Autumn is upon us. The falling leaves, the smell of pumpkin, the cooler temperatures -- except in Florida.

What You Need To Know

  • Florida doesn't experience traditional fall-like weather

  • The two primary seasons are the rainy and dry

  • The dry season begins in October

While we have passed the autumnal equinox and are "officially" in fall, the weather is, well, nearly the same. That's because when we think of the seasons, we think of the four we've grown to know -- winter, spring, summer and fall.

But in Florida, it's different. Most of the state doesn't have four seasons at all. There are only two.

Most of the state is in the far northern periphery of the tropical climates. And in most tropical climates, there are two distinct seasons -- a dry season and a rainy, or wet, season.

The rainy season is noted by a light easterly flow that develops daily. This flow is important as it transports tropical moisture into the state.

Sea breezes from the Atlantic and Gulf develop each day, pushing inland. This provides lift to the moisture, which helps create our daily showers and thunderstorms.

The rainy season begins in late May or early June and lasts into October.

The second season is the dry season.

The dry season is known for being, well, dry.

Winds switch from the east to the west or northwest, bringing in cooler and drier air. With no sea breezes to develop and moisture levels much lower, the rain chances are minimal almost every day.

The westerly flow also brings cold fronts into the area.

These cold fronts do two things. They reinforce the cool, dry air over the state and are often the only mechanism to produce showers and storms.

The dry season lasts from October into May, which is when Florida weather is at its best.