What major city area has the most moderate climate ? (Phoenix: crime, live)

[FLRich]

My family is thinking of moving out west in the next 3-5 years. Starting to do research so we have time to visit several times and isolate where. We have visited Utah 2x along with New Mexico. We are looking to visit AZ next during each season to see if it works for us. Coming from the SE we understand heat and HIGH humidity, we have dealt with several weeks of 100+ temps in Moab and Santa Fe/ABQ. So far it does not seem that bad next to our 98 deg 90%+ humidity months. I say months since nights and mornings are usually just as hot and humid as the days while we have seen in the SW temps seem cool once the sun set's or before it rises much.

I have followed Flagstaff WX and it seems quite cold in the winter and cool in the summers while most other cities are just HOT :-) most of the months with a few months of cold. Any suggestions to the most temperate city's if any and what cities to avoid RE: crime ?

[Prickly Pear]

Originally Posted by FLRich

My family is thinking of moving out west in the next 3-5 years. Starting to do research so we have time to visit several times and isolate where. We have visited Utah 2x along with New Mexico. We are looking to visit AZ next during each season to see if it works for us. Coming from the SE we understand heat and HIGH humidity, we have dealt with several weeks of 100+ temps in Moab and Santa Fe/ABQ. So far it does not seem that bad next to our 98 deg 90%+ humidity months. I say months since nights and mornings are usually just as hot and humid as the days while we have seen in the SW temps seem cool once the sun set's or before it rises much.

I have followed Flagstaff WX and it seems quite cold in the winter and cool in the summers while most other cities are just HOT :-) most of the months with a few months of cold. Any suggestions to the most temperate city's if any and what cities to avoid RE: crime ?

I'm sure you realized by now dry weather = temperature extremes. Salt Lake City for an example not only can reach 100+ temps but has terribly cold weather.

Humidity is quite literally what keeps temperatures moderate. If you don't believe me look at Seattle, WA or San Diego, CA. They all have the ocean/major bodies of water next to them, meaning they have more humidity.

If ABQ is too hot for you then I don't know what to tell you. That's one of the most moderate inland climates in the West. You can't have moderate summers and moderate winters without the coast. In other words, you can't have your cake and eat it too.

So pick one, hot summers/warm winters OR warm summers/cold winters. Unless you can afford the coast. Yes Flagstaff does get cold, and it snows until April or May with one of the highest amounts of snowfall in the whole country (especially for a city). Santa Fe has almost the same weather as Flag but a little less snow. By the way Santa Fe probably never reaches 100+. It's too high of elevation (BTW, elevation matters the most out here on weather patterns).

[American Expat]

Originally Posted by FLRich

My family is thinking of moving out west in the next 3-5 years. Starting to do research so we have time to visit several times and isolate where. We have visited Utah 2x along with New Mexico. We are looking to visit AZ next during each season to see if it works for us. Coming from the SE we understand heat and HIGH humidity, we have dealt with several weeks of 100+ temps in Moab and Santa Fe/ABQ. So far it does not seem that bad next to our 98 deg 90%+ humidity months. I say months since nights and mornings are usually just as hot and humid as the days while we have seen in the SW temps seem cool once the sun set's or before it rises much.

I have followed Flagstaff WX and it seems quite cold in the winter and cool in the summers while most other cities are just HOT :-) most of the months with a few months of cold. Any suggestions to the most temperate city's if any and what cities to avoid RE: crime ?

To me, Prescott is about the most moderate in the SW....cools down at night in the summer, warms to a decent daytime temp in winter.

[curly5759]

Others may disagree with me, but to me, Az only has 2 major cities, Phx (metro area) and Tucson. Flagstaff, Prescott, Yuma are a decent size, but not "Major Cities" compared to ABQ, SLC, etc.

Curly

[Prickly Pear]

Originally Posted by American Expat

To me, Prescott is about the most moderate in the SW....cools down at night in the summer, warms to a decent daytime temp in winter.

Prescott has the same weather and elevation as ABQ. That's too hot apparently.

[American Expat]

Originally Posted by Prickly Pear

Prescott has the same weather and elevation as ABQ. That's too hot apparently.

Close but a bit different. I checked and the average hi/low in July in Albuquerque is 90/66 and in Prescott it's 89/60...the difference between starting the day at 60 versus 66 would make a difference for me. Prescott also gets 5 F warmer during the day in January. Prescott also average about twice the yearly rain totals. To me, either is good with Prescott a bit better.


Of course Prescott is not a city and Albuquerque arguably is a city.

[Prickly Pear]

Originally Posted by American Expat

Close but a bit different. I checked and the average hi/low in July in Albuquerque is 90/66 and in Prescott it's 89/60...the difference between starting the day at 60 versus 66 would make a difference for me. Prescott also gets 5 F warmer during the day in January. Prescott also average about twice the yearly rain totals. To me, either is good with Prescott a bit better.


Of course Prescott is not a city and Albuquerque arguably is a city.

Ok I see that temperature difference as miniscule. They are however both around ~5k in elevation. And you're right, Prescott is a colder Sun City these days.

This OP, and everyone else, wants a cheap California I guarantee it. But California is expensive for a reason... OP will have to give something up especially if ABQ or Prescott is too hot. Sounds like they'd only like San Francisco or Malibu.

[GeneR]

San Diego. Best climate in the NATION, hands down.

[Packard fan]

How big a city does the OP want? Like the others said in this thread: the biggies here are Phoenix and Tucson if talking Arizona.

If talking about towns the size of Prescott but have closer to "Calif" weather, Sierra Vista's about it. Tho to be fair: 95F in Kingman ain't 95F in Chicago or Atlanta.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by Packard fan

How big a city does the OP want? Like the others said in this thread: the biggies here are Phoenix and Tucson if talking Arizona.

If talking about towns the size of Prescott but have closer to "Calif" weather, Sierra Vista's about it. Tho to be fair: 95F in Kingman ain't 95F in Chicago or Atlanta.

I've always said that Nogales has the most moderate climate in the state, if Phoenix had Nogales' weather, we would probably be a 2nd LA (i.e. prob 15-20million people would live here as well)