Rain, rain and more rain

[skfulkers]

Ok, maybe I'm just posting this hoping that someone will make me feel better, but here goes:
I checked the 10-day forecast for this weekend and it's supposed to rain ALL weekend. Now I know that forecasts are just that-forecast. And they can change all the time. And I know that there are plenty of things to do at WDW indoors and I'm not afraid of a little rain. But a question for those of you who have braved storms in the winter in Florida. When it says "rain" in the forecast, does that usually mean rain all day or is it like the summer where there is an afternoon thunderstorm that usually comes and goes within a couple of hours.
I can handle a little rain, but constant rain for 4 days straight would start to wear on me.
Any thoughts on this? Is it going to be like Seattle down there?

 

[n2mm]

Only 4 days?? We took our grandson last summer for 10 days at the end of June and it RAINED 10 days straight and had been raining for 2 weeks before we got there. He got a total of 5 minutes in the pool one day and 10 minutes another day. No water parks, no sea world, no universal that trip. I just didn't want to pay to do the extra parks since we have APs. We had to throw our sneakers away when we returned and was so sick of sweating under the yellow pounchos. I would've taken 4 days in a heart beat. It's luck of the draw and there's nothing anyone can do about it. Just hope they're wrong. BTW, the summer rain we had was all day, all night, somethings stopping for about an hour.

 

[allicat]

n2mm, we were there the same time as you! I gave up on those sweaty ponchos and we used umbrellas!

Usually, it doesnt rain for very long so dont worry about the forecast! In June, that was an unusual situation due to a tropical depression. And forecasts do change from day to day.

 

[loriandmatt]

I too was there mid to late june last year.....rain all day and all night for 7 days. Worst trip ever!!!

- lori

 

[Tess]

Don't remind me--my family was there during the wetest June ever--at least that we've ever been through before! Ten lovely days of downpour, night and day, with just an hour here and there of dry weather! We got several hours in at BB in between thunderstorms and I've NEVER seen the pools closed so often as they were when we were there last year! I've said this many times before, but we've been through 2 tropical storms in Florida (one in August and one in October) that weren't as miserable as last June! Those storms were finite--yeah, it rained like crazy while they were there--but they ended! This rain didn't--I've never spent so much time in the hotel before. The lightning was just too dangerous and the downpours so torrential.

Anyway, I hope you fare better AND I hope those of us that suffered through last June are rewarded with blissful weather this year! My guess is, the weather you're seeing is just the normal garden variety Florida weather--I thought the weather channel said that el nino would be affecting the weather less and less with an end by March. Hope they are right!

 

[catharine]

I have been watching weather.com, and although they predict rain, it is only with 40-50 percent probability.

Not sure if this link will work, but:

http://www.weather.com/weather/local/USFL0372?lswe=orlando+fl&lswa=WeatherLocalUndeclared&whatprefs=

If not, go to weather.com. For my trip Feb 8-16 showers are predicted for a few of the days (Saturday, Sunday and Monday), but only with 50, 40 and 30 percent probability, respectively.

I am an optimist - and I think it will be fine. Even if it does rain, they are only showers - right? We'll see.

 

[2vets]

Well, we will be down there with you (we leave tomorrow evening)...but like the previous poster said, when they say 30, 40, 50% probability, it seems unlikely that it would rain all day!! Of course, now that I said that, it might increase the chances for rain a bit...

I am kind of PO'd because yesterday, the forecast said the highs would be in the upper 60's most of the weekend - now they're talking 50's. What gives??? I have had too add/subtract/add/subtract from my bag a bunch of times already!!!! I give up - I'm taking it ALL - 2 pairs of jeans, 2 pairs of shorts, warm and cold-weather shoes, a jacket, and long-sleeved t's.

Oh, well- a cold/rainy day at WDW is better than a nice day almost anywhere else!!!!

 

[2vets]

I just noticed...as I was grubling over weather.com's grim predictions for 50's highs this Sat and Sun...that they are predicting snow showers in Orlando today, along with a high if 71 degrees. What's up with that?

Clearly, I have the wrong career!!! I should be a weather forecaster!!!

 

[skfulkers]

Since I checked the 10-day forecast on weather.com this morning, I've checked cnn.com weather and accuweather.com, and the outlook isn't so wet for either of those two forecasts. So I guess it'll just be hit or miss--I'm sure there will be some rain, but hopefully not 4 days straight. And I definitely hope it won't be like last June, from what others here are saying.
I am kind of bummed out by the high temps for the weekend, though. Like you said, 2vets, it was forecasting a high in the lower 70's, and now it's in the mid 50's. I guess we'll just have to pack our whole closet to take with us.

 

[catharine]

Since I posted about an hour ago the forecast for Saturday went from a 50% chance of rain to 30%. Okay - I am officially done checking. How the heck does that work?


I agree with 2vets about the career choice. I would love it if I had that flexibility - and really no penalties for being wrong. Too much!

 

[2vets]

I have now checked accuweather.com, and I have to say - THAT site wins my vote...mainly because they don't have pictures of rain clouds next to all 3 days of my visit and because THEY say it will be 66 (vs weather.com's 56) degrees on Sunday.

If it IS cold, let's face it - that's why WDW has (a) coffee stands and (b) alcohol. There are ways to stay warm!

 

[juju]

this is funny, I have been checking all of the weather sites as well trying to find the most optimistic one as well. I will be down for 4 days this weekend too when all of the days showed showers, this is really depressing because I am coming from Seattle and the forecast here is sunny for the next week!

 

[sharon-nj]

we were @ WDW 12/18 - 12/28. It rained a bit a few days. Rain wasn't all day long. Just some spurts. One day was downpour early in morning and we almost didn't go. But I decided to brave it and it was the best decision. I was prepared with ponchos. Once rain stopped, it was great. Crowds were low since many had either left or not bothered to go at all.

 

[DznyMom]

I've got three weather sites bookmarked and have been checking several times daily!! Yesterday I was all set and picked out clothes accordingly. Then when I checked today ... ugh!!! What is going on. Plus my little guy is home sick today with a fever. Hope it's not an omen.....

 

[DebbieB]

I'm leaving tomorrow morning and am confused too! The forecasts are really all over the place. I was there in early December where we had a day with heavy rain for 24 hours straight (Dec 9 & 10), I'm hoping it's not that bad. Some of the forecasts say a "slight" chance of rain. I'm only there 3 nights this time, so I'm taking everything, jeans, sweatshirts, t-shirts. No shorts, I'm not that optimistic (my snow white northern legs don't look good anyway )!

One thing I am bringing this time that I wished I had in December - a light winter coat. It's denim with a flannel lining. Plus gloves. It gets cold after dark.

We're doing the Cinderella dinner tomorrow night and Cindy's castle breakfast on Friday morning! Can't wait!

Here's hoping for warmer weather!

 

[kilee]

I will not be there for another week, but yesterday I bought umbrellas and ponchos. Determined to have a good time no matter what, and planning in case we do get rain then. Afterall it's Disney, and I 'll take it rain and all.

 

[jwfla422]

The rain is usually associated with a cold front in the winter in Florida. This time of year it usually rains ahead of a cold front or if it stalls. The only time you may get continuous rain is if it stalls which happens in South Fl a lot, but we don't get much rain from it, just muggy air and maybe clouds.

I can tell you I've been checking the long range (pretty tough to predict) forcast the last few days. We're leaving a week from tomorrow, and each day it has changed from rain to sun, from sun to rain, so there's really no telling.

Orlando is a whole different world from down here only 3 hours south believe it or not. Just be sure to pack some ponchos and umbrellas and a stroller cover if you have a little one. Make sure to pack clothes you can layer and you'll be fine We did this in December and we were ok, freezing half the time but ok Have a great time!

 

[kylara]

I suggest you check out Orlandoweather.com. It is affiliated with a local station. It does have scattered showers forecasted for the weekend, but that doesn't always mean rain. We had the same forecast yesterday (50% chance) and most places got no rain....lots of clouds yes, but not rain.

 

[Melynny]

Well, I certainly feel better... I was prepared for all day rains too. I leave in 4 hours for the airport and Hopefully I have the right clothes! Are we there yet???

 

[Reminisce71]

We are leaving tomorrow and are so excited!

I have also been following weather.com and am confused. lol I guess we will see when we get there.

We did have a change of plans and have decided to go into MK on Saturday the 8th, the day we arrive. I heard that the Buzz Lightyear ride will be closed all week from 2/9-2/14 and my kids really want to ride that.