Rate the climate: Jōetsu, Japan (snowfalls, hot, average, temperatures)
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Jōetsu is a city with a population of around 200,000, located at 37°N on the western coast of Honshū Island in the Niigata Prefecture. Its position on the coast of the Japan sea close to the mountains makes Jōetsu one of the rainiest low-lying places in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere as well as one of the snowiest coastal cities in the world, surpassed only by other Japanese cities (not considering small towns and settlements here).
The climate is very seasonal and wet year-round much like in the rest of Central Japan. Winters are actually quite mild and freezing daily highs are rare, so a good amount of precipitation falls as rain and the snow often melts significantly in the middle of the winter. However, Jōetsu has received in the past years over 1 meter/39'' of snow in a single day and over 7 meters/276'' of snow in a single month. The highest average snowfall depth is 115 cm in February.
In contrast, summers are hot and humid and the annual mean is not low, being around 14°C.
For me, it deserves a B (more like B-) and this is probably the only case in which I would give such a good grade to a place with such a horribly hot and humid summer. Still, the snowfalls are nothing special when compared to cities just a few miles inland.
Despite the large amount of snow, it if melts quickly than theres not much use for it.
And the summers are plain horrible. A D- for me, due to the large amount of snowfalls.
Despite the large amount of snow, it if melts quickly than theres not much use for it.
And the summers are plain horrible. A D- for me, due to the large amount of snowfalls.
I don't think it is exactly true. While it is true that it often rains in winter, the mean snowdepth still reaches at least 1 meter in February almost every year and has surpassed 2 meters as recently as 2012. For comparison, the mean maximum snow depth in Houghton, Michigan is around 1 meter.
D for me, although the temperatures by themselves are not too bad, the rain and snow are quite ghastly and the sunshine is too low. I guess it's entirely reasonable for subtropical climates to get 7 metres of snow in a month (not!)
0.5 mm as a minimum limit for rainfall, is one I haven't noticed before. It's a shame all countries don't have the same requirements.
Believe it or not, I actually like it more than places like Beijing. From the snowy days it looks like it has reliable snow cover. B-
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