Rate the climate you currently live in (sunny, ground, South)
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I'd actually give your climate an A, or at least a A-. I'd imagine there are very few days you couldn't comfortably do stuff outside, and a largely sunny winter is like an impossible dream for us. Your typical winter day is like a good day here in late winter/early spring. The strong summer sun would take a bit of getting used to, as would the insect noise, and I'd like to have snow more than once every 35 years but I suppose when it's a short drive away that would do. A very liveable climate, which presumably stays green 12 months a year.
I rate the areas around Motueka-Nelson and Blenheim a solid B- or B for climate, as good as it gets in NZ. On lifestyle grounds I'd raise that.
January 45/25
February 51/28
March 60/37
April 70/44
May 77/54
June 85/63
July 89/67
August 89/65
September 83/57
October 72/44
November 60/36
December 50/29
Average yearly rainfall: 54.98 inches
Record high: 109F (I guess that's the official number, though in August of 2007 I was using Weatherbug and saw higher temperatures than that several times)
Record low: -14F
I'd rate it an F because I'm generally at least fairly uncomfortable for most of April all the way through most of October. May through September is utterly miserable for me for the most part. Anywhere warmer and more humid than here would get an F- from me or else I'd have to devise a new grading system that goes lower than F-. Drop our summer temps by 15+ degrees and leave the winter temps alone and I'd rate the climate at least a B+. And hopefully I'll be moving to such a climate in May, before it gets really bad here.
In my limited experience, it seems that northerners get outside more in extreme temps (even compared to normal) than those in the south.
I don't doubt this. We have mild winter here in TN, and I know of very few people who go outside often when it's under 60. I try to stay inside when it's over 80. Unfortunately I work partially outside, so I don't get to "hibernate" in the summer as much as I'd like.
Sunshine mean for Motueka and environs could be nearer 60% as the Riwaka site in its earlier records was managing this - later ones were compromised by obstructions at the site.
Motueka is around the 2400 hour mark right? Surprisingly high given the rainfall.
A-, solid temperate climate, almost subtropical, but spring looks better on paper than what it is. I live about 10K's inland from this, so a slightly higher diurnal range is seen. Nearest station with sunshine hours is Williamtown RAAF (Newcastle Airport)- about 2550 sunshine hours.
January: 12 C / 23 C / 42 mm (54 F / 73 F / 1.7'')
July: 2 C / 11 C / 79 mm (36 F / 52 F / 3.1'')
Record low / high: -7.1 C / 41.6 C (19 F / 107 F)
Annual rain / sun: 650 mm (25.6'') / 2100 hours
I rate my climate as a C. It's not great, but it at least avoids the extremes of hot / cold / wet / arid found in a large proportion of the inhabited world.
Winters are chilly, but they still manage to have quite a few sunny 16+ C / 60+ F days, so I guess I can't complain too much. Summers are rather anemic with a lot of cool, cloudy days (highs of 16 C / 60 F or lower are not uncommon even at the peak of summer) but there are also some days on which the temps can soar far above average (as evidenced by the record high).
The climate here is characterised by great day-to-day variation, which keeps things interesting but is very annoying when it comes to planning outdoor activities. The landscape is green year-round and we have a lot of palm species growing here, so that's a big plus in my view.
i think it would be nice to live out in AZ, CO, TX, NM... anywhere that its sunny all the time. i wonder if people are in fact happier in these places.
If they are, it probably isn't because of the weather. Happiness is an inside job. I live in San Jose, California and I love the weather here. But it's human nature to take things for granted. And after about 2 years in a great climate, you WILL take the weather for granted.
It turns out that humans are really bad at predicting what will make them happy. It's not just me saying that, psychologists are finding the same thing. You might care to read this book on the subject:
What do you mean by "almost subtropical"? Newcastle is indisputably subtropical by any standard. I would also give it an 'A-'.
By convention subtropical is generally reserved for the Mid North Coast and beyond here in NSW, even if by objective international standards it is subtropical.
It is where winter becomes so insignificant as to become a non-event.
Sydney and the Hunter coasts are regarded as temperate, due to the definite appearance of a distinct winter season.
Subtropical hence starts anywhere from Taree to Port Macquarie, or even Coffs Harbour on the NSW coastline, depending on what tourist brochure you are reading!
I'd rate it an F because I'm generally at least fairly uncomfortable for most of April all the way through most of October. May through September is utterly miserable for me for the most part. Anywhere warmer and more humid than here would get an F- from me or else I'd have to devise a new grading system that goes lower than F-.
Drop our summer temps by 15+ degrees and leave the winter temps alone and I'd rate the climate at least a B+. And hopefully I'll be moving to such a climate in May, before it gets really bad here.
Pretty severe rating you have.
I consider my climate a D- and I expect at least minor discomfort about 325 days a year.
Toronto would need 40+ F warmer winters, 20+ F warmer spring/autumn and "summers the same" for it to move up to B+.
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