this is typical weather, if you want what you promissed then you better go further south.

[sallyg]

Over the last eight years we found December to be lovely. Sunny, clear, no humidity, and usually in the 70's during the day. January and February get cold. We've had lows in the 30's and one year it stayed in the high 20's for a few days.
There is no normal anymore. But don't worry, Florida will be nice and toasty in the spring and summer.

[crash]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?

We do have colder weather in the winter just like everywhere else Just our scale is 40F is artic freeze. I would guess that we were at least 20F warmer then Illinois and when they get to 0F we will be 30-40F warmer.

[Vermilion Villager]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?

Yes it is colder and wetter this year than normal. Last year at this time everyone was talking about burnt up golf courses and empty holding ponds because of the hot dry weather..
The NOAA predicted El Niño is expected to continue through the Northern Hemisphere this winter. That means a split jet stream with a southern jet right over Florida. Translation: cooler and wetter this winter.....sorry.

[drdoug59]

yeah, the weather here is not as warm, by at least 10 degrees in south florida That’s why TV was developed here, because land is cheap and why living here is more affordable than Naples or Miami. it’s warm enough for golf, which is my concern, and I no longer go to the beaches because too many friend have died from melanoma. Before TV, Sumter county was one of the poorest counties in Florida, but housing costs here compared to new england are soo cheap

[harby]

We moved from Jacksonville & Springfield, IL sevens years ago. Yes, you may see low 40 s (seldom high 30's) a few times during winter, but you will appreciate here more as you will see the warm weather most of the winter period. No snow shoveling, winter coats, boots, etc. more! We used to live in Panama City Beach, FL during snowbird period and found it colder with high wind & rains. TV is an ideal place to live with many activities for our age.

[Dilligas]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?

After 12 years in St Louis, the worst weather in US, you will love Florida. The warm and toasty is February and later, but December through January is cooler.

[kkingston57]

Way too cold here in the winter. Too bad TV wasn’t built much further South.

Thankfully we have beautiful weather April thru September. Once we start hitting 90’s everyday paradise has arrived.

Sarcasm? our neighborhood turns into a ghost town in June. Everybody leaves to get out of the heat. Play golf with 20-24 guys in January. Hard to get 4-8 guys during the summer.

[DonnaNi4os]

I moved here six years ago
In November. My first New Year’s Eve had temps in the 20’s! This is central Florida. Expect temps to drop sometimes in the winter months but also expect a roller coaster ride. It might be 30’s one day and 70-80 the next. Also prepare for cold mornings, warm afternoons and cool nights. Once March rolls around the humidity and heat starts and will last through late September.

[IndianaJones]

As a native i moved up here from the Ft. Lauderdale area. This area is known as “South Georgia” - real Florida starts around the West Palm Beach area. Here it’s cool/sometimes cold in the winter & crazy hot in the summer. But, less traffic, less hassles & more to do for seniors. You learn to adapt by leaving on the summer & waiting a day or two for the weather to change in the winter!

[NotGolfer]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?

We too moved here 14 yrs ago from the Midwest. It was 2009 and that winter was just like it is lately....cold. A friend we knew, who had a place here intimated we wouldn't need winter clothes....so I believed her and got rid of most of my warm things. MISTAKE!!! Yes, Dec., Jan. and Feb. can be unusual. We're in Central Fl.---watch the weather news and you'll get the information. Florida used to be full of orange groves---they "might" have disappeared due to the growth of people coming for the weather BUT in the '80's a bad cold snap with frost affected the growers because they lost so many trees. Yes, it does get chilly here but it won't last. Many times if you bundle up and get busy outside, eventually as the sun will be too warm for the jacket and you'll shed it. I remember laughing at a person at one of our pools who'd said our blood gets "thinner" once we've lived here a couple of years. They were correct. Florida is much better than up north---even in the summer months when the heat/humidity hit. I hope to never move back to the frozen tundra with it's snow/ice etc.
Since living here....we're so glad we don't live on either coast that seem to be affected most by the storms. Also the panhandle gets much harsher weather than here---even a bit of snow (it doesn't last). We think Central FL is the best place. You will find our weather (even the rain etc) is different than up north. It "might" rain in your neighborhood (or it won't) when other places get drenched. Yes, be aware but it won't last.

[EddieUA]

This past February 2023 we had 16 days above 80 and the rest in the mid to upper 70's and only one day had a high of 64. One day in mid February it was near 90 degrees. Check weather.com monthly February 2023. Weather can vary a lot from year to year.

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?[/QUOTE]

[Cliff Fr]

Did you leave the door open when you came down? :)

[Pete Swanson]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?

Typical for "north central" Florida. If one is looking for warm temps for say 360 days per year....you would need to head down South Florida. We moved up here after over 25 years in South Florida. On many occasions there can be a 15 to 20 degree difference on the "colder" side. For example, as I type this it's 53 in TV and 69 in Coral Springs where we came up from.

[coconutmama]

We have been here in a January, that is snowed, didn’t stick, but 31 degrees on a golf course leaves plenty of tee times:a040:

So yes Florida get cold snaps, then pops back to 70s couple days later.

If you promised warm weather year round, mid state isn’t going to have those temps. My family is anywhere between Miami down to the keys. They think it’s cold this morning

Wow. Have not seen any snow here, but have seen hail twice.

Definitely have had to cover some outside plants, as the temps dipped below 20 at night too many times.

Yes indeed, central Florida is not that warm in the winter. Pockets of cold that can last for a night or two, or a week.

[STLRAY]

I have been here three years and used to live just down the road from you in Highland, IL and believe me the winters are SO MUCH BETTER! This is just a temporary cold snap. Like when it would occasionally get to ZERO back home.

[airstreamingypsy]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?

Ahhhh, but try to buy a snow shovel here....... I don't love this cold, but at least its not snowing...... and won't.

[Regorp]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?

It is winter and it gets cold a few days, then back to 70's. December to February is like fall weather. Other 9 months is summer. Enjoy! We're from New England so this is awesome . No snow or ice.

[Topspinmo]

Don't you know? These cold temperatures are the result of global warming! :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

But seriously, usually we get a cold snap in January. Last year and this it has hit around Christmas time. Wait for July, you'll be warm enough:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Won’t have wait for July it will be plenty warm by March 1st.

[Topspinmo]

This weather we are having right now is downright gorgeous!!!!!! I love the cooler weather. We do get some freezing temps occasionally over night in January and February. That is when my Ginger plants suffer from the cold but will come back beautifully when the warm weather is upon us.

What I have found it feels colder when cool and hotter when hot. It can get well below freezing for couple days and then it warms up.

[maistocars]

It's always good to get some crisp cooling air here, but in a few days it goes back up to normal temps of about 71 this time of year as it is today. January is the only time where you might get 2 weeks of cold, but sun and no wind makes it reasonable. Enjoy our great state!

[Rosethorn]

After 12 years in St Louis, the worst weather in US, you will love Florida. The warm and toasty is February and later, but December through January is cooler.

I lived there for several years but I am originally from Virginia Beach. When I first moved to the St. Louis area, I thought that the snow was fun. Lol.

I’m enjoying my time in Florida very much and we’re busy getting our house ready for Christmas visitors but we’re also digging out our hats and mittens!

Thanks again for the lovely comments.

[DebMil]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?

Hi, it is colder in North Central Florida. We are from SE Florida for over 56 years. Only 2 years here. We average 10 to even 15 degrees colder than South Florida. I check the difference daily.
In the summer, our heat index is about 7 degrees lower. Humidity always a bit lower here.

So Winters worse, summers better. However, the lightning here is serious. Consider installing a lightning rod.

P.s. no iguanas or pythons here unlike S. Fl.

[TomSpasm]

Coming from 27 years in St. Pete and Sarasota, my wife and I had serious conversations about whether the Villages would be too cold for us! We're surviving it...

[Laraine]

Typical winters in northern and central Florida include about two weeks with lows near or just below freezing. The rest of the time lows are generally in the 40’s or 50’s with highs in the 60’s or 70’s. It stays a little more constant near the coast, as the ocean moderates the temperature. As far as getting used to it, we lived in Edmonton, Alberta for a few years—people would put on the winter coats when it hit the 40’s in the fall/winter transition, then would break out the shorts and tee shirts when it hit about 35 in the spring.

[lawgolfer]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?

The last few days are somewhat colder than usual, but are not uncommon (if that makes sense). You might want to have a sweater or light jacket handy for the mornings and evenings. My wife thinks of these days as she does of the temperatures in the air-conditioned stores and restaurants where she is always freezing!

Be thankful you have escaped from Illinois with its terrible government and outrageous taxes. Not paying a state income tax is like getting a raise. Not being controlled by the political machine in Chicago is a blessing.

If you want a break from our winter season, take a cruise out of Port Canaveral. They're cheap and convenient.

[jrandall]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?

I have been in The Villages the last 11 years. The temperatures aren’t unusual for December. It sort of stays this way until March. We moved here from Miami, Fl which is a sub-tropical climate and cold days like we are having recently happen around 5 days of the winter season. It is usually in the 70s there.

[Two Bills]

Loved it in TV when temp. dropped into the 50f- 60f range.
Golf courses were near empty as the all year rounders mostly wouldn't leave their house.
I had a great pal for many years who was so proud of being an ex-Marine.
Used to bang on his door when temp. dropped, and shout, "are the Marines playing today?"
Can't put the exact reply, but it fell into the 'Go Forth and Multiply' category!
Still miss him.

[Limey]

I think winter this year is on a Tuesday!

[lawgolfer]

We moved from Jacksonville & Springfield, IL sevens years ago. Yes, you may see low 40 s (seldom high 30's) a few times during winter, but you will appreciate here more as you will see the warm weather most of the winter period. No snow shoveling, winter coats, boots, etc. more! We used to live in Panama City Beach, FL during snowbird period and found it colder with high wind & rains. TV is an ideal place to live with many activities for our age.


As we like to say, "Jacksonville is a great place to be from"! No desire to return, but am happy we own the farm.

[Pixelpups]

We moved from San Diego to The Villages 4 years ago. Winters are better than San Diego, summers are worse, fall and spring are about equal. The Villages beats the cost of living in San Diego hands down. When we moved here in October, the air conditioner ran every day. We held our breaths and waited for the electric bill. In San Diego with the thermostat set to 82°, the bill could be $400. The bill was $79 and the thermostat was set at 77°!

The rule here is: layers in the winter. It may freeze at night for 3 days in a row, but the daytime temps rise to the 50°. So far, we’ve never had an ice storm here. All I’ve ever experienced is random nights of frost Dec - Feb. No more than 8 nights like that and that’s the total for Dec. ‘22 - Feb. ‘23. (I pay attention because I have some plants that hate frost. Right now the pineapples are in our enclosed lanai. They don’t like 50°. BTW, try growing pineapples from the cut off tops of store bought fruit in Illinois.)

[Shimpy]

This is normal. Albeit a little early. The difference here is we can have 30 to 50 degree swings in one day. The cold season is over in a flash and then it's hot as heck and crazy humid. Spring and fall feel like they come and go in a flash. We do get frost here in T V. So certain plants need to be covered.

Run heater in morning and a/c in the afternoon in car. That's typical for winter in Florida. Been here since May 1953. We got to Miami and expected to see palm trees like on post cards showing the coconut palms. They don't grow this far north.

[Escape Artist]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?

If it’s that warm in Illinois in December then that’s the anomaly and not mid-central Florida in the winter!

[Laker14]

Very much depends upon what activities you like to do. If you imagined that you'd be sitting by a swimming pool everyday in December-March, you'd be disappointed in the weather in Central Florida.
However, if you play pickleball, the cooler weather is a blessing.

Many times I've left the house on a "cold" morning for a walk, only to realize after a few blocks of warming up that I was a tad overdressed.

It seems like there aren't more than a handful of days through the winter months here that are just so miserable I wouldn't go out even for a walk. In fact, when those days are forecast, I sometimes get the giddy feeling I used to get when a big snowstorm was expected up north, and a little bit of me is happy that I can get a "rest day". No golf, no pickleball, no walk. Just laze around the house and do puzzles or something.

ps. I just checked the weather in my old 'hood up north. 17F. I don't miss that a bit.

[biker1]

Actually they are pretty close in departure from the average. The average low in Edwardsville for December is 28F and the average low in The Villages for December is 51F. So, we were about 10F below average and Edwardsville was about 13F above average for that morning.

If it’s that warm in Illinois in December then that’s the anomaly and not mid-central Florida in the winter!

[Kathyo]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?

Factual December temps for the last 4 years taken near Santo Domingo.

[ffresh]

Spring, summer and fall can happen all in the same day this time of year.

Thanks for the laugh this morning (though it's true) :mademyday:

Fred

[nn0wheremann]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?
We get a couple of weeks of winter in December and January. Deal with it.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?

Why did you promise him that? Where did you get your information that it is a "warm and toasty" place? Florida ranges between a humid subtropic, to a true tropic climate, depending on what part of the state you're in.

Central Florida is a humid sub-tropic and as such it can often get into the 40s on winter nights, and have winter days when it never leaves the upper 50's. On rare occasions, temperatures can dip below freezing but those are few and far between, and might happen one or two days out of the entire year, if at all.

These are things you'd know, if you had checked Wikipedia, or done a simple google search for Florida climate information. You can even check the Orlando wikipedia entry, which brings you a little closer (albeit an hour south of) to us for detail. You'll find that in December, January, and February, it is common to have minimum day-time temps in the low 50's. It's also common to have maximum daytime temps in the low 70's, for the same months.

Mean minimums (which would be night-time) during December, January, and February, are commonly just above freezing and don't even hit 40.

There've been extremes outside these "mean" measurements - record low of 18 in December in Orlando, and record high of 103 one September.

In general though, with the exceptions of the extreme highs and lows and seasonal changes, the greater Orlando area (including the Villages, which is just north) should expect daytime temps to range from the low 70's to the low 90's for most of the year.

[biker1]

No. The lowest average temperature for The Villages is in January and is 47F.

Why did you promise him that? Where did you get your information that it is a "warm and toasty" place? Florida ranges between a humid subtropic, to a true tropic climate, depending on what part of the state you're in.

Central Florida is a humid sub-tropic and as such it can often get into the 40s on winter nights, and have winter days when it never leaves the upper 50's. On rare occasions, temperatures can dip below freezing but those are few and far between, and might happen one or two days out of the entire year, if at all.

These are things you'd know, if you had checked Wikipedia, or done a simple google search for Florida climate information. You can even check the Orlando wikipedia entry, which brings you a little closer (albeit an hour south of) to us for detail. You'll find that in December, January, and February, it is common to have minimum day-time temps in the low 50's. It's also common to have maximum daytime temps in the low 70's, for the same months.

Mean minimums (which would be night-time) during December, January, and February, are commonly just above freezing and don't even hit 40.

There've been extremes outside these "mean" measurements - record low of 18 in December in Orlando, and record high of 103 one September.

In general though, with the exceptions of the extreme highs and lows and seasonal changes, the greater Orlando area (including the Villages, which is just north) should expect daytime temps to range from the low 70's to the low 90's for most of the year.

[Nana2Teddy]

My coldest Christmas ever was last year here in TV. 24 degrees at 7:00 a.m. We had arrived here from SoCal just a month earlier. I walked outside just to experience it because growing up in SoCal I had never had a Christmas morning colder than the 50s-60s. It was definitely not what I was expecting when we moved here. My husband on the other hand grew up in MI so 24 was not new to him, but after 46 years in SoCal he definitely was no longer used to temps that low. We were at Disney for 2 nights earlier this week when temps were in the 40s, and we were both frickin’ freezing. LOL!

[MidWestIA]

The Villages Climate, Weather By Month, Average Temperature (Florida, United States) - Weather Spark (https://weatherspark.com/y/17637/Average-Weather-in-The-Villages-Florida-United-States-Year-Round)

[kkingston57]

Typical for "north central" Florida. If one is looking for warm temps for say 360 days per year....you would need to head down South Florida. We moved up here after over 25 years in South Florida. On many occasions there can be a 15 to 20 degree difference on the "colder" side. For example, as I type this it's 53 in TV and 69 in Coral Springs where we came up from.

Those differences give TV 2 more months of moderate weather, but we do miss the sea breezes which make SE Florida more tolerable in the summer.

[Klearhead]

Don't you know? These cold temperatures are the result of global warming! :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

But seriously, usually we get a cold snap in January. Last year and this it has hit around Christmas time. Wait for July, you'll be warm enough:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Usually a week in January we will see a couple of Nights a year into the Daybreak hours of temps between 29 and 34. By noon to 3 pm we're back into the 60's. Last year it was a 3 day morning period. This December it has been cooler than others I've experienced in my 7 years here in Florida. LOL there can be a few days each year when you will experience Winter at daybreak, Spring at 11:00 am, summer around 2 pm and fall around 6pm...It's a central Florida experience....

[xcaligirl]

We came from Edwardsville, Illinois (near St. Louis). I talked my husband into this gig by promising him that Florida would be a warm and toasty place!

Right now, temperatures in The Villages and Edwardsville are somewhat similar.

Is this typical weather here? Or an anomaly?
I've heard that this will be the coldest Christmas in Florida. I remember the past 10 years that we've been here, it's been quite nice on Christmas Day, nice enough to be riding around in the golf cart with a light jacket! Overall, I know that in LATE summer I start wishing for a cool day every once in awhile! I do feel the weather here is much nicer than many places!! (Yes, I look like I'm a eskimo but I even get chilled at times in the summer!). Enjoy

[rustyp]

I've heard that this will be the coldest Christmas in Florida. I remember the past 10 years that we've been here, it's been quite nice on Christmas Day, nice enough to be riding around in the golf cart with a light jacket! Overall, I know that in LATE summer I start wishing for a cool day every once in awhile! I do feel the weather here is much nicer than many places!! (Yes, I look like I'm a eskimo but I even get chilled at times in the summer!). Enjoy

Forecast for Christmas day in TV is 73 degrees.

[Papa_lecki]

I've heard that this will be the coldest Christmas in Florida.

You might want to get another source for your news.

I picked a random year - first try - dec 25, 2020 the high was 54
It’s going to be in the 70s this year

[manaboutown]

snowstorm in Jacksonville 12/23/1989. Your browser is not supported | jacksonville.com (https://www.jacksonville.com/picture-gallery/weather/severe/2021/12/12/looking-back-freak-snowstorm-hits-jacksonville-december-1989/8849737002/)

[Nana2Teddy]

I've heard that this will be the coldest Christmas in Florida. I remember the past 10 years that we've been here, it's been quite nice on Christmas Day, nice enough to be riding around in the golf cart with a light jacket! Overall, I know that in LATE summer I start wishing for a cool day every once in awhile! I do feel the weather here is much nicer than many places!! (Yes, I look like I'm an eskimo but I even get chilled at times in the summer!). Enjoy
Last Christmas we woke up to 24° at 7am. This Christmas the low will be in the 60s. This is definitely not the coldest Christmas for Central FL if we’re counting last year, lol. I remember it very well mainly because it was our first Christmas here coming from SoCal, and I had never in my life experienced a Christmas that cold. I was very surprised by it.

[Nana2Teddy]

We moved from San Diego to The Villages 4 years ago. Winters are better than San Diego, summers are worse, fall and spring are about equal. The Villages beats the cost of living in San Diego hands down. When we moved here in October, the air conditioner ran every day. We held our breaths and waited for the electric bill. In San Diego with the thermostat set to 82°, the bill could be $400. The bill was $79 and the thermostat was set at 77°!

The rule here is: layers in the winter. It may freeze at night for 3 days in a row, but the daytime temps rise to the 50°. So far, we’ve never had an ice storm here. All I’ve ever experienced is random nights of frost Dec - Feb. No more than 8 nights like that and that’s the total for Dec. ‘22 - Feb. ‘23. (I pay attention because I have some plants that hate frost. Right now the pineapples are in our enclosed lanai. They don’t like 50°. BTW, try growing pineapples from the cut off tops of store bought fruit in Illinois.)
We moved from SoCal to DeLuna a year ago, and I agree with everything you said. We were not quite as humid in Ventura Co as you were in San Diego, but overall great assessment of the differences between living here vs there. :)

[Flyers999]

If you are visiting for two months or less, stay away from Dec & Jan.

If you livie in TV 12 months a year, these cold spells are delightful. There is the plant issue especially for frost of 3 consecutive days or more, which does happen although not often. But, besides that, there is no reason to move further south.