Is San Jose better than Sacramento or it just a more expensive version? (San Francisco: house, live)

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by cardinal2007

Having said all that San Jose is not perfect weather by far, we had a heat wave last summer that lasted almost a week, all into the 90s. Last week and this week there have been days with frost outside.

Wrong.

San Jose actually had fewer than average 90 degree days last year:

Weather data from SJ Airport says we had:

2 90 degree days in May
2 90 degree days in June
4 90 degree days in July
1 90 degree day in August
1 90 degree day in September

For a grand total of 10 90 degree days.

Average number of 90 degree days for San Jose: 18

[Chimérique]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

Your point is well taken, but I think Sac. summers are a few degrees hotter than you're letting on.

Sacramento's coolest daytime location has an average July daytime high of 91.6 in July & 90.5 in August:

SACRAMENTO 5 ESE, CALIFORNIA - Climate Summary

Portland's warmest evening location has a low of 57.8 in July & 58 in August, whereas Sacramento's coolest evening location has an average low of 58.1 in July & 57.8 in August

SACRAMENTO FAA ARPT, CALIFORNIA - Climate Summary

PORTLAND WSO CITY, OREGON - Climate Summary

So Sac is a few degrees hotter in summer than you're letting on and it's not cooler than Portland on summer evenings, either. (Remember, I compared Sac's coolest spot with Portland's warmest).

Well, I'm glad you posted that because you ask any Bay Arean if Sacramento cools down to temps like Portland or Seattle or if it's more like Fresno, guess what they would say?

Regarding the averages you posted, although helpful it does not reflect how long we stay at 90 degrees, or more importantly that between sunrise and noon it is cool/comfortable in Sacramento compared to places like Austin, Fresno, Phx and most of the USA, where the temps stay uncomfortably warm/hot all night long, and the morning temp starts high; this means their A/C's run all day and all night long - Sacramento does not have to use the A/C nearly as long.

The concept of dry heat means nothing to San Franciscans because when it's 80 degrees (twice a year) the humidity is quite high at least 60%, so 80 or above is like hell to them, especially when nobody has A/C and there is not a shade tree to be found.

80 in SAC with 20% humidity is glorious! with Delta Breezes and lots of shade trees, and A/C readily available if that is too warm, and regular consistent cooling down to the upper 50's in the middle of the Summer.

[cardinal2007]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

Wrong.

San Jose actually had fewer than average 90 degree days last year:

Weather data from SJ Airport says we had:

2 90 degree days in May
2 90 degree days in June
4 90 degree days in July
1 90 degree day in August
1 90 degree day in September

For a grand total of 10 90 degree days.

Average number of 90 degree days for San Jose: 18

I wouldn't say my characterization of the heat wave is wrong.
San Jose Month Weather - AccuWeather Forecast for CA 95110
I remembered correctly, the only day in the heat wave it did not get into the 90s was on 6/30 high 88 degrees, every other day (6 days in total) was at 90 or above, and it did last a week if you include the 88 degree day, not almost a week.

I didn't say this year was particularly hot, I actually think last year was worse in overall heat temperatures, but you can still enjoy it when it is in the 80s, but that heat wave as far as I can remember lasted longer than any previous heat wave in quite a while, when it is 1 to 4 days of heat you can just plan around it, when it is a week straight it feels like you're stuck home with the A/C. It was actually quite nice until that heat wave this year.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by cardinal2007

I wouldn't say my characterization of the heat wave is wrong.
San Jose Month Weather - AccuWeather Forecast for CA 95110
I remembered correctly, the only day in the heat wave it did not get into the 90s was on 6/30 high 88 degrees, every other day (6 days in total) was at 90 or above, and it did last a week if you include the 88 degree day, not almost a week.

I didn't say this year was particularly hot, I actually think last year was worse in overall heat temperatures, but you can still enjoy it when it is in the 80s, but that heat wave as far as I can remember lasted longer than any previous heat wave in quite a while, when it is 1 to 4 days of heat you can just plan around it, when it is a week straight it feels like you're stuck home with the A/C. It was actually quite nice until that heat wave this year.

Thank you for clarifying. I do agree it was hot the last day or two of June into the 1st week of July. Those 90 degree days in July came all bunched up.

That said, the last 3 or 4 summers here have actually been cooler than average. We had more heat waves back in the late 90s, early 00s than over the last 3-4 years.

[funtimessf]

I once spent a week in Davis in late August. It was like living in Hell it was so hot, way worse than the summers I've spent in the Northeast. It was punishing. That experience soured me on ever living in the area.

[Chimérique]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

Wrong.

San Jose actually had fewer than average 90 degree days last year:

Weather data from SJ Airport says we had:

2 90 degree days in May
2 90 degree days in June
4 90 degree days in July
1 90 degree day in August
1 90 degree day in September

For a grand total of 10 90 degree days.

Average number of 90 degree days for San Jose: 18

I think it's crazy that anyone would think the weather in San Jose isn't "near perfect".

I tracked the weather this summer 2013 - this was a typical summer for most places across the USA compared against 40 year averages.

The temps below were averages for June, July, Aug - 2013.

Vegas was the hottest this year.

1. Las Vegas - Low: 79, Noon: 94, High: 102, Midnight: 92, - Humidity 10%
Heat index makes it feel cooler.
Total average over 24hour period = 91.75


17. San Jose-Silicon Valley - Low 57, Noon: 67, High: 81, Midnight: 67, - Humidity 40%
Heat index usually is even
Total average over 24hour period = 68


Larger list to follow.

[Chimérique]

June, July, Aug Averages: 2013

Hottest to Coolest -

1. Las Vegas - Low: 79, Noon: 94, High: 102, Midnight: 92, - Humidity 10%
Heat index makes it feel cooler.
Total average over 24hour period = 91.75

2. Phoenix- Low: 74 , Noon: 86, High: 101, Midnight: 88, - Humidity 8%
Heat index makes it feel cooler
Total average over 24hour period = 87.25

3. Dallas - Low: 76, Noon: 87, High: 95; Midnight: 86, - Humidity - 80%
Heat index makes it feel even hotter
Total average over 24hour period = 86

4. Austin - Low: 74, Noon: 86, High: 95, Midnight: 87, - Humidity - 90%
Heat index makes it feel even hotter
Total average over 24hour period = 85.50


5. San Antonio - Low: 74, Noon: 85 , High: 95, Midnight: 86 , - Humidity - 80%
Heat index makes it feel even hotter
Total average over 24hour period = 85

6. Oklahoma City - Low: 70, Noon: 80 , High: 92, Midnight: 82, - Humidity -70%
Heat index makes it feel even hotter
Total average over 24hour period = 81


7. Fresno - Low: 64, Noon: 80, High: 96, Midnight: 81, - Humidity - 25%
Heat index makes it cooler
Total average over 24hour period = 80.25

8. Kansas City - Low: 70, Noon: 80, High: 88, Midnight: 80 , - Humidity -70%
Heat index makes it feel even hotter
Total average over 24hour period = 79.50

9. Atlanta - Low: 70, Noon: 80, High: 88, Midnight: 78, - Humidity 75%
Heat index makes it feel even hotter
Total average over 24hour period = 79

10. St. Louis - Low: 69, Noon: 79, High: 87, Midnight: 79, - Humidity -70%
Heat index makes it feel even hotter
Total average over 24hour period = 78.50

11. Nashville - Low: 68, Noon: 78, High: 88, Midnight: 79, - Humidity - 70%
Heat index makes it feel even hotter
Total average over 24hour period = 78.25

12. Chicago - Low: 66, Noon: 76, High: 82, Midnight: 77 , - Humidity 75%
Heat index makes it feel even hotter
Total average over 24hour period = 75.25

13. SACRAMENTO - Low: 55, Noon: 73, High: 90, Midnight: 69, - Humidity 20%
Heat Index makes it feel cooler
Total average over 24hour period = 71.75

14. Minneapolis - Low: 62, Noon: 72, High: 81, Midnight: 71, - Humidity 75%
Heat index makes it feel even hotter
Total average over 24hour period = 71.50

15. Los Angeles - Low 63, Noon: 73, High: 82, Midnight: 67, - Humidity 40%
Heat Index usually is even
Total average over 24hour period = 71.25

16. San Diego - Low: 65, Noon: 68, High: 74, Midnight: 69,
Humidity 65%.
Heat index very little bearing as temps too cool.
Total average over 24hour period = 69

17. San Jose-Silicon Valley - Low 57, Noon: 67, High: 81, Midnight: 67, - Humidity 40%
Heat index usually is even
Total average over 24hour period = 68

18. Denver - Low: 53, Noon: 68, High: 85, Midnight: 65
Humidity: 20%
Heat index makes it cooler
Total average over 24hour period = 67.75

19. Portland - Low: 56, Noon: 66, High: 78, Midnight: 67
Humidity: 55%
Heat index very minimal effect
Total average over 24hour period = 66.75

20. Seattle - Low 55, Noon: 65, High: 74, Midnight: 65, Humidity 50%
Heat index no bearing, too cool
Total average over 24hour period = 64.75

21. San Francisco - Low 54, Noon: 62, High 67, Midnight: 58, Humidity 65%
Heat index no bearing, too cool, but wind chill with fog makes it feel colder
Total average over 24hour period = 60.25

[Chimérique]

The above list obviously does not indicate all the major metros, but it does show the hottest, and the coolest, heavy on western cities and texas cities, some midwest.

The major eastern seaboard cities, NYC, Washington DC, Philly are all more humid and hotter than SAC. Boston cooler, but not cooler than Pacific Northwest or the Bay Area.

Florida cities will all be at the top with the hottest most uncomfortable cities listed.

[Oberleutnant]

So much hullabaloo over the heat difference between Sac and SJ. LOL @ people scared off by a little heat.

[JohnSoCal]

Originally Posted by fashionguy

As for the SF comparison, it is worth noting that although SJ is not much closer to SF than Sac, it is much easier to get there because the two cities are better integrated. You have the Caltrain. You have the Bart in Fremont and in the near future in SJ itself as well. For Sac the only option is driving until they finally build that ridiculously expensive HSR in 20 years.

Actually San Jose is quite a bit closer to San Francisco. Sacramento is 83 miles from San Francisco and San Jose is just 49 miles. You also have much better transportation options from San Jose.