Anybody left who still thinks Colorado weather is always "mild?" (Denver: transfer, to live in)

[steve22]

Originally Posted by LBear

So far, it looks like you lost your wager. Since the arctic cold has settled in the Denver area on Sunday with double digit below zero temps, it has been in the teens and lower 30's ever since then.

This weekend it is showing that another cold front is moving in and the temps will be:

Saturday: High 18F - Low 12F (with snow)
Sunday: High 12F - Low -2F below zero
Monday: High 23F - Low -2F below zero
...with wind chills dropping to double digit below zero temps

Again, semantics. Why are you so obsessed with disparaging the weather in CO, anyway? Look, about 80% of the time, over the average course of a year, it's sunny and pleasant, as opposed to central AZ where the weather is constantly and predictably unbearable for over 50% of the year. My post was just a generalization of the weather in CO in general. It's schizophrenic. Just because it's cold today, tomorrow, even this weekend, does not in any way mean it's going to stay like this for very long, let alone the entire winter.

Like I said, I've lived in the midwest, I've lived on the east coast, and the weather in CO in the winter is WAAAY more pleasant than it is back there, on average. We get storms and cold fronts in CO, sure; we'll get occasional dumps (and most times it's light, fluffy powder that's heaven to ski on) and usually once it's over, the sun comes out and it's quite nice. It is not constant, dreary, cold all the time like it is back east. I'm pretty sure most transplants here who are originally from back there would agree with me. In fact, I recall a thread awhile back that was started and propagated by some transplants from MI and WI regarding the weather in CO during the winter as compared to the ones back in the midwest, and all the posters were raving about how much nicer it is here. If you haven't lived here, I'm not sure how you could possibly know or have a valid opinion.

And laugh about it all you want, dry air does make a difference in terms of how cold you feel. A dry cold is much more easy to tolerate than humid cold. It doesn't "stick" to you. 25 degrees in Chicago is unbearable; 25 degrees and sunny in CO ain't bad at all. Again, if you haven't lived here, don't post a rebuttal to that 'cause you don't know and you sound foolish- just about as foolish as someone who would argue that dry heat feels the same as humid heat. It absolutely does not, as I'm sure you know.

Put it this way: being that you're from AZ, as a means of comparison, the climate in Denver is not on the whole all that much different than it is in Flagstaff. Sure, you may find some indoor inactive types who would complain that the weather in Flagstaff is too cold in the winter; and it is cold at night, and snowy as well sometimes. But on the whole, it's really pretty nice, dry and sunny the majority of the time. There is not an extended and prolonged period of the year when you literally are housebound for your comfort and safety the way that you are in central AZ. I doubt that if you talked to too many young active people there that many of them would tell you they prefer Phoenix or Tucson's climate to Flagstaff's.

[suzco]

Just for laughs, let's compare today's (12/17/08) forecast for Denver with the forecast for a few Arizona cities (forecasts from forecast.weather.gov):

Denver –
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 41. South wind around 6 mph becoming east.

Phoenix –
Today: Rain likely, mainly after 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 59. Southeast wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
700 AM MST WED DEC 17 2008

...STRONG WINTER STORM TO BRING HEAVY RAINFALL AND POSSIBLE
FLOODING...

Prescott –
Today: Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 43. Southeast wind 5 to 8 mph increasing to between 15 and 18 mph. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Flagstaff –
Today: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 37. East southeast wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
Winter Storm WarningURGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLAGSTAFF AZ
541 AM MST WED DEC 17 2008

...ANOTHER WINTER STORM TO IMPACT NORTHERN ARIZONA TODAY AND THURSDAY...

A STRONG AND MOIST PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING ANOTHER ROUND
OF WINTER WEATHER TO NORTHERN ARIZONA STARTING THIS AFTERNOON AND
CONTINUING THROUGH MID DAY THURSDAY.

For December 17, 2008, Denver's weather stacks up pretty well compared to some Arizona locations.

[CosmicWizard]

steve22 wrote:

And laugh about it all you want, dry air does make a difference in terms of how cold you feel. A dry cold is much more easy to tolerate than humid cold. It doesn't "stick" to you. 25 degrees in Chicago is unbearable; 25 degrees and sunny in CO ain't bad at all.

Gotta agree with you Steve! I spent many a mild winter in Virginia Beach where the temperature alone makes it appear to be a much milder winter than Colorado. On that basis alone, Virginia Beach wins hands down. Now, when you factor in the COMFORT level I'd have to give the edge to Colorado based on my first 3 winters in Grand Junction. Temperature wise, it gets much colder here no doubt about it. But, the combination of MUCH more sunshine and the dry air makes a fantastically big difference in comfort and pleasantness. Additionally, there is far less wind here than there is an an Atlantic coastal city in the winter and spring, and that too makes a huge difference in comfort. That cold, damp, wind driven 45 degree air under gray, coastal skies gets into your bones and chills you from the inside out. I have not experienced that kind of bone chilling cold in Grand Junction even when the temperature dips below zero.

[Shuffler]

Originally Posted by CosmicWizard

Additionally, there is far less wind here than there is an an Atlantic coastal city in the winter and spring, and that too makes a huge difference in comfort. That cold, damp, wind driven 45 degree air under gray, coastal skies gets into your bones and chills you from the inside out. I have not experienced that kind of bone chilling cold in Grand Junction even when the temperature dips below zero.

After spending a few weeks in coastal Maine in the dead of Winter, I now have a reference point for when I think it's really cold here...it's enough to get me outside moving around when I might not otherwise.

The 20s felt downright balmy yesterday afternoon.

[CosmicWizard]

Shuffler wrote:

The 20s felt downright balmy yesterday afternoon.

Weird as that might seem to some folks reading this, I concur 100%. I work for a company that encourages their employees to get out and take a walk during break time. I heard many people commenting that it was so nice & warm outside.

[Ticky909]

There should be a heat index that takes into account cloud cover, temp, wind chill, and actual humidity, im not sure where though. I stick with people complain more in the East, if everyone is whining about how cold it is than it'll feel colder prolly.

[DOUBLE H]

Steve and Cosmic are right. I've lived all over Colorado my whole life. I also visit high school and construction buddies who have relocated to plains states. I'll stay here thank you very much.

[Shuffler]

FOXNews.com - 'Death Map' Shows Where Americans Most Likely to Die - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News

I need to read the article...this is just my initial reaction to the 'Death Map'

[Foreverking]

Originally Posted by suzco

Just for laughs, let's compare today's (12/17/08) forecast for Denver with the forecast for a few Arizona cities (forecasts from forecast.weather.gov):

For December 17, 2008, Denver's weather stacks up pretty well compared to some Arizona locations.

its mostely sunny outside my window here in the East Valley of Phoenix, its about 60 degrees....it couldnt be better actually

[bullfish15]

Originally Posted by Ticky909

There should be a heat index that takes into account cloud cover, temp, wind chill, and actual humidity, im not sure where though. I stick with people complain more in the East, if everyone is whining about how cold it is than it'll feel colder prolly.

The summertime heat index for Denver is usually much lower than the actual temperature because they calculate the lack of humidity. It could be 94 degrees with a 89 degree heat index. Back east the temperature could be 85 with a 95 degree heat index.