Move away because of heat? (winter, traffic, system)

[cBach]

Originally Posted by riaelise

wooo hoo lucked out today. only 96 degrees!

Felt great didn't it

[Cathy4017]

I really feel like all southerners should spend 3 or 4 years in New England. If they did, there would be virtually no complaints of heat from any of them. They may begin to appreciate the advantages of a mild winter and would realize the hot summer is a small price to pay for 60 or 70 degree winter days.

And therein lies the problem---warm winters, which often follow very hot summers. There is no balance. 80 degrees in Jan and 90 in Feb (I've seen both in West Texas) is NOT fun on the heels of a blistering hot summer. The heat lasts so long--and it's not confined to summer. It often starts at the beginning of April (spring) and goes all the way through to the end of October (fall).

Admittedly, Midwestern winters are terrible, and I wouldn't live anywhere in the Midwest nor on the East Coast. You have brutal cold winters, and hot HUMID summers.

The climates in some of the western states are a different ballgame--shorter summers, much cooler nights and mornings...and the AC doesn't run all day long. It's just a matter of where you choose to live to get away from the heat. It gets hot in northern New Mexico, but it doesn't last that long.

Winters are much colder, but it balances out the summers. No endless hot weather that goes on forever.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

I really feel like all southerners should spend 3 or 4 years in New England. If they did, there would be virtually no complaints of heat from any of them. They may begin to appreciate the advantages of a mild winter and would realize the hot summer is a small price to pay for 60 or 70 degree winter days.

And therein lies the problem---warm winters, which often follow very hot summers. There is no balance. 80 degrees in Jan and 90 in Feb (I've seen both in West Texas) is NOT fun on the heels of a blistering hot summer. The heat lasts so long--and it's not confined to summer. It often starts at the beginning of April (spring) and goes all the way through to the end of October (fall).

Admittedly, Midwestern winters are terrible, and I wouldn't live anywhere in the Midwest nor on the East Coast. You have brutal cold winters, and hot HUMID summers.

The climates in some of the western states are a different ballgame--shorter summers, much cooler nights and mornings...and the AC doesn't run all day long. It's just a matter of where you choose to live to get away from the heat. It gets hot in northern New Mexico, but it doesn't last that long.

Winters are much colder, but it balances out the summers. No endless hot weather that goes on forever.

I was never arguing about the West versus the South. My arguments were about the Midwest/Northeast versus the South.

But the only real advantage out West is coastal California. The desert Southwest is worse than Texas in heat, the dryness and altitude can be problems in Colorado and other mountain states for some people (yours truly) and the incessant rain and overcast conditions in the Pacific Northwest negate any advantage there.

I cannot argue against California's climate. It is superior to anywhere in the continental US. However, some of us can't afford to live there anymore.

[Cathy4017]

There are places all over the mountain states that have varying climates...and I suppose it just comes down to what one can tolerate. Some of us thrive in high and dry--and others don't.

[cBach]

Altitude is not for everyone. I can't breathe well at higher altitudes on account of my asthma.

[brucerby]

Just read through this whole HEAT thread from almost one year ago....so, how is the heat this year in Austin, so far?
Better, or similar? any opinions?

[Trainwreck20]

Heat has been lower, for sure - June heated up at the end, but the entire June was hot last year.

Last few days have had several inches of rain locally, not sure we got any last July, maybe we did. More importantly, the rain has been pretty wide-spread, not just isolated showers.

Still a few months of summer to go, though.....

[love roses]

Similar with heavier humidity due to all the recent rain.

[MtnLion512]

Info from NOAA:

May 2011: 3 days 100+
May 2012: 0 days 100+

June 2011: 15 days 100+
June 2012: 6 days 100+

July 2011 (to date): 10 days 100+
July 2012 (to date): 2 days 100+ (both barely hit 100), none on the forecast for the next 7 days per the NWS.

6/12 had much lower than avg precip, other than that May and this month thus far have exceeded normal averages, with more to come the rest of this week. Every month last summer had far less than average rainfall.

Sure, this summer can be classified as "hot", just like 99% of other summers in Austin's existence. For me though that's where the similarities end between '12 and '11. So my answer is not similar, and definitely better

[Trainwreck20]

Heh, I was going to get some data like that, but you saved me the trouble .