Quote:
Originally Posted by grega94
I came up with a different formula, what do you guys think? So you get the avg winter temp in F, get the avg sunshine hours in winter and then divide by 10, then add the two numbers and you get your final score.
Seattle
Avg temp = 42.03
Avg sun hrs = 77.2/10 = 7.72
Score = 49.75
Denver
Avg temp = 31.07
Avg sun hrs = 207.4/10 = 20.74
Score = 51.81
New York
Avg temp = 35.12
Avg sun hrs = 154.9/10 = 15.49
Score = 50.61
Minneapolis
Avg temp = 18.72
Avg sun hrs = 149.8/10 = 14.98
Score = 33.70
Los Angeles
Avg temp = 58.18
Avg sun hrs = 222.4/10 = 22.24
Score = 80.42
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We need to consider precipitation. My suggestion is you simply subtract the average precipitation days from the total. All else equal, a dry winter shouldn't get the same score as a PNW winter with rain every day. I think it doesn't matter if it is rain or snow either, because though cold rain feels worse, I still hte having cold snow flying in my face, plus snow stays on the ground and makes it cold and wet longer than rain does.
I also think wind speed matters as well. I suggest subtracting twice the average wind speed. This because where I live, as soon as it is colder than minus 5-10'C, there is absolutely no wind at all, which is great because just the "wind" from you walking is enough to bite your face. However, in for example Lethbridge, Canada, even though their winters are similar to mine in temperature, it's very windy, and -15'C with 8m/s wind is pretty deadly actually. It doesn't have to be freezing for wind to be a huge factor either.
I get that it might be trickier getting wind speed data, but rainy days is pretty common on Wikipedia even, so that shouldn't be so difficult to add.
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