Grand Rapids Breaks Snowfall Record (house, living, resident)

[Cato the Elder]

Originally Posted by AngelfaceAZ

and it isn't truely hot here until like mid June

But it gets freezing cold here in October, right? I love how MI ex-pats say it's only unbearably hot in the desert for three months but it's unbearably cold in MI for nine. It's freakin already in the 80s in February in AZ - but it's a dry heat, eh? You can't have it both ways by skewing the data in opposite directions...

[malamute]

Originally Posted by Cato the Elder

But it gets freezing cold here in October, right? I love how MI ex-pats say it's only unbearably hot in the desert for three months but it's unbearably cold in MI for nine. It's freakin already in the 80s in February in AZ - but it's a dry heat, eh? You can't have it both ways by skewing the data in opposite directions...

It depends on what part of the desert -- some places in the SW aren't all that hot. Arizona does have some spots that get hot. I'm in the SW and don't use airconditioning, and it's only cold enough to have the heater on mostly at night for about 2 months.

[AngelfaceAZ]

Originally Posted by Cato the Elder

But it gets freezing cold here in October, right? I love how MI ex-pats say it's only unbearably hot in the desert for three months but it's unbearably cold in MI for nine. It's freakin already in the 80s in February in AZ - but it's a dry heat, eh? You can't have it both ways by skewing the data in opposite directions...

Oh I wouldn't say that Cato. Michigan is beautiful in October, the colors, the smells...god I miss fall and I'm smart enough to know the winter is usually Dec-Feb mostly . You guys have 3 months of ice we have 3 months of heat...give the option I chose th later. I know, I know its already in the 80's out here but that is the weather we live for. You'd be amazed how beautiful 80 degrees can be when it's not accompanied by 90% humidiy . When, like this past year the extreme temps stick around out here into mid Oct then we start to get a little sick of them and then I do visit Michigan a lot! It's all a matter of persepctive and what you deal with better..not trying to "skew" anything

[actinic]

Originally Posted by malamute

Arizona does have some spots that get hot. I'm in the SW and don't use airconditioning, and it's only cold enough to have the heater on mostly at night for about 2 months.

From a person that actually *lives* in Arizona (for the past 35 years) 90% of the population is found in the Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma metro areas, all of which get very hot so when it's stated 'some' areas get hot this obviously applies to the vast majority of residents.

A/C starts kicking in April, sometimes earlier (for cars most everyone is already using it) and stays with us mid to late October. Heat is typically needed from mid Nov to mid March in the Tucson area.

[Cato the Elder]

Originally Posted by actinic

A/C starts kicking in April, sometimes earlier (for cars most everyone is already using it) and stays with us mid to late October. Heat is typically needed from mid Nov to mid March in the Tucson area.

So you basically have two weeks in the fall (first two weeks of Nov) and two weeks in the spring (last two weeks of March) when the average person is not using heat or air conditioning? I think Southeast MI has AZ beat by at least 4x that length (April-May and September-October).

[actinic]

Originally Posted by Cato the Elder

So you basically have two weeks in the fall (first two weeks of Nov) and two weeks in the spring (last two weeks of March) when the average person is not using heat or air conditioning?

Correct, the diurnal temperature variation associated with low humidities during those periods are so great that it's not uncommon to need heat in the morning and a/c in the afternoon, albeit for short periods of time.

[magellan]

Back to the topic: SNOWING AGAIN TODAY!! Another 3 - 5 inches I think.

I think we'll break the 100 inch mark this year (of course, not all on the ground at the same time for you out-of-staters).

[AngelfaceAZ]

Originally Posted by Cato the Elder

So you basically have two weeks in the fall (first two weeks of Nov) and two weeks in the spring (last two weeks of March) when the average person is not using heat or air conditioning? I think Southeast MI has AZ beat by at least 4x that length (April-May and September-October).

Oh please, I havn't had the air or the heat on for months now. When it gets a little chilly at night (yes we do get frost sometimes) I turn on my electric blanket and it's all good.

....and if anyone has AZ beat it's West Michigan

[actinic]

Originally Posted by AngelfaceAZ

Oh please, I havn't had the air or the heat on for months now.

You live where? Low temps in 30's as recently as Feb 18th in Tucson.

National Weather Service - NWS Tucson

[AngelfaceAZ]

Originally Posted by actinic

You live where? Low temps in 30's as recently as Feb 18th in Tucson.

National Weather Service - NWS Tucson

actinic,
I live in Mesa I hate turning on the heat. We have a huge window in our livingroom so during the day in the winter it gets into the mid 70's in the house. We just bundle up at night and we're good.