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Although to be fair subtropical plants can grow in northern climates. I have seen hardy palms grow as far north as Switzerland, England, and even parts of southern Sweden. Of course those plants do not naturally grow in those climates with abundance. They only grow there because people plant them in their yards.
Natural tree type is a pretty good indication of what is considered subtropical. I think it is fair to say that most places in the southeastern United States is considered subtropical. Pretty much from early May until September you can get pretty blistering temps with high humidity. Even places in the lower Midwest like Oklahoma, and southern Missouri have subtropical aspects to their climate. Again many of these states easily see 5 months with average temps above 75 degrees with high humidity. The subtropical climate in the United States begins somewhere in central Texas, and stretches east into Oklahoma, Missouri and as far north as Baltimore/DC and south into Florida. The desert southwest is not subtropical because it tends to be fairly dry in the summer, and the nights can be cool due to the higher elevation.
BTW You can easily make the argument that Washington D.C. and the midatlantic is considered subtropical. All one has to do is look at the average summer temps and humidity during the late spring and summer months. D.C. has 5 solid months above 75 degrees. Again the same applies with Baltimore. It has over 5 months with average temps above 75 degrees with high humidity. May
Average high temperature: 76 June
Average high temperature: 84 July
Average high temperature: 89 August
Average high temperature: 87 September
Average high temperature: 80
Even IF Washington DC and Baltimore really have subtropical weather for FIVE months out of the year, it would mean these cities DON'T have subtropical weather for SEVEN months out of the year.
I'm gonna say that SE Missouri and extreme SW Illinois are subtropical. Bald Cypress trees in the swamps & small cacti don't seem very "Humid Continental" to me.
I would say you are pretty much on the mark. When I drove thru both areas several years ago, I thought to myself " this isn't the midwest (yet) It is still the south "LOL.
Not really, the true tropics begins at the Tropic of Capricorn (or is it Tropic of Cancer? I forget which one is on the Northern Hemisphere). Quite frankly, whichever of the two Tropics it is, it starts several miles south of Key West.
Only Hawaii (and some of its territories like Puerto Rico, Guam and others) is tropical, as far as the United States is concerned. The rest, not at all.
I was always under the impression that extreme southeastern Florida; Miami-Dade (including the Keys) & Broward Counties and possibly parts of Palm Beach County are Tropical.
Good evidence of that might include the parrots and other tropical birds that live there year round. Also the large coral reefs that extend from near Miami down to Key West.
Being a long time Oklahoma City Resident,i can tell you that OKC does have a Humid Subtropical Climate.Our Winters really arent that Severe(We do get 1 blizzard and a couple of ice storms every year) and in our coldest month the average is 47,and thats in january.We also get alot of rain,but not in the same way that say a place like Mobile gets,we get them in HUGE outbursts.Our summers are hot and extremely humid(except for this summer where its very VERY dry)
Miami looks very different, vegetation-wise, than a typical subtropical city. I definitely wouldn't classify Miami as subtropical. Why is it even on the list?
Being a long time Oklahoma City Resident,i can tell you that OKC does have a Humid Subtropical Climate.Our Winters really arent that Severe(We do get 1 blizzard and a couple of ice storms every year) and in our coldest month the average is 47,and thats in january.We also get alot of rain,but not in the same way that say a place like Mobile gets,we get them in HUGE outbursts.Our summers are hot and extremely humid(except for this summer where its very VERY dry)
The oppressive heat and humidity alone are enough to classify Oklahoma as subtropical. And to the poster above, I am not sure how you can say Miami is not subtropical in climate.
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