How sunny is a Cleveland summer? (Akron: tornado, live, dangerous)

[DixieSam28]

Is it mostly sunny like other places nearby or is it mostly cloudy like Seattle?

[Tess_Vantassel]

It’s not nearly as bad as Seattle but Cleveland, just like any other Great Lakes city has more than its fair share of gray days. The further south you go, the clearer the skies become. It’s “the lake effect”. People just like to over emphasize how bad it is in Cleveland, Because it’s Cleveland and that’s just what people do!

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by DixieSam28

Is it mostly sunny like other places nearby or is it mostly cloudy like Seattle?

You can check cloud cover and other weather conditions month-by-month here:

https://weatherspark.com/y/18154/Ave...tes-Year-Round

If you compare cloud cover in Cleveland with other cities in the North at least, the difference isn't as much as expected.

Keep in mind that cloud cover mitigates the temperature. IMO, it's plenty bright in Cleveland in the summer and there are too many days when it's uncomfortable to engage in strenuous activities in the afternoon, but nothing like more southern locations in the U.S.

The risk of tornadoes and hurricanes is relatively insignificant in northeast Ohio, and this will become more important as ocean heat content continues to rise rapidly and climate change exacerbates the frequency of severe weather events. Note that tornado alley has moved east of the Mississippi River in recent years and hurricanes in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico now undergo rapid intensification.

Also, autumns in northeast Ohio are brilliant and the favorite season of many residents.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by WRnative

https://weatherspark.com/y/18154/Ave...tes-Year-Round

Great link!

The clearer part of the year in Cleveland begins around May 15 and lasts for 5.9 months, ending around November 11. On August 12, the clearest day of the year, the sky is clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy 67% of the time, and overcast or mostly cloudy 33% of the time.

I am glad they included "partly cloudy" in this. A lot of days that I would call "sunny" are actually cloudy, but it's still bright and pleasant.

Make no doubt about it though, January and February can be especially brutal for sun lovers. Some years it's Mid-December through Mid-March.

[Transplant99]

Cleveland is not mostly cloudy in the summer but the summers are very short. July and August are actually very nice there IMO - warm and mostly dry. Cloud cover, however, is devastating during other parts of the year, which is why Cleveland is ranked in the top 10 for gloomiest cities.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by Transplant99

Cleveland is not mostly cloudy in the summer but the summers are very short. July and August are actually very nice there IMO - warm and mostly dry. Cloud cover, however, is devastating during other parts of the year, which is why Cleveland is ranked in the top 10 for gloomiest cities.

It's been summery for a month and the season of summer just began, not sure what you're talking about here.... Late May through mid September all generally resembles summer here. Ya know, 1/4 the year.

Also, I hate July and August. Way too hot and humid.

[Transplant99]

I don't consider 50s summer weather, which often occurs as lows in May, June, and September. I maintain that July and August are the best months. The average high is 81 for those two months - definitely not what I consider hot. Plus there is a lot of sun and not much rain. Perfect to be outside.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by Transplant99

I don't consider 50s summer weather, which often occurs as lows in May, June, and September. I maintain that July and August are the best months. The average high is 81 for those two months - definitely not what I consider hot. Plus there is a lot of sun and not much rain. Perfect to be outside.

I don't consider this criteria very relevant at all and pretty particular but ok.

There are more than 2 months of "summer" weather by any reasonable definition and objections to the contrary are kinda absurd.

[recycled]

I did a weatherspark comparison between Cleveland and the city where I currently live, Chemnitz, Germany. They are pretty close on temperatures although Cleveland is somewhat warmer most months. Cleveland also gets more rain & snow, and a bit more wind.

I think I could tolerate Cleveland pretty well most of the year, although I would take a break in the winter with a long trip to a warmer weather place.

It's interesting to note that the "sister city" or partner city of Chemnitz is Akron, Ohio! Both places have deep industrial roots and are roughly close in population and climate, although there are a lot more hills around here in Chemnitz.

https://weatherspark.com/compare/y/1...d-and-Chemnitz

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by Transplant99

Cleveland is not mostly cloudy in the summer but the summers are very short. July and August are actually very nice there IMO - warm and mostly dry. Cloud cover, however, is devastating during other parts of the year, which is why Cleveland is ranked in the top 10 for gloomiest cities.

Your inaccurate Cleveland bashing gets old. Cleveland's cloud cover is not "devastating." E.g., it's well known locally that September and October are brilliant months.

In winter, if persons actually get outside, walk, hike, etc., it greatly mitigates the impact of cloud cover. This becomes increasingly easy as snowfall and snow cover continues to decline, but consider also that snow reflects sunlight and increases an environment's albedo. Persons such as me enjoy getting out and enjoying a snow-covered landscape, which, after a snow storm, can be magical. For inactive persons, I would agree that winters can be much more gloomy.

Rather than listen to bashers such as yourself, anybody interested in Cleveland's cloud cover should stick to empirical analysis available at websites such as weatherspark.com. They also should consider how climate change is raising atmospheric temperatures and making more southern locations increasingly dangerous during summer months.