Climate Battle: Miami, FL vs Brownsville, TX (hottest, warmest, averages)

[Trimac20]

Originally Posted by ilovemycomputer90

I've spent a lot of time in South Florida during the summer and in my experience, it feels even more sticky and uncomfortable after it rains. The sun will pop back out and it's just downright uncomfortable. The heat index is typically in the upper 90s during the summer. The only time cool things off is in October or November when the first cold front of the season finally pushes through. :P

Don't get me wrong, Brownsville is generally hotter, but I find the differences too minimal.

Haven't looked into the heat indexs of the two cities in detail. I think Brownsville might be somewhat different to areas north of Corpus Christi or the upper Gulf, which is very humid in summer with more rain. 'Cool' is a relative term. Tropical rain is cool only compared to when it's blazing hot and humid. If the sun comes out it can make things worse. If it rains continuously for many hours things can cool quite dramatically. Even on the equator after a big thunderstorm you feel almost cool.

[ilovemycomputer90]

Originally Posted by Trimac20

Haven't looked into the heat indexs of the two cities in detail. I think Brownsville might be somewhat different to areas north of Corpus Christi or the upper Gulf, which is very humid in summer with more rain. 'Cool' is a relative term. Tropical rain is cool only compared to when it's blazing hot and humid. If the sun comes out it can make things worse. If it rains continuously for many hours things can cool quite dramatically. Even on the equator after a big thunderstorm you feel almost cool.

Unfortunately the rain in Florida is typically quick passing showers and storms. Plus you can't be out safely during a thunderstorm. Though it may offer a little relief, the oppressive humidity and still warm temperatures negates it, IMO.

[Derek40]

Brownsville looks like the lesser of 2 evils here, with some hint of a cool season. Both are vile climates that would send me nuts.

[tom77falcons]

Originally Posted by dunno what to put here

more prone to arctic outbreaks

Yep, the Rocky Mountains seem to funnel the cold air right down. The following three images display today's weather, 6 days out, and then finally ten days out. The avg highs for Brownsville in early Dec are around 75F/55. You can see how the cold air pushed those temps down pretty far. Temps down there do rebound pretty quickly I guess due to the warm gulf waters and the high sun (low latitude).

[pigeonhole]

You don't see coconut trees in Brownsville. In Miami it's one of the trademarks of the city.
Both are at 26° NLat.
Go figure... (I vote Miami of course)

[tom77falcons]

Originally Posted by pigeonhole

You don't see coconut trees in Brownsville. In Miami it's one of the trademarks of the city.
Both are at 26° NLat.
Go figure... (I vote Miami of course)

I think there are. Asagi can confirm that.

[theunbrainwashed]

Originally Posted by tom77falcons

I think there are. Asagi can confirm that.

If there are, they probably don't survive very long, unless if it's on South Padre Island most likely

[Asagi]

Originally Posted by theunbrainwashed

If there are, they probably don't survive very long, unless if it's on South Padre Island most likely

Theres a large one (30'?) that survived last winter (coldest since 1989) so I would surmise that a coconut palm planted in 1990 would still be alive today. Texas is more prone to arctic air, but Brownsville hasn't been below 27*F since 1989. Of course coconut palms are no where near common in Texas (probably only a few dozen around Brownsville and South Padre Island).

Brownsville is defintely humid, felt very opressingly hot there in July (and I'm from Houston).

[tom77falcons]

Originally Posted by Asagi

Theres a large one (30'?) that survived last winter (coldest since 1989) so I would surmise that a coconut palm planted in 1990 would still be alive today. Texas is more prone to arctic air, but Brownsville hasn't been below 27*F since 1989. Of course coconut palms are no where near common in Texas (probably only a few dozen around Brownsville and South Padre Island).

Brownsville is defintely humid, felt very opressingly hot there in July (and I'm from Houston).

Isn't that due to not being able to purchase from nursery's due to import restrictions? I've heard years ago there were many, and that local nursery's sold them, but not recently. That doesn't really answer the survivability question though (for the entire area, not just SPI).

[Asagi]

Originally Posted by tom77falcons

Isn't that due to not being able to purchase from nursery's due to import restrictions? I've heard years ago there were many, and that local nursery's sold them, but not recently. That doesn't really answer the survivability question though (for the entire area, not just SPI).

That is one of the reasons (no one is going to grow a tender plant that might be half dead after one cold snap), another one is money, once you get out of South Padre, it becomes one of the most economically depressed areas in the country...