What's the Real Sunshine State!! (2010, land, metropolitan area)

[californialove24]

^^ Not all of Ca has Mediterrean climate, Just Socal coast!

[greatmuta]

I always thought it was crazy that Florida is called the sunshine state when California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico get much more sunshine than Florida.

[ahzzie]

If humans had never settled the southern California coast would it naturally be a desert? Are we completely responsible for the greenery there?

[bradly]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Uhhh, where in NM does it get 340 days of sun? ABQ averages 76% sunshine year round:
Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America

And places in Florida like Key West, average the SAME sunshine percentage as ABQ:
Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Key West, Florida, United States of America

Uh-oh, now what?

And while NM is decently sunny, its also downright frigid compared to Florida. In winter, you guys get the same sunshine, but in Florida theyre sitting on the beach in shorts under the palm trees and near the ocean, while youre getting snowed on in NM, staring at dead vegetation and getting down below freezing at night, into the teens in Santa Fe. So sorry, even though NM is quite sunny, Florida, IMO, deserves the title more so than NM.

And FYI, the sunniest place in the USA (and world I believe) is Yuma, AZ which averages 340-350 days of sunshine a year. Nothing in NM comes close to that.

Did you get averages for southern New Mexico?
Ohhhhhhh... Now what???

Arizona has NEVER been called the "Sunshine State"
Soooooo...Get over it.
We had it first.

[MantaRay]

Florida got the name sunshine state because the REAL sunshine state, AZ, didn't choose it. AZs nickname was first the baby state, until Hawaii was added. From then until now, AZ hasn't had an official name, but began being called the Grand Canyon State, and lawmakers are now trying to make that name the official nickname. Since the Grand Canyon is probably THE most impressive natural landmark in the entire US, it makes sense that AZ would choose that name over one like Sunshine State. Florida made Sunshine State its official name in 1970. It got the opportunity to do that because AZ, which has way more sunshine that FL, didn't want that name. Every state has sunshine. Not every state has the Grand Canyon.

[LINative]

Originally Posted by MantaRay

Florida got the name sunshine state because the REAL sunshine state, AZ, didn't choose it. AZs nickname was first the baby state, until Hawaii was added. From then until now, AZ hasn't had an official name, but began being called the Grand Canyon State, and lawmakers are now trying to make that name the official nickname. Since the Grand Canyon is probably THE most impressive natural landmark in the entire US, it makes sense that AZ would choose that name over one like Sunshine State. Florida made Sunshine State its official name in 1970. It got the opportunity to do that because AZ, which has way more sunshine that FL, didn't want that name. Every state has sunshine. Not every state has the Grand Canyon.

Good post

[MantaRay]

Originally Posted by LINative

Good post

Thanks!

[vdy1985]

Originally Posted by MantaRay

Florida got the name sunshine state because the REAL sunshine state, AZ, didn't choose it. AZs nickname was first the baby state, until Hawaii was added. From then until now, AZ hasn't had an official name, but began being called the Grand Canyon State, and lawmakers are now trying to make that name the official nickname. Since the Grand Canyon is probably THE most impressive natural landmark in the entire US, it makes sense that AZ would choose that name over one like Sunshine State. Florida made Sunshine State its official name in 1970. It got the opportunity to do that because AZ, which has way more sunshine that FL, didn't want that name. Every state has sunshine. Not every state has the Grand Canyon.

The bold is true. CA, NM, AZ, FL, NV, could all claim to be the Sunshine State, but you want to pick something unique in the state that makes it stand out. Grand Canyon for AZ is very fitting. Golden State for CA fits due to it's legacy from the gold rush... ect. FL having the Sunshine State name is perfect for them because they are a top destination for Northeast and Midwesterners to get out of the cold in the winter. It helps their PR by making the state more marketable.

[th3vault]

So far all that has been equated with sunshine is the absence of clouds, and total cloud cover is very rare in Florida....partly cloudy here is as bright as sunny somewhere else is...... but there is one advantage FL has over all the others that hasn't been brought up yet....

The Florida sun IS much brighter than AZ, NM, CA or any other state because Florida is located much further south and the sun hits Florida at a much more direct angle therefore resulting in the sun being much brighter and more powerful here than it is in the western states.....

Florida also holds the record for the most consecutive days of sunshine at 768....

Florida is the Sunshine State.

[californialove24]

^^ I can't even feel the sun in Florida b/c of the humidity, the Southwest you can feel the Burn and see brightness in the desert!