Why are winters so cold in sub-tropical and tropical Australia? (place, world)

[theunbrainwashed]

Originally Posted by Patricius Maximus

Miami is definitely fully tropical, not subtropical.

I agree. For me, tropical weather starts with USDA zone 10b, with 10a being borderline true tropical. As far as 10a goes, seems like coconut palms can grow up to the Port Charlotte area on the west coast to Port St. Lucie on the east. There's only a 2°F difference between Miami and Cairns in JAN/JUL and people say Cairns is definitely tropical

[philobeddoe]

I also agree, Miami,FL is tropical, albeit borderline tropical.

Unfortnately, almost all of Florida experiences occasional freezing temps.
As for coconut palms, farthest north on the FL west coast is
probably Treasure Island (near St Petersburg), Longboat Key near Sarasota has them too.
On Florida's east coast, I would say,
Fort Pierce, maybe even Vero Beach?

Australia is lucky, even in places well outside the tropics
temps have barely dipped below freezing, record low for Sydney
for example is what? -1c maybe...Melbourne -3c...Hobart -3c
Brisbane has never had a freezing temperature and it is
at about the same distance from the equator as Tampa,FL

However, on the flipside, I find it strange that a place like
Alice Springs,Australia is as cool as it is in winter.
It is 10 degrees closer to the equator than Yuma,AZ but it
has cooler average temperatures in winter.
Alice Springs average July high is 20C average low 4C
Yuma,AZ comparable Jan temps are 21C and 8C
I know Alice Springs is almost 1800ft above sea level
but Tucson,AZ at about 2,500ft ASL is almost as warm too.

[Bottletree]

Originally Posted by philobeddoe

I also agree, Miami,FL is tropical, albeit borderline tropical.

Unfortnately, almost all of Florida experiences occasional freezing temps.
As for coconut palms, farthest north on the FL west coast is
probably Treasure Island (near St Petersburg), Longboat Key near Sarasota has them too.
On Florida's east coast, I would say,
Fort Pierce, maybe even Vero Beach?

Australia is lucky, even in places well outside the tropics
temps have barely dipped below freezing, record low for Sydney
for example is what? -1c maybe...Melbourne -3c...Hobart -3c
Brisbane has never had a freezing temperature and it is
at about the same distance from the equator as Tampa,FL

However, on the flipside, I find it strange that a place like
Alice Springs,Australia is as cool as it is in winter.
It is 10 degrees closer to the equator than Yuma,AZ but it
has cooler average temperatures in winter.
Alice Springs average July high is 20C average low 4C
Yuma,AZ comparable Jan temps are 21C and 8C
I know Alice Springs is almost 1800ft above sea level
but Tucson,AZ at about 2,500ft ASL is almost as warm too.

I saw coconuts in Clearwater Beach, Fl few months ago, I would say that would be the cut-off zone for the Gulf Coast side.

Started looking tropical like at about Fort Myers/Naples FL.

[philobeddoe]

Originally Posted by Superduy

I saw coconuts in Clearwater Beach, Fl few months ago, I would say that would be the cut-off zone for the Gulf Coast side.

Started looking tropical like at about Fort Myers/Naples FL.

Good to know.

I like Clearwater Beach, I didn't know they have coconuts.
My parents used to own a condo in Bonita Beach, halfway between
Fort Myers and Naples, love that area, very nice, I also like
Sanibel Island and Captiva.

[theunbrainwashed]

Originally Posted by Superduy

I saw coconuts in Clearwater Beach, Fl few months ago, I would say that would be the cut-off zone for the Gulf Coast side.

Started looking tropical like at about Fort Myers/Naples FL.

Seems like the northern limit for coconut palms corresponds with zone 10a. Remember as well, most of the "tropical" vegetation in south Florida was imported from somewhere else. Native south Florida looks like Louisiana, with lots of mangrove forests, sawgrass prairie, and swamps everywhere. Look at pictures of the Everglades, that's the real Florida, not some manicured, coconut palm tree lined beach or yards.

[Bottletree]

Originally Posted by philobeddoe

Good to know.

I like Clearwater Beach, I didn't know they have coconuts.
My parents used to own a condo in Bonita Beach, halfway between
Fort Myers and Naples, love that area, very nice, I also like
Sanibel Island and Captiva.

I saw a few in clearwater, not as much as further south though. I love Sanibel Island because it was not as crowded as Fort Myers Beach. Also a higher class of people in Sanibel, no riff raff. The fees keep them away.

[Bottletree]

Originally Posted by theunbrainwashed

Seems like the northern limit for coconut palms corresponds with zone 10a. Remember as well, most of the "tropical" vegetation in south Florida was imported from somewhere else. Native south Florida looks like Louisiana, with lots of mangrove forests, sawgrass prairie, and swamps everywhere. Look at pictures of the Everglades, that's the real Florida, not some manicured, coconut palm tree lined beach or yards.

Yeah, when I was driving though central florida in some places totally looked like our Manitoban prairies. Thick thick bush there, hard to catch escaped prisoners?

[dunno what to put here]

Originally Posted by theunbrainwashed

Seems like the northern limit for coconut palms corresponds with zone 10a. Remember as well, most of the "tropical" vegetation in south Florida was imported from somewhere else. Native south Florida looks like Louisiana, with lots of mangrove forests, sawgrass prairie, and swamps everywhere. Look at pictures of the Everglades, that's the real Florida, not some manicured, coconut palm tree lined beach or yards.

'real' Florida is just really ugly and swampy and uninteresting.

[Bottletree]

Originally Posted by dunno what to put here

'real' Florida is just really ugly and swampy and uninteresting.

Yeah pretty much, was not appealing driving through some areas.

Spanish moss was interesting though.

[trackstar08]

Coconuts can be found as far north as Melbourne Beach on the East side.