Florida is typically divided into the three directional regions: Central, North, and South. Central Florida is, obviously, the region in the middle of the state. The definition of the boundaries varies depending on the person you ask. However, it typically covers a large amount of the state, including the Orlando metropolitan area, Tampa Bay, and Daytona Beach. The region is so distinct and identifiable that the Florida economic development agency uses the designation as one of its eight economic regions. Other entities such as the Florida Department of Transportation also recognize it as a region unto itself.
Geography
Most of Central Florida is flat land. There are some hills in Lake County, Pasco County, Polk County, and Hernando County. The region features wetlands, forests, coastline, prairies, and pastures. There are more than 1,500 bodies of water such as lakes and ponds. The St. Johns River is one of the biggest and most recognizable rivers in the region. Daytona Beach, Cocoa Beach, and Canaveral National Seashore are some of the most famous beaches in the area.
Depending on what activities you want to accomplish, a travel agency can direct you to the best spots.
Climate
While hurricanes and intense rains are a threat to the coast of Central Florida, most of the winters are very dry. They tend to be very temperate as well. 72 degrees Fahrenheit is the average high temperature in the winter. The summers are very hot and very humid. They average a temperature of 92 degrees Fahrenheit. The summers tend to be very long. The peak heat arrives around June, and the summer remains until sometime in October.
Because of the unique climate features, thunderstorms are very common for most of the summer. The high summer temperatures, high humidity, and the breezes from two opposing oceans create the conditions for strong thunderstorms. Florida records more lightning strikes than anywhere else in the United States does, and Central Florida records more lightning strikes than anywhere else in Florida does. Therefore, Central Florida is sometimes called the “thunderstorm capital of the United States.”
The prevalence of the thunderstorms makes the region very vulnerable to tornadoes. Most of the tornadoes are very quick, small, and ineffective tornadoes. They are typically EF-0 or EF-1 storms.
When you are booking a trip to Central Florida, you should keep in mind the time of the year. You will likely want to visit during the summer, but it might be best to steer clear of the coast if a tropical storm or hurricane has been developing off the coast. The tornadoes, however, tend to be fairly innocent and probably should not be a deterrent to visiting the region. Tornadoes are pretty common across the entire Southeastern United States.
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