Orlando residents! A winter weather question for ya!

[acejka]

My husband's job transfered us to Orlando... I'm packing up the house... So my question is...

I'm packing my clothes, and here in VA it gets COLD. Cold enough to need sweaters, sweatshirts, etc. Long sleeves and jeans in the early fall/early spring.

What is the weather generally like in Orlando in the winter?

Will I need my sweaters and sweatshirts? I know it was pretty cold when we were there in January, but this was a freak winter for everyone.

What is a normal winter like?


Also, do they sell winter-ish clothing in FL? Will I be able to find basic long sleeved tees and stuff like that, or is it more summery stuff all year? I feel like an idiot asking that, but here, we have 4 distinct seasons and 4 distinct types of clothes sold during those times of year...

Thanks!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Yes we do have winterish clothing here. But about half the layer of what they'd sell in VA. (I.e., I don't call it true winter--but it is good enough for our winter.)

FWIW, when I went up during what I'd call a "cold snap" to VA (you'd probably call it "normal and balmy")--I'd have to multi-layer what we did own down here. When we move up to VA, I will have to actually pay attention to winter clothes--while down here....a few pairs of pants and some sweaters/long sleeves with a jacket is sufficient.

For our 2 week very unusual cold snap (extended overnight freeze warnings), I did for once feel what we had was insuficient, but it wasn't the norm. I actually didn't buy my kids winter coats for last year--but this year while in Atlanta at Thanksgiving, I couldn't pass up on the Old Navy sale and bought my kids coats.

They did wear it a few times in that 2 week period, though not every day.

You'll find that you need a lot lot less winter wardrobe (but they do sell adequate here to update as needed during the fall/winter months) and you'll need a heck of a lot more spring/summery stuff for the rest of the year than what you are accustomed to in VA. I tend to buy "seasonal" stuff usually just for a color palette change. So I'd have a summery type shorts outfit and get board and want a more "fall" like "shorts" outfit.


When we move up to VA--that is one thing I'm not looking forward to--mutli-season wardrobing.

 

[Acklander]

Yes, they sell sweaters, long sleeves, sweatshirts, long pants etc...
I've never seen long underwear though.

 

[Art 1]

This winter we had 10 weeks in a row of very cold weather. We have had some winters that we did not turn the heat on. You just never know.

Stores do sell winter clothes in the fall.

 

[AKL_Megs]

FWIW, I have family in FLA... near Orlando.

When we visited a few years ago in January, they were experiencing a cold spell. It was the coldest I have ever felt it in Orlando. It was in the high 40s during the day, low 40s at night.

I wore a sweater with a long sleeved shirt underneath, and added a fleece jacket (that was all I had, it wasn't fashionable ) in the evening and was just fine. Everyone else (locals) wore the same.

 

[RitaZ.]

Yes, they sell sweaters, long sleeves, sweatshirts, long pants etc...
I've never seen long underwear though.

I'm in S. FL and I've purchased thermal underwear from my local Target, Ross, Stein Mart, Walmart, Burlington Coat Factory.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Congrats on your move to FL, this was our 2nd winter here (25 miles past WDW toward Tampa on I-4 but close enough to answer you I think), we moved from NY, for some reason I packed our winter coats and the dogs coats and more importantly see pic below Maxine was VERY glad I packed her winter blanket...it wasn't cheap and I figured I could sell it on eBay. Glad I didn't, this was Feb. Her water buckets have been frozen many mornings, of course its a heat wave to a former NYer by most winter afternoons. FYI- I have found long john underwear at the Walmart in Kissimmee for DH.

 

[Buckalew11]

FWIW, I have family in FLA... near Orlando.

When we visited a few years ago in January, they were experiencing a cold spell. It was the coldest I have ever felt it in Orlando. It was in the high 40s during the day, low 40s at night.
I wore a sweater with a long sleeved shirt underneath, and added a fleece jacket (that was all I had, it wasn't fashionable ) in the evening and was just fine. Everyone else (locals) wore the same.

You were lucky! When we were there is was downright COLD. Sleeted, even. I think it was the coldest I'd ever been in my life. I think all the water and the wind off the water was what did me in.

 

[ChristmasElf]

We had a terrible winter here in Orlando this past winter. (well, terrible for us anyways)

For what it's worth, the Florida Mall I find has the best selection of winter jackets in the late summer/early fall.
A lot of tourists from Europe come and snap up the bargains to take back home.
You will be able to find thermal underwear at Target here if you need it.