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I've noticed that even though the Midwest has colder winters than the Northwest, winters there seem to be shorter as well. Like spring and autumn in the Midwest are quite warm and nice much of the time, but pretty much just slightly warmer versions of winter in say, Seattle. Even Minneapolis seems to reach summer-like weather faster than Seattle, averaging 70F highs by mid-May while Seattle doesn't until mid-June.
I think it's 55-60 in Chicago this week and 68-72 in Seattle. Portland is even warmer. No comparison. Chicago still has bare trees in late March or early April while the northwest starts blooming some time in February or early March.
It all depends on where in the Midwest. In southern Indiana or Illinois spring is much nicer and comes earlier. However if your sitting in Grand Rapids Michigan or Duluth Minnesota then you may be shoveling snow as late as early May. Yes I said May. Many people just don't realize how harsh winter can be in the upper Midwest. There are places up there that wont see leaves on their trees until mid May, and last year those pictures of ice on Lake Superior for Memorial day weekend are worth a thousand words concerning their climate. That does not mean there is never nice weather in April, but cool damp or even cold weather is still common in the Spring up there. By far its the toughest climate in the lower 48.
I've noticed that even though the Midwest has colder winters than the Northwest, winters there seem to be shorter as well. Like spring and autumn in the Midwest are quite warm and nice much of the time, but pretty much just slightly warmer versions of winter in say, Seattle. Even Minneapolis seems to reach summer-like weather faster than Seattle, averaging 70F highs by mid-May while Seattle doesn't until mid-June.
What do you think?
Land warms up faster than oceans. Any cities next to an ocean will have more stable and less fluctuating temperatures than a city farther inland.
I think it's 55-60 in Chicago this week and 68-72 in Seattle. Portland is even warmer. No comparison. Chicago still has bare trees in late March or early April while the northwest starts blooming some time in February or early March.
It's not really typical of most years, though, then again who knows if this is the "new normal" with climate change.
I dunno, I would personally say Phoenix is worse. I don't do heat and it's hot there pretty much all year! You can always put on a parka but in the heat you're screwed if you have to be outside or the AC breaks.
I dunno, I would personally say Phoenix is worse. I don't do heat and it's hot there pretty much all year! You can always put on a parka but in the heat you're screwed if you have to be outside or the AC breaks.
Northern Maine? I'd say the cold lasts pretty long there as well.
Cities like Seattle have a very low beta, or variability in temps, while cities in the Midwest/Northeast like Minneapolis or Boston have a lot of variability, or high beta. The highs are higher and the lows are lower, so even if the annual average temp is similar, cold Midwest/Northeastern cities have to get hotter faster in order to reach their apex on the bell curve, so to speak.
It's not really typical of most years, though, then again who knows if this is the "new normal" with climate change.
It's very typical, it's just not as sunny as this year. Chicago becomes warmer than western WA and OR in late May. Another thing, Eastern WA and OR are significantly warmer than the Midwest starting in March. These places see 60F in March and 70F+ degrees in April very often.
It's very typical, it's just not as sunny as this year. Chicago becomes warmer than western WA and OR in late May. Another thing, Eastern WA and OR are significantly warmer than the Midwest starting in March. These places see 60F in March and 70F+ degrees in April very often.
Actually Bend doesn't see highs above 62F average until June 1! I think people underrate how cold eastern Oregon and Washington are. Their annual means are nearly as low as the ones in Minnesota in many areas. I would say Seneca, OR is probably colder than Minneapolis on average, for example, year round.
Last edited by Mini-apple-less; 04-18-2015 at 04:21 PM..
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