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I would argue that aside from the immediate Pacific shoreline of Southern and Central California the West does not have a "mild climate". It's not really that much better than the climates back east, just bad in different ways. It's still far more hostile on the whole than the climates in Europe.
Alaska is frigid. Hawaii is hot and humid and in many places insanely wet. In fact the entire West is either extremely arid or extremely wet, very little in between. The only place with a good balance is the Bay Area. Aside from the coastal Pacific Northwest, parts of Hawaii and the northern Rockies the entire region lacks water.
Colorado has a winter that is far longer than anywhere back east, even if it's broken up by mild spells. The climate is dry to the point of discomfort. Your nose will bleed, and you will need chapstick. And their summer is hot as hell to boot. On average the Rockies are colder than pretty much anywhere back East aside from the areas that border Canada.
Even the Pacific Northwest is not a great climate. Sure it lacks a proper winter, but the coastal Pacific Northwest experiences March for 3/4 of the year, then it's suddenly hot as hell for 3 months. The interior of the Pacific Northwest is as cold as the Midwest in the winter and just as hot in the summer, the only difference is it's drier and less humid.
The West is so dry that the landscape literally sets itself on fire on a frequent basis. Yet some people have this idea that everything west of the 105th parallel is like San Diego and bad weather doesn't exist there. The lack of air conditioning out west is shocking considering pretty much the whole West reaches 100F every single year.
Yet some people have this idea that everything west of the 105th parallel is like San Diego and bad weather doesn't exist there. The lack of air conditioning out west is shocking considering pretty much the whole West reaches 100F every single year.
Can't do anything about people who think bad weather doesn't exist west of the 105th parallel.
Lack of air conditioning where? I had air conditioning in Santa Clara, CA (next to San Jose), and in Redding, CA. I don't have air conditioning here in Crescent City, CA, where it rarely gets above the 70's.
For many people, living without humidity or long freezing winters is preferable to the alternative. This can be found out west. This is probably why many people say they love living out west, or wish they did.
There is plenty of snow in the west. But, you don't have to live in the snow, just because you live in the west. I live where it never snows. But, just a few hours away, there is snow. I could be in 100 degree weather in the summer in probably less than an hour. But, I live where it never gets to 100 degrees.
If you don't like the weather in the west, or agree with people who think it's better than the east or south, that's fine.
Can't do anything about people who think bad weather doesn't exist west of the 105th parallel.
Lack of air conditioning where? I had air conditioning in Santa Clara, CA (next to San Jose), and in Redding, CA. I don't have air conditioning here in Crescent City, CA, where it rarely gets above the 70's.
For many people, living without humidity or long freezing winters is preferable to the alternative. This can be found out west. This is probably why many people say they love living out west, or wish they did.
There is plenty of snow in the west. But, you don't have to live in the snow, just because you live in the west. I live where it never snows. But, just a few hours away, there is snow. I could be in 100 degree weather in the summer in probably less than an hour. But, I live where it never gets to 100 degrees.
If you don't like the weather in the west, or agree with people who think it's better than the east or south, that's fine.
Del Norte County indeed has a mild climate, but 95% of the West doesn't. The immediate West Coast is either too rural, or too expensive for it to be a practical place for most people to live.
Del Norte County indeed has a mild climate, but 95% of the West doesn't. The immediate West Coast is either too rural, or too expensive for it to be a practical place for most people to live.
Are we talking about weather or job opportunities here?
Whatever you're trying to say, I am sure it's right for you. You are free to believe what you want, and to hate the west and all people who love it.
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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No, I've adapted very well to arid desert climates. I may have to go back to Boston at some point in time in the future as my parents are aging, but for now I'd much prefer to watch their atrocious winters on TV rather than live it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by valsteele
Hawaii is hot and humid and in many places insanely wet.
You don't know Hawaii very well. It's not the level of humidity found in the Southeast, and I wouldn't call it "hot" as temperatures on the islands rarely exceed the low 90's and never hit triple digits. You also failed to mention that each island has a wet and dry side. The wet sides of islands like Kauai can get insanely wet (with lush tropical scenery and waterfalls), but even that small island has a balmy and dry side to it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by valsteele
The lack of air conditioning out west is shocking considering pretty much the whole West reaches 100F every single year.
Go sit in the shade on a 100 degree humid day in June in St. Louis, and then do the same on a dry 100 degree day in Tucson and you tell me what feels more tolerable.
Quote:
Originally Posted by valsteele
Colorado has a winter that is far longer than anywhere back east, even if it's broken up by mild spells. The climate is dry to the point of discomfort. Your nose will bleed, and you will need chapstick. And their summer is hot as hell to boot. On average the Rockies are colder than pretty much anywhere back East aside from the areas that border Canada.
Some get nosebleeds. I live south of Colorado where its even dryer and at the same altitude as Denver and I've never had a nosebleed here in the 3 years I've been out here. I'd also rather use chapstick and skin lotion than a snowblower clearing 5 foot snowbanks in the winter. Summers in Colorado certainly aren't any hotter than most places back east, to say hotter than hell, well that's exaggerating. Not to mention the West has more microclimates, on a hot summer day in Denver one could easily drive an hour away to higher altitudes where its in the 70's.
Denver in early spring can get cold and snowy when winter is starting to taper off back east. It's also fairly common for it to get balmy and sunny days in mid-winter in the 60's. Places like Boston have many winters that remain an ice box from New Years to March with not very many thaw cycles in between. By and large I think its fair to say Denver overall has a milder climate with more nice days than Boston.
The weather out here isn't perfect (though pretty close to perfect here in ABQ in my opinion), yes we get fires, yes those suck, but I'd take it 100 times over the hardships of a New England climate.
Last edited by Champ le monstre du lac; 03-05-2015 at 07:23 AM..
I would argue that aside from the immediate Pacific shoreline of Southern and Central California the West does not have a "mild climate". It's not really that much better than the climates back east, just bad in different ways. It's still far more hostile on the whole than the climates in Europe.
Alaska is frigid. Hawaii is hot and humid and in many places insanely wet. In fact the entire West is either extremely arid or extremely wet, very little in between. The only place with a good balance is the Bay Area. Aside from the coastal Pacific Northwest, parts of Hawaii and the northern Rockies the entire region lacks water.
Colorado has a winter that is far longer than anywhere back east, even if it's broken up by mild spells. The climate is dry to the point of discomfort. Your nose will bleed, and you will need chapstick. And their summer is hot as hell to boot. On average the Rockies are colder than pretty much anywhere back East aside from the areas that border Canada.
Even the Pacific Northwest is not a great climate. Sure it lacks a proper winter, but the coastal Pacific Northwest experiences March for 3/4 of the year, then it's suddenly hot as hell for 3 months. The interior of the Pacific Northwest is as cold as the Midwest in the winter and just as hot in the summer, the only difference is it's drier and less humid.
The West is so dry that the landscape literally sets itself on fire on a frequent basis. Yet some people have this idea that everything west of the 105th parallel is like San Diego and bad weather doesn't exist there. The lack of air conditioning out west is shocking considering pretty much the whole West reaches 100F every single year.
Interesting points.
I liked what you said about parts of the West being so dry it sets itself on fire. Made me smile.
Well, not because there are constant wildfires but because I found it amusing to say. "It's so dry it literally sets itself on fire." Amusing statement.
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
10,753 posts, read 23,828,256 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JerseyGirl415
Well, not because there are constant wildfires but because I found it amusing to say. "It's so dry it literally sets itself on fire." Amusing statement.
Ahhh...Gotcha. The OP was really reaching for cherry picking points. He should just move to the East Coast already and get some real life experience with it rather than wasting time pining to leave the west.
Last edited by Champ le monstre du lac; 03-05-2015 at 07:16 AM..
Ahhh...Gotcha. The OP was really reaching for cherry picking points. He should just move to the East Coast already and get some real life experience with it rather than wasting time pining to leave the west.
I couldn't leave the West Coast forever since my family lives here but I want to try out the east coast! I lived in Montana so I'm not afraid of snow, and I think the perks of dry heat are overrated, being that I still sweat and sunburn regardless of the humidity level. Not to mention the West Coast does have muggier summers than people believe and experiences triple-digit heat more often than back east.
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The lack of air conditioning out west is shocking considering pretty much the whole West reaches 100F every single year.
