Denver Or Phoenix (Flagstaff, Payson: living in, centers, moving to)

[Bill-]

[quote=steve22;1477010 Daytime highs in Phoenix aren't really that much warmer than Denver in the winter, at least not nearly enough to make me want to give up the great outdoor activities in CO. Contrary to popular belief, winters in Phoenix are hardly balmy. So no thanks, think I'll keep Denver, year round.[/quote]

The average high in PHX in January is 68 to Denver's 43. I'd say that is much warmer.

[tscrilla]

Originally Posted by Bill-

The average high in PHX in January is 68 to Denver's 43. I'd say that is much warmer.

That's taking into account the last 30 yrs average. Being a "weather" guru, I've studied enough to get most of the facts. Denver's winter high now days is closer to 50. That doesn't even call for coat, unless you're blood runs thru your veins at the speed of a pregnant mule on the trail head.

Besides, winter offers the best sports...nothing is more fun than snowmobiling, skiing/snowboarding, sleigh rides, pelting someone in the face with a snowball, etc, etc. While I grew up doing mostly summer sports, i.e., boating, wake boarding, swimming (those are all fun), the best activities by far are in the winter.

One season, summer, is boring. Who can do the same things over and over and over again without getting bored? With four seasons you get ALL of it. I'd probably be put into a mental institution if I had to live in a "one" season climate again.

[twiggy]

Originally Posted by steve22

No way. You can ski in Denver, and it's very sunny and pleasant down in the city most of the time excepting the occasional snowstorm. Daytime highs in Phoenix aren't really that much warmer than Denver in the winter, at least not nearly enough to make me want to give up the great outdoor activities in CO. At the start of the Rock n' Roll marathon this year in PHX, the temp was 30! That race was damn cold, let me tell you. Lots of folks from out of town were shivering and pretty disappointed. Contrary to popular belief, winters in Phoenix are hardly balmy. So no thanks, think I'll keep Denver, year round.

This is of great relief to me, I am always considering myself a wimp when it comes to winter. If AZ winters are as cold as other places like Denver, than I feel better. I know we can have a couple of days of winter, but months of it, no way. I have never known a daytime high of 30 degrees here. I live in Chandler though, I have experienced 40 but never 30 and it was only for a min. early in the morning. When did the maraton start? 5:00 am. I think Scottsdale and Phoenix gets a little cooler. I have lived here for 30 yrs, so I am worried if I were to relocate back east I would kill myself. lol But maybe the moisture helps keep you warmer. I have no problems with our winters. I love them, except for the pollution getting worse.cough, cough.

If you don't have kids then you might like Phoenix, (the devil lives here, so there are some fun spots) he he. But you will pay with your soul. lol

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by Bill-

The average high in PHX in January is 68 to Denver's 43. I'd say that is much warmer.

I agree.......let the '4 seasons' fans enjoy Denver, etc.

Despite the Phx summers being pigs-------one does not need to shovel heat

Wash DC cured me of snow and ice.

[steve22]

Originally Posted by Bill-

The average high in PHX in January is 68 to Denver's 43. I'd say that is much warmer.

You have to keep in mind that, again, the elevation in Denver makes the intensity of the sun's rays greater, and thus even though the air is cold, as sunny as it is most of the time it feels warmer than it actually is. It's the same phenomenon you'll find in Flagstaff, Salt Lake City, or Reno, if you've ever been to those places in winter. And as far as snow, grey skies, slush, blackouts, etc., those things are more descriptive of a midwest winter than a Denver winter. The occasional snowstorms that do blow through metro Denver and cause snow accumulation usually are fleeting, then the sun comes out and it all evaporates and is gone within a day or two. Rarely do they have to plow, and almost never do they have to salt the roads. In the mountains west of town, yes. But in the city itself, that doesn't happen very often.

I spent 4 years in Phoenix, and believe me, from late November through March it's hardly swimming pool weather. Phoenix basically has about 3 total months a year of perfect weather, from mid-March through late April and then again from mid-October through late November. Otherwise, it's either brutally hot summer weather or cool, light jacket winter weather. It does get down to 30's and 40's overnight pretty regularly in December and January, and again, it never gets warm enough during the day that you'd want to wear shorts or go take a dip in the pool. Better than the midwest, for sure; but not nicer winters than south Florida, IMO, not justifiably better than Denver or other rocky mountain cities, and certainly not enough to make up for the godawful summers. Again, that's my opinion. And I'm also biased by the fact that I am a pretty avid skier and winter sports enthusiast.

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by steve22

No way. You can ski in Denver, and it's very sunny and pleasant down in the city most of the time excepting the occasional snowstorm. Daytime highs in Phoenix aren't really that much warmer than Denver in the winter, at least not nearly enough to make me want to give up the great outdoor activities in CO. At the start of the Rock n' Roll marathon this year in PHX, the temp was 30! That race was damn cold, let me tell you. Lots of folks from out of town were shivering and pretty disappointed. Contrary to popular belief, winters in Phoenix are hardly balmy. So no thanks, think I'll keep Denver, year round.

That's my chief complaint about Phoenix's weather. The summer's are SO hot you can't really enjoy them.
So you are stuck inside for the better part of four months.

Then in the winter months, it gets warm (60-70) during the day (remember the daylight is shorter) for about an hour. And many days it is barely 50 degrees.

It's freezing in the morning and it's freezing after 5PM.

So the winter is great -- like autumn elsewhere.
But since the time between the hot stages and the cold stages are so short (it seems to jump pretty quick from really, really hot, to really, really cold rather quickly here) there very little "average" temperature time.

It's perfect weather for about two weeks before summer and for about two weeks after summer. Other than the fact it does not snow here, I'm not that crazy about the weather here.

[mortimer]

tscrilla informed us:

> Originally Posted by Bill-
> > ... average high in PHX in January is 68 to Denver's 43. ...

> That's taking into account the last 30 yrs average.
> Being a "weather" guru, I've studied enough to get most of
> the facts. Denver's winter high now days is closer to 50.

Being a "weather" guru do you have a cite for that data?

Here is a cite from me: DENVER WSO CITY, COLORADO - Climate Summary

average high for the coldest day (Jan 13th):
1948 - 1974 -- 45 deg F
1961 - 1990 -- 43.6
1971 - 2000 -- 41.4

The trend, actually, is down for this data set. I would be interested
in something more up to date if you have it.

[sberdrow]

again, everyone gets it, it get real hot in Phoenix in summer and Denver is cooler than Phoenix. Don't you folks know anything else that isnt so obvious. I was interested in this thread until I got tons of lines about weather report.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by sberdrow

again, everyone gets it, it get real hot in Phoenix in summer and Denver is cooler than Phoenix. Don't you folks know anything else that isnt so obvious. I was interested in this thread until I got tons of lines about weather report.

Maybe that's all anyone can think of. Sad isn't it?

[mortimer]

I don't know how to write about anything else.

It makes me so sad.

Practically all the posts on this thread have to do with the
weather. That's all there is to talk about since both cities
are of comparable size, have grown like a weed over the past
50 years and sprawl over thousands of square miles and have
hundreds of miles of often gridlocked highways.

The original post specifically wanted to know what sets the
cities apart and specifically mentioned the weather as a factor.

Judging from the posts, almost everyone giving opinions about
the weather have very strong feelings about what they like or
hate about each city's weather. Both of you have posted in this
thread multiple times about the weather one giving two completely
different and contradictory answers.

I have an idea; scan for the word weather in the post and then if it's in there
along or you find the words heat hot cold or snow, just ignore that post.

It's a lot nicer than telling people they are annoying for posting regarding
the same topic that it appears to be OK for you to post about.