WHERE are the 300 days of sunshine yearly ? (Colorado Springs, Pueblo: taxes, live)

[keikekai]

Hi,
I am quite confused here by the information out there on the weather in Colorado Springs...
On many sites (including this forum) I have read that Colorado Springs gets about 300 sunny days a year. Yet according to this site I found:

Weather Today - Weather Forecasts, Radar, Maps for 1000s of US and World Cities

Colorado Springs only gets 127 sunny days a year !!! THAT's A HUGE difference...which is correct ???
It shows Alamosa, Pueblo, and Grand Junction as having more sunny days (not familiar with any of those at all).

Weather Facts and Figures hottest coldest sunny cloudy windy

Check that site out and compare what you know to the available statistics. I don't know WHAT to believe anymore. If anyone knows what is accurate I would appreciate it. Is it sunny year round (all day every day) or more so in one particular season ?

I want a really sunny place so this is important - thanks for any help you can provide !!!

[Charles]

It appears the discrepancy is in the meaning of "sunny". The 127 days "does not include Partly Sunny or Partly Cloudy days"

A lot of summer days in Colorado Springs are sunny until around 3PM when thunderstorms kick in. By that definition, they are not sunny days.

The real appreciation of sunny days is in winter. A lot of us enjoy the late afternoon thunderstorms in summer and the bright sunny days in winter.

[Katiana]

The discrepancy lies with definitions.

From the National Weather Service Website:

Sky/weather - Cloud cover and weather. Weather could include rain, snow, showers, thunderstorms, etc. Cloud cover is as follows

Clear 10% or less cloud cover

Mostly Clear/Mostly Sunny 10% - 30% cloud cover

Partly cloudy/Partly Sunny 40% - 60% cloud cover

Mostly Cloudy 70% - 80% cloud cover

Cloudy/Overcast 90% or greater cloud cover

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/images/ict/p...20AOP_2006.pdf

I have never lived in COS, but I can pretty much assure you that the vast majority of days are in the Partly Cloudy/Partly Sunny category or better.

[runlikethewind]

Colorado Springs has more sunshine than places like Santa Barbara, which people always think is paradise. If you love sunny skies, this is the place for you. Yes, they have a winter, but it's mild with about 5 or 6 snows that melt very quick. If you're the type of person who likes to wake up to sunny blue skies almost every morning of the year - Colorado Springs is going to suit you to a T!

[Kar54]

Chamber of Commerce would have you believe we get 400 days of sunshine a year (lol).

[jerrygoldsmith]

Snowfall on the mountains has fallen consistently over the years, and other weather patterns have increased for the worse.

Just more results of Global warming.

[Samantha Andrus-Henry]

I grew up in Alamosa; we called it the land of the cold sunshine.
Yep, lots of sunshine in Alamosa, just cold to cool and windy most of the year.

[MountainPharmD]

I am glad someone else noticed this discrepancy. I think the people who claim there are 300 days of sunshine really mean there 300 days the sun shines for a least 5 minutes. I swear in the last year it has rained or snowed every other day. Which is why I just moved to Texas.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by MountainPharmD

I am glad someone else noticed this discrepancy. I think the people who claim there are 300 days of sunshine really mean there 300 days the sun shines for a least 5 minutes. I swear in the last year it has rained or snowed every other day. Which is why I just moved to Texas.

Maybe I'll join you.
Is it sunnier in Texas? Less humid? Less bugs? Prettier? More comfortable? Better taxes? Less traffic?