Redding, California the 2nd sunniest US city? (San Francisco, Sacramento: violent crime, university)

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

Yes, that May Gray and June Gloom definitely make it to the IE. I've been there when that happened. I didn't know it made it all the way to Palm Springs at times. That's interesting.

Sometimes the marine layer even tries to spill into the high desert. I remember being in Palmdale one day in May of 07, the whole LA Area south of the San Gabriel's was socked in with a Catalina Eddy, and where we were in Palmdale, saw the clouds spilling over the San Gabriel's and not evaporating until getting almost to the bottom of the foothills

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

That's a good point.

But if someone is considering Phoenix, Redding is clearly not as bad. Phoenix has the worst "urban heat island" effect in America. Low temperatures in summer are now about 12 degrees hotter than they were before World War 2, and only 2 of those degrees are attributed to climate change. Typical 4AM to 6AM lows in PHX are around 80 in July. But often, the low is higher than that. There are several times a year where the morning low is 90 degrees. Phoenix really needs to do things to mitigate the urban heat island (yes there are things that can be done), but that's another thread.

Yikes! I'd be absolutely miserable. Even being in Redding, it was like getting cabin fever from being stuck inside. Maybe everyone just goes to walk in the malls in Phoenix? Indoor dog parks?

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Originally Posted by grega94

I have a hard time believing that Redding gets almost 4,000 hrs of sunshine, especially since it gets so wet in the winter, it's only slightly drier than Portland and Seattle, but that's only because Redding is drier in summer, but the winters are just as rainy, and yet has no winter gloom, even SLC with a wet winter/dry summer pattern but with significantly less rain gets some winter gloom and only manages to get around 3,000 hrs.

List of cities by sunshine hours and rainy days from Nov-Feb

Reno: 799.3 hrs | 25.3 days | 31.59 hrs/day
Redding: 937 hrs | 38.8 days | 24.15 hrs/day
Sacramento: 682.8 hrs | 36.5 days | 18.71 hrs/day
Salt Lake City: 554 hrs | 38.5 days | 14.39 hrs/day
Boise: 486 hrs | 41.9 days | 11.60 hrs/day
Spokane: 329.2 hrs | 50.7 days | 6.49 hrs/day
Portland: 345 hrs | 70.5 days | 4.89 hrs/day
Walla Walla: 241.9 hrs | 50.6 days | 4.78 hrs/day

So I just have a hard time believing that Redding never falls below 200 hrs per month, even Reno falls bellow 200 hrs in winter.

Redding was not very wet the winter I was there (2013/2014).

Maybe what needs to be taken into account are overcast days?

[American Expat]

Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe

Redding was not very wet the winter I was there (2013/2014).

Maybe what needs to be taken into account are overcast days?

That's why I can't help but question the claim that Redding is sunnier than Phoenix.

[Astoriahoney]

I live in Willows which is not far from Redding and I have to say while July and August are SCORCHING HOT. it's nothing compare to the Arizona and Texas heat. We can walk around in the late afternoons/sunsets and mornings.

By September and October our temps are already falling to really pleasant temps. Our winters are also cold and we get LOTS OF RAIN! Plus we have the wonderful Sacramento River and it's feather rivers. And of course not far from the Coast.

[American Expat]

Originally Posted by Astoriahoney

I live in Willows which is not far from Redding and I have to say while July and August are SCORCHING HOT. it's nothing compare to the Arizona and Texas heat. We can walk around in the late afternoons/sunsets and mornings.

By September and October our temps are already falling to really pleasant temps. Our winters are also cold and we get LOTS OF RAIN! Plus we have the wonderful Sacramento River and it's feather rivers. And of course not far from the Coast.

Yeah so much depends on a person's perspective and experience. I'm from the Seattle (mild, cool, rainy, gray climate) area, currently living in Kuwait (much hotter and drier than anywhere in the USA (yes even Phoenix)), and lived and worked in Moscow and Ulanbator, Mongolia where is gets -40, and lived in New Orleans with hot humidity.


To me, Redding seems like a sweet spot where you get some of everything....rainy cool winter, hot & dry summer, and a heavy dose of sun. The July average of 98F high and 66F low just doesn't sound too bad to me. The mix of heat, sun and water seems a good mix...no?

[tstieber]

Originally Posted by American Expat

Yeah so much depends on a person's perspective and experience. I'm from the Seattle (mild, cool, rainy, gray climate) area, currently living in Kuwait (much hotter and drier than anywhere in the USA (yes even Phoenix)), and lived and worked in Moscow and Ulanbator, Mongolia where is gets -40, and lived in New Orleans with hot humidity.


To me, Redding seems like a sweet spot where you get some of everything....rainy cool winter, hot & dry summer, and a heavy dose of sun. The July average of 98F high and 66F low just doesn't sound too bad to me. The mix of heat, sun and water seems a good mix...no?

While that may be too hot for some folks, I agree it sounds nice. If Redding just weren't such a small place so far from other places...

[CCbaxter]

Originally Posted by Tall Traveler

For perspective, I've lived the last 2 years in Kuwait (still here but leaving soon) which has an average daily high of 18F higher than Reding and nightime daily high of 21F warmer than Redding in July and has 7 months hotter than the hottest month in Redding....so the temps in Redding do not look like the brutal heat monster that so many people on CD are claiming to me.

The temps where you live I actually wouldn't mind but it would freeze my wife to death and we both love the sun. The things about Redding that are appealing to us are the sun hours, lakes, rivers, mountain views, trails, biking opportunities, long swim season, trees, proximity to the coast, enough rain for trees but not too much, right libertarian leanings of the populace, and reasonable cost of living. The negatives would be the homeless meth heads, a bit remote to a major airport, and it's in a high tax and over regulated (in our opinion) state.

We have some friends that live about 5 miles outside of Redding at about 1500 feet near Whiskeytown. Awesome views and they are more concerned about bears getting into their garbage cans than homeless tweekers. Like someone posted, the homeless hang out in certain zones (not to say that can't go anywhere) but if you get a little bit out of town, you pretty much have no problem.

[Cloudy Dayz]

Originally Posted by tstieber

While that may be too hot for some folks, I agree it sounds nice. If Redding just weren't such a small place so far from other places...

Try Sacramento. It's not small. It's not far from the Bay Area or Reno. The climate is slightly more moderate than Redding, and the amount of sunshine is only about 10% less. Most people probably wouldn't even notice the difference in sunshine between Sacramento and Redding.

[pnwguy2]

Originally Posted by Cloudy Dayz

Try Sacramento. It's not small. It's not far from the Bay Area or Reno. The climate is slightly more moderate than Redding, and the amount of sunshine is only about 10% less. Most people probably wouldn't even notice the difference in sunshine between Sacramento and Redding.

I would guess Sacramento is somewhat more moderate than Redding in the summer due to the marine influence being stronger there than Redding, plus the coastal range blocking the marine air from reaching Redding.

San Francisco to Sacramento: 88 miles

Eureka to Redding: 147 miles, plus coastal range

(mileage is highway miles, so there are some variables)