Looking at your weather... (Phoenix, Tucson: getaway, job, cost)

[Steve-o]

According to www.wunderground.com, Scottsdale's weather is colder than Chicago's. I see this happen quite often throughout the winter, just curious how often it gets in the 40's, 30's, 20's? I mean, from the tourism books I get mailed to me from Scottsdale's CVB, they make it sound like its nice in the winter, yet often I see freeze advisories for the PHX area. What gives? False advertising? A cooling trend? There have been plenty of times where Ive been in AZ in October and had nights in the 50s and high 40s.

So basically, in a sense, due to lack of humidity, winter daytime highs can be somewhat comfortable, with downright bone-chilling nights? I often also see AZ's tourism bureau stating how nice the winter weather is, but lows are in the 40s on an average in January? Its not much cooler than that here, and a heck of a lot colder than LA or Honolulu and Miami. Can someone explain? I had thought about visiting Scottsdale again, in Jan or Feb, but it seems to me that Miami would be alot warmer? Anyone lived in both states and can give me an ACCURATE winter weather report?

[elfyum]

Desert winters are COLD!!!!!! That's why I moved from Tucson to Miami!!!
Tucson highs in the winter are 60's (the norm) - Miami's LOWS in the winter are 60's. (the norm)
It's fooling, & honestly, it sucks! Cause I LOOOVE that dry heat, but I can't handle the desert winter!!!

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

According to www.wunderground.com, Scottsdale's weather is colder than Chicago's. I see this happen quite often throughout the winter, just curious how often it gets in the 40's, 30's, 20's? I mean, from the tourism books I get mailed to me from Scottsdale's CVB, they make it sound like its nice in the winter, yet often I see freeze advisories for the PHX area. What gives? False advertising? A cooling trend? There have been plenty of times where Ive been in AZ in October and had nights in the 50s and high 40s.

So basically, in a sense, due to lack of humidity, winter daytime highs can be somewhat comfortable, with downright bone-chilling nights? I often also see AZ's tourism bureau stating how nice the winter weather is, but lows are in the 40s on an average in January? Its not much cooler than that here, and a heck of a lot colder than LA or Honolulu and Miami. Can someone explain? I had thought about visiting Scottsdale again, in Jan or Feb, but it seems to me that Miami would be alot warmer? Anyone lived in both states and can give me an ACCURATE winter weather report?

You can get at all these numbers to your hearts content through NCDC. As a quick comparison the average heating degree days are 6498 in Chicago and 1027 in Phoenix. Or you need to heat appx 6 times as much in Chicago as you do in Phoenix in order to maintain a 65 degree temperature. Cooling degree days in Phoenix are 4364 and 830 in Chicago. So Phoenix needs about 5 tmes as much cooling as Chicago. Overall yearly cost is likely a wash as heating is less expensive than cooling. NCDC will also plot daily average highs and lows and stuff like that..

[tucsondesertdweller]

Big difference is that we usually are having sunny sunny days all year! So I would rather be in the 60's with the sun out then a place where its 40 and gloomy.
Personally I love the winter in the Tucson area, cool in the early am, warm in the afternoon and cool at night.
Once in a while we see snow up in the mountains, wow what a sight, its the best of both worlds, we see snow in the mts, but down here its still sunny and bright, with no snow to shovel and no messy slush, etc.
Also for approximately half of the year we don't run air conditioning and we don't run heat!
Ok, now I can not defend the summer here, its bad.

[OneWayOut]

Originally Posted by elfyum

Desert winters are COLD!!!!!! That's why I moved from Tucson to Miami!!!
Tucson highs in the winter are 60's (the norm) - Miami's LOWS in the winter are 60's. (the norm)
It's fooling, & honestly, it sucks! Cause I LOOOVE that dry heat, but I can't handle the desert winter!!!

Haha, I am moving to Phoenix in the next couple months, just got a job there that starts in mid-January. Normally I am just an observer on the AZ forum, but had to chime in on this one.

I live in northwestern Ohio right now. We are lucky to see highs in the mid 40's during the winter. We are very lucky above that. In January, we have highs in the 10's, sometimes lower. Also, Ohio is not even the coldest place to be in winter!

I cannot wait until the day that I can complain about the desert winters being too cold! I envy you.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by tucsondesertdweller

Big difference is that we usually are having sunny sunny days all year! So I would rather be in the 60's with the sun out then a place where its 40 and gloomy.
Personally I love the winter in the Tucson area, cool in the early am, warm in the afternoon and cool at night.
Once in a while we see snow up in the mountains, wow what a sight, its the best of both worlds, we see snow in the mts, but down here its still sunny and bright, with no snow to shovel and no messy slush, etc.
Also for approximately half of the year we don't run air conditioning and we don't run heat!
Ok, now I can not defend the summer here, its bad.

Interesting, but I dont think its "great" weather in Arizona like everyone says it is. And being in the sun all the time sucks for many reasons as well. I like a good cloudy day, it breaks up the monotony IMO. Sunny all the time is just as annoying as rain all the time, or clouds all the time. Something you cant escape becomes a nightmare.

[daaver]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Interesting, but I dont think its "great" weather in Arizona like everyone says it is. And being in the sun all the time sucks for many reasons as well. I like a good cloudy day, it breaks up the monotony IMO. Sunny all the time is just as annoying as rain all the time, or clouds all the time. Something you cant escape becomes a nightmare.

Don't go to AZ then. Cloudy rainy days are few and far between, in general. The Phoenix area doesn't have a large variety of seasons and weather, this is either a plus or a minus depending on your feelings about it. On the plus side, it is nice to able to schedule outdoor events anytime you want and not have to worry about the weather cooperating. That is one thing I definitely miss being in NYC now.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Interesting, but I dont think its "great" weather in Arizona like everyone says it is. And being in the sun all the time sucks for many reasons as well. I like a good cloudy day, it breaks up the monotony IMO. Sunny all the time is just as annoying as rain all the time, or clouds all the time. Something you cant escape becomes a nightmare.

Not the same at all. Sunny all the time is monotony, gloomy and rainy is depressing. I realize that you are a troll on the AZ forum. Nevertheless, I second the recommendation that you and others who feel like you do about AZ stay where you are. The last thing we need out here is another mid-western immigrant pining and whining about the wonderful life he left behind.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Not the same at all. Sunny all the time is monotony, gloomy and rainy is depressing. I realize that you are a troll on the AZ forum. Nevertheless, I second the recommendation that you and others who feel like you do about AZ stay where you are. The last thing we need out here is another mid-western immigrant pining and whining about the wonderful life he left behind.

Excuse me? I asked a perfectly good question and received some nice answers from the first few folks until YOU come along and start crap. Whos the real troll I wonder? Kiss off and leave this thread to people I originally requested answers from (people whove experienced winter weather in Florida and Arizona).

Sunny all the time is great for some folks (if you like hiding from it and having a massive risk for skin cancer), bad for others. Rain is NOT gloomy as you put it, rain is soothing, relaxing, brings life. Whats gloomy is the desert, the dust, the lack of abundant life, the Groundhog's Day (the movie) weather. Wake up, sunny. Wake up, sunny. Wake up, sunny. I could go on and on here too, pal.

Anyways, back on track after I was so rudely interrupted by Mr. Ponderosa... Could someone answer my question? Someone whos expierienced winter weather in southern Florida, or PHX area, what would you recommend? Im trying to plan a winter 2 week getaway and would like some honest opinions.

[tucsondesertdweller]

I would suggest that you try Miami, since you have been to Arizona already as you said in your first post.
Check the weather.com site for temperature averages.
Exactly what are you looking for in your vacation destination.
Arizona and Florida, well one has more sunny days and Scottsdale is the desert and Miami is the ocean.
Its why they make different flavors of ice cream