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Location: Cleveland bound with MPLS in the rear-view
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It doesn't even have to be freezing most of the time, just some of the time, and as a seasoned Northerner I'd say that it should be about 25% of the time, but that's because I have MN bias, so I'll ease up and just go for "some" of the time.
So for example, parts of Texas actually experience winter according to my definition of it, and hence have 4 seasons.
The sweet spot might be the areas off the 101 north of the wine country in CA. Thinking a bit past Santa Rosa where you see no more palm trees on up to Ukiah. Albuquerque comes close. Virginia Beach and waterfront south of DC on the east coast but you get much more grey weather in winter and humidity in summer
I once lived just South of Ukiah, in Lake County. I had a dairy there. It is not bad
I also did 18 months at Virginia Beach. It is not horrible either.
I could have chosen either of those locations to retire to, and yet I found a much better location.
Well you can rule out all of the upper midwest. The change of seasons is definately there, but if you dont like extreme temps then this is not your place. January is much colder than 35, well maybe 35 below zero lol. Summers are nice up here, espc if you are close to Lake Michigan.
Location: Cleveland bound with MPLS in the rear-view
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Summers can also be brutal -- Souix Falls avg. high in July is close to 90 or at least the upper 80's, yet still experiences the bone chilling cold that just about no other state in the country experiences. Wild stuff!
I think the best place, without extremes in weather, is Hawaii. Sometimes the humidity makes it feel above 85F in late August and the month of September, but the temperature is 85F, year round, has sunshine almost everyday, rains about 15 minutes every day, then stops, so there are lots of rainbows, very rarely are there thunderstorms, lightening almost never. Hurricanes and earthquakes once in a while, every 5-8 years, tsunamis once every 10-15 years, but global warming may be affecting some change, as more warnings of late. Summers are mild and breezy; I'm from NYS and I've never used air-conditioning in summer. Leaves do get brown on some trees in autumn and fall, but no barren trees and some are always replenished with green. If you really miss snow, you can go to the Big Island and up Kilauea summit for island snow, then descend and swim in a turquoise ocean. November/December/January is the rainy/winter season, when the temperatures get down to low 80's or even mid-70's. Locals start wearing their parkas. Flowers bloom all year and the air has floral perfume in it, but not as noticable in heart of Honolulu or more populated areas.
I'm going to go ahead and define what I feel is a 4 seasoned place:
Winter: can get below at least 32 degrees and ice/sleet/snow are at least an occassional occurance
Spring: pretty self-explanatory -- but over freezing and under 90 degrees
Summer: at LEAST 75 degrees 99% of the time
Fall: same as Spring....maybe includes leaves falling off of trees
Many cities do not have 4 seasons IMO.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tahiti
I disagree, I'd say Philly up to Southern NH and Vermont fit this criteria. Philly down to DC fit the criteria for the most part, depending on the year (winter may be a bit warmer than what you say).
Quote:
Originally Posted by tahiti
I hear you, I'm saying that Philly up through Southern NH and VT fits that bill for all seasons. Where I am in NJ it's below 32 most of the time then.
HUH??? Philadelphia winters of late begin in November after a brief Fall. They continue through March and into April (sometimes early May), followed by a short "Spring" and segway into a brutally hot Summer.
I think New Mexico has great four season weather! Albuguerque and Northern New Mexico in general. The falls are cool and crisp, the summers aren't too hot, the winters get cold but nothing like Denver and other areas. Spring is warmer but still cool.
California would be the second best but it's more 3 seasons than 4 depending where in CA you live. Northern California gets A LOT of rain. Southern California despite what everyone thinks, actually does get rain! This past winter we here in San Diego got a few inches of rain from the El Nino. It even flooded streets. The mountains of SoCal get snow too! Big Bear(SoCal) is great for skiing! I love it!
Gets cold in the winter, but not extremely so, has a beautiful spring and fall. Summers are frequently above 85 tho
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