Map Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Coastal Services Center.

This map shows all category 1 to 5 hurricanes whose centers have passed within 10 nautical miles of the state of Florida's boundary during the period 1851 to 2005.  That's a lot of hurricanes!  So many hurricanes, in fact, that Florida now has an insurance crisis and very unaffordable insurance rates.

Seasons Without Extremes

Macon County gives you a better option.  We have four distinct seasons, but nothing too extreme.  You'll get a few inches of snow a couple of times each winter, beautiful springs and falls, and mild summers and winters.

In the spring, there are beautiful flowers, and everyone enjoys the new leaves and the cool days.

Summer is not too hot and is the perfect time for hiking, biking, boating, outdoor sports and picnics.

During the fall, people travel for miles to Macon County on Fall Foliage tours to watch the leaves change colors.

Winters are generally mild.  There will be a few days a year when it snows, the schools close, and the children enjoy making snowmen and sliding down the hills on homemade sleds.

The chart above shows the average highs [in orange] and average lows [in blue] for Lafayette, Tennessee.
Both are in degrees Fahrenheit.
Source: www.weather.com

The chart above shows the average highs [in orange] and average lows [in light blue] for Lafayette, Tennessee.  It also shows the all-time record highs [in red] and the all-time record lows [in dark blue].
All are in degrees Fahrenheit.
Source: www.weather.com

The chart above shows the average precipitation [in inches] for Lafayette, Tennessee.
Source www.weather.com

And you thought about retiring in Florida???!
Photo courtesy of NOAA.