Visitors are asked to leave the Keys during any category storm while residents are mandated to leave during a severe hurricane of Category 3 or higher. The early egress of visitors is for their own safety.
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Hurricane season in the Caribbean—including Key West—runs from June to November. While we're fans of Caribbean off-season travel, even during fall months like October, you should expect plenty of afternoon showers this time of year. You also face heightened risk of having your trip disrupted by a major storm.
1948 - Two hurricanes landed in Florida again, and both hit the Keys. The first one arrived at Key West on September 21st, with winds recorded at 122 mph at Boca Chica airport. There were gusts of up to 160 mph, and the water level rose about six feet because of the storm surge.
The Florida Keys was spared much of the damage that Hurricane Ian inflicted on Fort Myers and other areas of the state's Gulf Coast, but the powerful storm brought significant surge to the island chain, forcing well-known beaches to close. Most have reopened after repairs.
Refuse to Leave Unless Safety is at RiskSometimes, hotels may be legally required to provide shelter and accommodation during severe weather conditions. If you feel that leaving the hotel would put you in immediate danger, explain your concerns to the staff and request that they provide a safe alternative.
August is the hottest month in Key West, with average temperatures ranging from an average high of 91 to a low of 81 degrees. The humidity is also quite high, with plenty of rainfall. For those sensitivy to humidity and weary of rain, August is probably the worst time to visit Key West.
Idalia made landfall at Keaton Beach in Florida's Big Bend area (wind speeds around 125 mph) as a Category 3 hurricane on Aug. 30, after briefly undergoing a rapid intensification to a Category 4 storm overnight. This area had not been hit by a strong storm in 125 years.
Visit Key West in the off-seasonThe fall (September–November) is the low season in Key West, and room rates can drop by 50 percent or more. The hot, storm-prone summer months also see lower prices, and you'll find decent discounts in April and May after the winter crowds thin out.
On September 2, 1935, Labor Day, the hurricane reached a peak intensity of 892 mb. The hurricane made landfall later that night as a Category 5 storm, crossing the Florida Keys between Key West and Miami, FL. As it made landfall, the hurricane delivered maximum sustained winds of approximately 298 km/h (185 mph).