Wher to move for hot summers and snowy winters (homes, properties)

[Patricius Maximus]

These posters suggesting these destinations are so off-base with the original intent of this topic it's comical. Some have twisted the concept of snowy winters so much that is devoid of meaning. Also hot enough to have a barbecue, presumably in the evening, was also a requirement. Summer BBQs are usually best held in low humidity conditions, with a low number of bugs, in a moderate amount of heat. The OP wanted a place hot enough to have a barbeque at night, not someplace liable to give him heat stroke every so often.

Now I will respond to the original poster, since I have some knowledge of the climates of the western United States.

Originally Posted by spiffytools

The missus and I (both early 30s) are looking for somewhere to move in the States, where we will have lovely winters with lots of snow but also warm and hot summers, with lots of BBQ at night.

I don't mind the occasional thunderstorm, in fact I love them, but we are just fed up with the one season we have here in England, cold and rain.

"Lovely winters with lots of snow" pretty much excludes most of the country you're trying to move to; nevertheless there are places that may suit you. I have similar preferences myself, so I have a better idea of what you're talking about. Any place that only gets a smattering of snow, which would include all these 20-incher cities, or anyplace that warms up and rains often in wintertime will not be favorable. Presumably you want a winter whose primary characteristic is snowy weather, which includes having ongoing snow for the duration of the winter (December-February) and having snow lying on the ground. Leave out the chinook wind areas, especially where they overlap with areas that don't get a lot of snow - what little they do get will frequently melt.

I also agree with another poster that anywhere that gets rain of any significant duration during the winter is probably a no-go for you.

There is also your other quote:

We were originally looking at Flagstaff, AZ, but they have about 200 nights per year below 40F, might be a chilly.

It appears that you don't want a long-lasting chill, so that would exclude some places that sprung to mind for me, such as West Yellowstone, Montana, where frost is common year-round, but is coupled with warm summer afternoons (25C or so) and 160 inches of snow per year.

Hot or warm summers that are suitable for barbecuing would seem to indicate that low-humidity summers are best for you. Not only that but most of the snowy places are in the (higher-altitude) West, which features hot and dry summers. Most of the East isn't as snowy and features humider summers.

Perhaps the Black Hills of South Dakota would be suitable. Lead, South Dakota (here and here) features 131 inches of snow per year, as well as warm and dry summers. It can get quite warm in winter but doesn't suffer as much from chinook winds as other parts of the High Plains. I'm not sure if snow from September to June is quite what you're looking for, but it has warmer summer nights than many other higher-altitude locations.

Denver, while sporting 50 inches of snow per year, also sports frequent melting (due to chinook winds) and an average high temperature of 7C in winter. Although summers may still be suitable, around 31C for average highs, it may be a bit hot. However, Evergreen, a suburb, is somewhat better than Denver and you may want to take a look.

Parts of Colorado west of the continental divide offer superbly snowy weather in winter along with what are probably suitable temperatures for your tastes. They also feature cooler nights overall than the Black Hills, and may have just as many sub-40 nights as Flagstaff does. Summer highs, however, may be suitable in many spots.

Aspen, Colorado (another dataset here) may be what you're looking for. It has 134 inches of snow per year, running from October to May. Its snowfall is more concentrated in the winter months than in the Black Hills or Denver, which may be a plus for you. Summer highs, around 25C, seem to match your summer proviso. Nights are cooler than the Black Hills (5-8C).

Jackson, Wyoming, while having much cooler nights in summer, seems to be about right for you during summer days. Winters there are less prone to melting than the Black Hills (monthly record highs 10-13C), and are colder, with highs just below freezing. Snow averages 71 inches per year there, still concentrated in the winter months but averaging less overall than Aspen.

You may also want to look into Lake Tahoe, although that seems less suited to you.

Casper, Wyoming averages 84 inches of snow a year, spread out over the season (Sep-May) and peaking in April, and it has weaker chinook winds so it may not be as suitable as some places. Summers, however, look about right for you (30/10C or so), and winter highs average just above freezing.

These are some suggestions that I could think of that may be suitable. Now going off on a limb, there's a chance you might like climates in the Alaska Panhandle or South Central Alaska. Summers are cooler than you seem to like, but some of them are reliably snowy in winter. Also browse the snowiest places in America, and you may find some there you might like. Boonville, New York, although humid in the summer, seems to fit your temperature and snow preferences to a tee.

Have fun trying to find a great climate. Hopefully you'll find one you like and make the plunge. It's well worth it in my view.

[stlouisan]

Omaha, Nebraska might be one consideration to make. It gets the absolute worst of both, although they aren't as snowy as Chicago or Cleveland. St. Louis is another, but it's not reliably snowy...it really depends on the winter. Same with a lot of other cities on similar latitudes to it like Indy, KC, Cincy, Columbus, Louisville, etc.

Denver, Colorado actually is probably one of my best recommendations. It gets hot in the summer, but its mainly dry heat from what I am told and have experienced. You also get very snowy winters, except the snow melts, is replenished quickly, then does it again.

Amarillo, Texas actually is another surprise. It's surprising snowy a lot of the time, and summers are always bad.

Other than that, I'd say if you want the best of both, attempt to look between latitudes of 37 degrees N and 42 degrees N...those tend to get the best balance of both winter and summer. Places along the coast could do the same...I'd say NYC to maybe D.C., maybe even as far south as Richmond could give you a balance of summer and winter.

[west336]

Originally Posted by stlouisan

Omaha, Nebraska might be one consideration to make. It gets the absolute worst of both, although they aren't as snowy as Chicago or Cleveland. St. Louis is another, but it's not reliably snowy...it really depends on the winter. Same with a lot of other cities on similar latitudes to it like Indy, KC, Cincy, Columbus, Louisville, etc.

Denver, Colorado actually is probably one of my best recommendations. It gets hot in the summer, but its mainly dry heat from what I am told and have experienced. You also get very snowy winters, except the snow melts, is replenished quickly, then does it again.

Amarillo, Texas actually is another surprise. It's surprising snowy a lot of the time, and summers are always bad.

Other than that, I'd say if you want the best of both, attempt to look between latitudes of 37 degrees N and 42 degrees N...those tend to get the best balance of both winter and summer. Places along the coast could do the same...I'd say NYC to maybe D.C., maybe even as far south as Richmond could give you a balance of summer and winter.

I'm surprised then you don't mention Minneapolis, Chicago or Detroit, which have both hot summers and snowy, cold (and sub-freezing, so as to ice skate and such) winters...

[stlouisan]

Originally Posted by west336

I'm surprised then you don't mention Minneapolis, Chicago or Detroit, which have both hot summers and snowy, cold (and sub-freezing, so as to ice skate and such) winters...

I wouldn't say these places are hot in the summer to the degree of the other cities I mentioned. They can get hot, but usually not unbearably.

[kram79]

Having some liking for winters opens the door to a lot of places...Upstate NY cities have great summers, brilliant fall and snowy winters although they are not as harsh as they used to be.

I have been to Flagstaff and I would say you would enjoy upstate NY as a natural region and its proximity to awesome US and Canadian cities...

Goodluck!!

[rock_chalk]

Originally Posted by Patricius Maximus

These posters suggesting these destinations are so off-base with the original intent of this topic it's comical. Some have twisted the concept of snowy winters so much that is devoid of meaning. Also hot enough to have a barbecue, presumably in the evening, was also a requirement. Summer BBQs are usually best held in low humidity conditions, with a low number of bugs, in a moderate amount of heat. The OP wanted a place hot enough to have a barbeque at night, not someplace liable to give him heat stroke every so often.

Exactly.

Originally Posted by stlouisan

I wouldn't say these places are hot in the summer to the degree of the other cities I mentioned. They can get hot, but usually not unbearably.

But I don't see the OP asking for "unbearable" heat. In fact, "unbearable" heat is a negative for evening BBQ. Even if we grant the interpretation that OP would be fine with either warm or hot conditions, that doesn't make hot conditions obligatory.

On topic:
In addition to SLC, I have a few other recommendations. As others have said, New York state is worth a look. Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, etc. do tend to get rain in the winter, but the sheer volume of snow is enough to counteract that somewhat. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan and the Northwoods in Minnesota and Wisconsin are also worth considering.

[west336]

Originally Posted by stlouisan

I wouldn't say these places are hot in the summer to the degree of the other cities I mentioned. They can get hot, but usually not unbearably.

Just like I wouldn't say the cities you mentioned (besides Denver) are snowy in the winter...

[stlouisan]

Originally Posted by west336

Just like I wouldn't say the cities you mentioned (besides Denver) are snowy in the winter...

The cities I mentioned all experience cold, snowy winters much more often than Chicago, Detroit, or Minneapolis experience brutally hot summers.

The cities I mentioned I would say get moderate winters....i would not call Minneapolis' summers moderate...I'd call them mild. Chicago and Detroit I'd call them mild to moderate typically, although Chicago does occasionally get bad ones. Last year was just awful for the whole country.

[stlouisan]

Originally Posted by rock_chalk

Exactly.

But I don't see the OP asking for "unbearable" heat. In fact, "unbearable" heat is a negative for evening BBQ. Even if we grant the interpretation that OP would be fine with either warm or hot conditions, that doesn't make hot conditions obligatory.

On topic:
In addition to SLC, I have a few other recommendations. As others have said, New York state is worth a look. Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, etc. do tend to get rain in the winter, but the sheer volume of snow is enough to counteract that somewhat. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan and the Northwoods in Minnesota and Wisconsin are also worth considering.

well then he should've said warm. It's his fault for not being more specific.

[pw72]

SLC, in my opinion doesn't get that uncomfortable in the summer (for the most part), and not that frigid (for the most part) in the winter.

I have never lived in the Twin Cities, but I would vote for them. I keep how hearing how miserable the winters are and how miserable the summers can be due to the humidity. Could be just a stereotype, but I keep hearing this.