What Is Florida's Rainiest Month? Kissimmee's Wet Season Explained

If you’ve ever planned a trip to Kissimmee, Florida, and got caught in a sudden downpour, you know it’s not just a quick shower-it’s a full-blown tropical deluge. So what’s the real deal with Florida’s rain? Which month gets the most of it? And why does it feel like the sky opens up every afternoon in summer?

The answer is simple: June is Florida’s rainiest month, especially in Kissimmee. On average, the area gets around 8.7 inches of rain in June. That’s more than any other month of the year. But it’s not just about the number-it’s about how the rain behaves. In June, storms roll in like clockwork, usually between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., often lasting just an hour but dumping enough water to flood parking lots and turn sidewalks into streams.

This isn’t random weather. It’s tied to Florida’s unique climate. Kissimmee sits in the heart of Central Florida, surrounded by wetlands, lakes, and the Everglades’ eastern edge. The land heats up fast in late spring, and with humidity levels often hitting 90%, the air becomes a giant sponge. When that warm, moist air hits cooler air masses moving in from the Gulf or Atlantic, it rises quickly and forms thunderstorms. These aren’t the kind of storms you get in the Midwest. These are heat-triggered, short, intense, and frequent. They’re called convectional thunderstorms, and they’re the reason you’ll see locals checking the sky at noon and grabbing their umbrellas before lunch.

June beats July and August, which also get heavy rain, because it’s the first month when the atmosphere fully turns on the spigot. By July, the rain is still heavy-around 8.1 inches-but the storms start to shift. They become less predictable, sometimes skipping entire days, then dumping two inches in 20 minutes. August sees similar totals, but by then, the risk of tropical systems increases. Hurricanes and tropical storms can bring massive rainfall in a single day, but they’re rare. June’s rain? It’s reliable. It’s daily. It’s part of the rhythm of life here.

For visitors, this means planning matters. If you’re heading to Disney World or the nearby attractions in Kissimmee, don’t assume morning means clear skies. Pack a lightweight rain jacket, a foldable umbrella, and waterproof shoes. Most indoor attractions-like the Disney parks, air-conditioned museums, and shopping centers-can handle a midday storm just fine. But outdoor activities? Golf, kayaking, or a stroll through the Lake Tohopekaliga trails? Those can get canceled fast. Local tour operators know this. Many offer rain guarantees or flexible rescheduling for June bookings.

What about the rest of the year? Florida’s dry season runs from November through April. Rainfall drops to under 2 inches per month. That’s when you’ll see the highest number of tourists-because the weather feels perfect. But here’s the twist: the dry season isn’t dry everywhere. The Florida Keys and Miami can still get afternoon showers, just not like Kissimmee. In fact, Kissimmee gets more rain than Orlando, Tampa, or even Miami during the peak months. Why? Its inland location traps heat and moisture better than coastal areas. The sea breeze that cools down Miami doesn’t reach Kissimmee as strongly, so the heat builds, and the storms build with it.

Residents don’t complain about June rain-they’ve learned to live with it. Backyards flood, but they’ve got drainage systems. Pools get covered, but they’re cleaned the next day. Kids play inside, then head out to splash in puddles after the storm passes. The rain isn’t a nuisance-it’s a necessity. It fills the aquifers, feeds the lakes, and keeps the orange groves alive. Florida’s agriculture, especially citrus, depends on this seasonal pattern. Without June’s heavy rain, the state’s economy would suffer.

And here’s something most tourists don’t realize: the rain cools things down. After a storm, the temperature drops 10 to 15 degrees in minutes. The air smells fresh. The humidity drops. It’s the only real relief you get from the 90-degree heat. That’s why locals say, “The rain is Florida’s AC.” You don’t need to turn on the fan when the sky opens up-it does it for you.

So if you’re wondering when to avoid Kissimmee because of rain, the answer isn’t as simple as “summer.” June is the wettest, yes-but it’s also the most alive. The grass is greener, the alligators are more active, and the water parks are less crowded because everyone’s waiting for the storm to pass. If you’re flexible, you can still have a great trip. Just schedule your outdoor plans for the morning, and treat the afternoon as a time to chill indoors with a cold drink and a good book.

There’s no point in fighting it. Florida’s rain isn’t a flaw-it’s a feature. And if you’re visiting Kissimmee in June, you’re not getting rained on-you’re experiencing one of the most powerful natural cycles in North America.

What months are the wettest in Kissimmee?

June is the top, but the top five wettest months in Kissimmee are all back-to-back:

1. June - 8.7 inches
2. July - 8.1 inches
3. August - 8.0 inches
4. September - 7.9 inches
5. May - 6.5 inches

That’s a five-month stretch where you’re almost guaranteed daily thunderstorms. Outside of this window, rainfall drops sharply. December averages just 2.2 inches. January and February hover around 2.5 inches. The difference is dramatic.

Does it rain all day in June?

No. Most storms last 30 to 60 minutes. You’ll get a heavy downpour, a few loud claps of thunder, then clear skies again. It’s rare to have all-day rain in June. What you do get is a pattern: sunny morning, building clouds by noon, thunderstorms by 3 p.m., clearing by 7 p.m. It’s so consistent that locals call it the “afternoon reset.”

Is June the best time to visit Kissimmee?

It depends on what you want. If you want low crowds and lower prices at hotels and theme parks, June is a smart pick. Many families avoid it because of the rain, so you’ll find better deals. But if you’re planning on spending all day outside-hiking, boating, or exploring nature trails-you’ll want to choose a drier month. For most visitors, the sweet spot is late April or early November, when it’s warm but not soaking wet.

Can you get hit by a hurricane in June?

Technically, yes-but it’s rare. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, but most storms form after mid-August. June hurricanes are uncommon. The water in the Atlantic isn’t warm enough yet to fuel major systems. So while you might get a tropical depression or a heavy rainstorm from a distant system, a direct hurricane hit in June is unlikely. July through October is when you need to pay attention to weather alerts.

How does Kissimmee’s rain compare to other parts of Florida?

Kissimmee gets more rain than Orlando, Tampa, or Jacksonville, but less than the Florida Keys or the Panhandle. The Keys average over 9 inches in June because they’re surrounded by water. The Panhandle gets heavy rain too, but from different systems-like cold fronts pushing in from the north. Kissimmee’s rain is pure heat and humidity. It’s the most consistent, the most daily, and the most predictable in the state.