What's worse: Living in a place that has brutal summers or brutal winters? (assessment, pool)

[skylar0201]

Originally Posted by californio sur

I see your point but in the West the humidity is at it's lowest when it is the hottest part of the day w/ occasional exceptions when monsoon moisture moves in. During those periods, LA is very uncomfortable. I know it is more expensive to cool a house down than to warm it up but if winters are so mild that you don't need much heat than it isn't very expensive. I think most people need a coat once the temperature drops below 60F or at least below 50F if you are going to be outside for a long time. But I can handle temps up to 90F fairly easily especially if there is shade.

Exactly. That is why it is relative to where you grew up. You can take 90 degree days if you've lived most of the time in CA, and I can take 30-40 degree days because I've lived mostly in cold climates. If you grew up in the heat or cold, you know how to handle it and how to adapt to it.

However, you go to the midwest or especially, the south or east coast and watch how hot and uncomfortable it gets there with the humidity always at 60% and above. In my OP post in this thread, I said the cold is easier to live in, because you can always dress up in layers for it whether it be wearing 3 pairs of socks, a couple of shirts and thermals underneath. You can only dress down so much for the heat before it becomes indecent exposure anywhere outside.

I think the incidence of death is higher with the heat too for those that don't have A/C in their homes, you always hear where they pull dead people out of a bldg in intense heat--hardly ever in bitter cold--and I'm talking like -50F to -60F temps, because you can put layers of clothes, blankets, etc on to keep you warm if it is that cold.

[californio sur]

Originally Posted by skylar0201

Exactly. That is why it is relative to where you grew up. You can take 90 degree days if you've lived most of the time in CA, and I can take 30-40 degree days because I've lived mostly in cold climates. If you grew up in the heat or cold, you know how to handle it and how to adapt to it.

However, you go to the midwest or especially, the south or east coast and watch how hot and uncomfortable it gets there with the humidity always at 60% and above. In my OP post in this thread, I said the cold is easier to live in, because you can always dress up in layers for it whether it be wearing 3 pairs of socks, a couple of shirts and thermals underneath. You can only dress down so much for the heat before it becomes indecent exposure anywhere outside.

I think the incidence of death is higher with the heat too for those that don't have A/C in their homes, you always hear where they pull dead people out of a bldg in intense heat--hardly ever in bitter cold--and I'm talking like -50F to -60F temps, because you can put layers of clothes, blankets, etc on to keep you warm if it is that cold.

You may be right. I remember a summer a few years ago that was downright unbearable [hit 119F in Woodland Hills] with the kind of humidity uncommon to California. It was practically an emergency because so many old people died when AC broke down [mainly in the Central Valley]. I know how humid it gets in Florida & Puerto Rico & don't like it very much but I don't know if I could handle sub-freezing temps either.

[vdy1985]

Originally Posted by californio sur

but I don't know if I could handle sub-freezing temps either.

You'd be surprised. I'm CA born and raised. I have never ever lived through a REAL WINTER in my life. Winter to me was when the high temps hovered around 60 degrees with lows in the mid 40's.

I didn't think I could handle temps in the 20s and below... Recently moved out to Milwaukee a little over a year and a half ago. So I'm about to finish up two winters. It really isn't that bad. You get used to it fairly quickly, plus the novelty of living in snow and seeing snow accumulate is pretty awesome. Even those bitter cold days (the coldest of the year) when it is in single digits or worse with windchill, I still go for walks outside.

Of course I am suited up. But it is pretty cool being able to walk in tempertures around 0 degrees and still feel fine. You just have to dress for it. Plus these ridiculously cold days are rare, and you realize that temps in the 30s are actually quite pleasant.

On the flip side, I wouldn't dare take a walk in the summer on the hottest days of the year in Phoenix or Vegas... night time is fine though, but day time will kill you.

But to be honest, both extremes are crap. That moderate CA weather trumps all. lol.

[californio sur]

Originally Posted by vdy1985

You'd be surprised. I'm CA born and raised. I have never ever lived through a REAL WINTER in my life. Winter to me was when the high temps hovered around 60 degrees with lows in the mid 40's.

I didn't think I could handle temps in the 20s and below... Recently moved out to Milwaukee a little over a year and a half ago. So I'm about to finish up two winters. It really isn't that bad. You get used to it fairly quickly, plus the novelty of living in snow and seeing snow accumulate is pretty awesome. Even those bitter cold days (the coldest of the year) when it is in single digits or worse with windchill, I still go for walks outside.

Of course I am suited up. But it is pretty cool being able to walk in tempertures around 0 degrees and still feel fine. You just have to dress for it. Plus these ridiculously cold days are rare, and you realize that temps in the 30s are actually quite pleasant.

On the flip side, I wouldn't dare take a walk in the summer on the hottest days of the year in Phoenix or Vegas... night time is fine though, but day time will kill you.

But to be honest, both extremes are crap. That moderate CA weather trumps all. lol.

I've also been in sub-freezing temps in Big Bear & Mammoth Mt while snow boarding. All the energy burns up calories so you stay warm. But it felt like my face was frozen, seriously! Don't people get frost bit in Milwaukee? Do you cover your face? We put socks on our hands but when they get wet your fingers feel like they are going to fall off

[vdy1985]

Originally Posted by californio sur

I've also been in sub-freezing temps in Big Bear & Mammoth Mt while snow boarding. All the energy burns up calories so you stay warm. But it felt like my face was frozen, seriously! Don't people get frost bit in Milwaukee? Do you cover your face? We put socks on our hands but when they get wet your fingers feel like they are going to fall off

lol. nah, a lot of people who are from here seem totally just cold resistant or something. You know how you get used to sweating or your arm just feeling hot when you are driving in the summer. You kind of just get use to the cold. Plus snowboarding is a lot different, because that is MAJOR wind chill going down those slopes. And a lot of the time it isn't like you are outside for hours at a time in the winter, so throwing on a few warm clothes is enough. Often times I just wear a t-shirt and jeans, then throw on a parka on top and I am fine. Maybe a beanie and gloves and I am set.

[Chicago60614]

Originally Posted by tfox

The midwest has brutal winters (the constant gloom is actually worse than the cold), but then it has sultry, muggy summers. At least they're short. There's a few weeks in spring and fall that are nice across the midwest, no doubt.

Maybe I'm just use to totally different weather, but it doesn't seem anywhere near as bad as described above.

Do people just exagerate the humidity in most of the Midwest - or are most people in our country just REALLY adverse to humidity??

I mean Northern Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minn, etc. The humidity during the summer averages mid 50%'s. Is that really that bad? I HATE HATE HATE humidity, but I've only had problems in the Midwest maybe 10 days out of the summer. I thought they were much worse down south.

I know the Midwest sees random heat waves with humidity during the summer just like it sees random cold spells in the winter with high down in the teens, but 80% of the seasons aren't extreme.

Iowa sees 8 months of the year with lows above freezing, and it sees 7 months of the year with highs between the 60's and 80's. Almost half the year has highs of 70 degrees or above. How is that a "short" summer? It's half the year.

The Chicago area sees over 160 days a year with average highs of 70 degrees or warmer. 234 days with lows above freeezing. This country is becoming so weak!

[californio sur]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

Maybe I'm just use to totally different weather, but it doesn't seem anywhere near as bad as described above.

Do people just exagerate the humidity in most of the Midwest - or are most people in our country just REALLY adverse to humidity??

I mean Northern Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minn, etc. The humidity during the summer averages mid 50%'s. Is that really that bad? I HATE HATE HATE humidity, but I've only had problems in the Midwest maybe 10 days out of the summer. I thought they were much worse down south.

I know the Midwest sees random heat waves with humidity during the summer just like it sees random cold spells in the winter with high down in the teens, but 80% of the seasons aren't extreme.

Iowa sees 8 months of the year with lows above freezing, and it sees 7 months of the year with highs between the 60's and 80's. Almost half the year has highs of 70 degrees or above. How is that a "short" summer? It's half the year.

The Chicago area sees over 160 days a year with average highs of 70 degrees or warmer. 234 days with lows above freeezing. This country is becoming so weak!

"The humidity during the summer averages mid 50%'s." What surprising is that's close to LA's humidity during summer. I think the main difference is that humidity really drops during the hottest days in California.

You have all the seasons and that is appealing, too. But in spite of very long summers I think I'd rather be hot than cold. I don't like days that are cloudy all the time; makes me moody.

[marionluigi]

Originally Posted by gimme it

What is easier to tolerate? I'm not elderly yet, but when we move, I hope we stay forever. What do you think is hardest on the elderly?

It depends. For elderly usually the cold winter is worse for things like chronic pain, bronchitis, etc.

If you have allergies, things being in bloom all the time can be troublesome. But then again there are medications/shots that can handle that.

You have to also remember that there are different kinds of heat. The heat of the midwest and down throughout the south is a humid heat and raises the heat index. The heat of places like Arizona or California might be higher temps, but it is generally a more tolerable heat in short bursts.
Some of the most miserable, sticky, mosquitoee summertime weather I've ever experienced has been in places like St. Louis or Chicago. I think the reason people hate the cold more than the heat is that cold is usually accompanied by more lack of sunlight. That's not healthy.

[skylar0201]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

Maybe I'm just use to totally different weather, but it doesn't seem anywhere near as bad as described above.

Do people just exagerate the humidity in most of the Midwest - or are most people in our country just REALLY adverse to humidity??

I mean Northern Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minn, etc. The humidity during the summer averages mid 50%'s. Is that really that bad? I HATE HATE HATE humidity, but I've only had problems in the Midwest maybe 10 days out of the summer. I thought they were much worse down south.

I know the Midwest sees random heat waves with humidity during the summer just like it sees random cold spells in the winter with high down in the teens, but 80% of the seasons aren't extreme.

Iowa sees 8 months of the year with lows above freezing, and it sees 7 months of the year with highs between the 60's and 80's. Almost half the year has highs of 70 degrees or above. How is that a "short" summer? It's half the year.

The Chicago area sees over 160 days a year with average highs of 70 degrees or warmer. 234 days with lows above freeezing. This country is becoming so weak!

Yeah, the humidity is much worse down south and especially the east coast. You need to consider though, that the west coast ( and Rocky Mtn states especially where it is bone-dry whether its hot or cold ) the humidity tops out at about 30%. 50% on this side of the country would feel to most as "extreme" because it wouldn't feel normal.

Now, in my area, in the winter time because we are so wet, the humidity will stay between 50-100% because it is either raining, about to rain, just finished raining, or is foggy 9 months of the year. In the summer time however, it is 100% clear skies 28 out of 30 days--you won't even see a cloud in the sky for weeks at a time, and during then, the humidity will drop to about 10-20% ( afternoons ) but at night, it will feel sticky because it will rise to about 50%, and our summer nights here, we're commonly still in the upper 60's-low 70's for a LOW temp.

How come people that live in Iowa that are on the C-D thread for Iowa say about it being so bitterly cold half the year? geez, I just checked the temp there ( Des Moines ) and it is 18 there with a high expected of 24 and a low tonight expected of 4. Here it is currently 58 ( at just before 11am ) with a high expected of 63 and a low of 48, yet people say Portland is cold. I told them if they want to find out what cold is, just go ANYWHERE east of here and they'll find out what cold really is.

I would consider moving to the midwest, but even for me, those temps are crazy out there, but I will say that the midwest does have jobs--lots of them, and w/ some of the lowest unemployment rates ( especially ND, SD and NE ) in the nation.

[skylar0201]

Originally Posted by californio sur

"The humidity during the summer averages mid 50%'s." What surprising is that's close to LA's humidity during summer. I think the main difference is that humidity really drops during the hottest days in California.

You have all the seasons and that is appealing, too. But in spite of very long summers I think I'd rather be hot than cold. I don't like days that are cloudy all the time; makes me moody.

Yep, that is true. Here on the west side of the country, the humidity levels drop as the sun comes up ( most often than not anyway ) but in the midwest and east coast, it rises with the sun.

That's the bad part of living in moderate temp regions--we don't get to have 4 seasons that the rest of the country sees.