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I live in the mountains of Georgia. Despite this, summers are pretty darn miserable and winters are almost non-existent. I've been thinking about moving to the Great Lakes and would like a good understanding on far north I should go to where I don't need to worry about it getting so hot out that I'd have a bad time without A/C. The most I can bear is the mid 70s (or low 80s if there is a breeze).
I live very close to Lake Michigan in Wisconsin.
A/C comes in handy especially for the more humid days.
A lot of people hardly use theirs, but there are roughly 7-14 days a year where you'd at least want a window unit.
The average person could likely not use A/C for roughly 3/4's of the summer.
We use ours more due to personal allergy issues.
Its not just how far north you go, but your location relative to the cooler waters of the lakes. The windward side (typically immediately northeast of the lakes) has the greatest moderating influence, but mainly affect only the nearest few miles. Coolest will be northern parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Next coolest will be NE Ohio, NW PA, and WNY, close to the lake.
But there WILL be some days and nights where temperatures will be uncomfortable (humid days 80s or above, nights in the 70s) pretty much everywhere to some degree. Not every day, but there will be a couple/few days strung together followed by cooler weather repeated several times typically in July and August.
Honestly, I don't know of anywhere in the U.S. that you wouldn't want at least a window unit "just in case". Remember a year or two ago people in Alaska saw 90-degree temps?
I grew up outside Rochester N.Y. in the 60s-80s and we didn't have A/C but there were several summer seasons we could have used it. Yes, you could probably get by without it today BUT expect a few uncomfortable weeks in the summer.
I live in the mountains of Georgia. Despite this, summers are pretty darn miserable and winters are almost non-existent. I've been thinking about moving to the Great Lakes and would like a good understanding on far north I should go to where I don't need to worry about it getting so hot out that I'd have a bad time without A/C. The most I can bear is the mid 70s (or low 80s if there is a breeze).
Location: IN>Germany>ND>OH>TX>CA>Currently NoVa and a Vacation Lake House in PA
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Our vacation home in Dubois, PA we live at 1,400 feet on a lake, and only have one through wall AC upstairs. We only use it when we aren't there to control humidity while the house is shut down. Other than that, it's windows open and fans on. We love it compared to the DC area's humidity in the Summer.
My Jeep Wrangler stays in the garage there with the top down. It's perfect no top weather up there all Summer long too.
Things get cooler when you go high enough up in elevation.
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