Do we underestimate and downplay how Great Sacramento weather really is? (San Diego: retiree, frequency)

[KC6ZLV]

Originally Posted by Chimérique

You can't alway count on Phoenix being warm like Hawaii thats for sure. In fact, Phoenix has been colder than Sacramento for several days.

Since Phoenix is over 1,000ft elevation it can get those cold days and nights, so people always assume its gonna be warm in the winter and it certainly is not warm like Hawaii or Florida, thats my point (it is rare for florida to get really cold although it happens.)

These last several days (over a week I think) Phoenix have been colder, more like NorCal, than Hawaii or Florida.

Oh come on! Those few times Phoenix has recorded a lower temperature aren't even noticeable enough worth mentioning and people don't care about a degree two for a few days when it comes to the climate they live in. What they care about is the climate itself and since most people prefer days in the mid-60s with nights that are really only chilly near morning, most people are going to say Phoenix has a better climate during the winter than Sacramento.

The difference in radiational cooling between sea level and 1000 feet is negligible. Phoenix experiences a shallow inversion where cold air settles in during December and January because the sun isn't strong enough to mix out the boundary layer. Weather stations in the hills around Phoenix have been recording temperatures in the 60s during the day and upper 40s and low 50s at night.

Sacramento 5ESE
Fri Jan 4 59/35
Thu Jan 3 53/34
Wed Jan 2 56/32
Tue Jan 1 56/37

Sacramento Executive Airport
Fri Jan 4 56/32
Thu Jan 3 53/31
Wed Jan 2 53/29
Tue Jan 1 55/37

Phoneix Sky Harbor
Fri Jan 4 67/37
Thu Jan 3 57/33
Wed Jan 2 52/30
Tue Jan 1 51/38

[Chimérique]

Originally Posted by TacoSoup

4:45am, really? How about now, 12:45pm, a time that’s more realistic to everyone.

Sacramento 48F
Phoenix 60F

Yeah really, 60F is "FREEZING" in Hawaii. Again, my point Phoenix is NOT warm in the winter.

[Chimérique]

Originally Posted by KC6ZLV

Phoneix Sky Harbor
Fri Jan 4 67/37
Thu Jan 3 57/33
Wed Jan 2 52/30
Tue Jan 1 51/38

These Phoenix temps are not Warm.

[KC6ZLV]

Originally Posted by Chimérique

These Phoenix temps are not Warm.

You keep repeating that Sacramento has been warmer. The reality is the weather has been relatively the same at the two locations over the last week. Overall, January is a fair bit warmer in Phoenix. Especially during the day where the average is more than ten degrees warmer, which is tshirt weather for many people. You don't see that many people wearing tshirts most January afternoons in Sacramento unless they are getting some exercise.

Sacramento 5ESE 53.5/39.6
Sacramento Executive 53.5/37.8
Phoenix 66.6/42.8

[TacoSoup]

Originally Posted by Chimérique

Yeah really, 60F is "FREEZING" in Hawaii. Again, my point Phoenix is NOT warm in the winter.

Wow! What does 60F in Hawai’i have to do with Sacramento and Phoenix weather? I was trying to point out a 3 degree difference at 4:45am is laughable, but the 12 degree difference midday is relevant. Yes 60F isn’t warm, but it’s substantially warmer than 48F.

Right now looking at the next 9 days Phoenix calls for 1 day of rain and highs in the mid 60’s to 70F. Sacramento calls for 8 days of rain with highs in the mid 50’s to 60F.

I’m gonna go out on a limb and say we won’t get weather reports next week comparing the two. If we do they’ll be at goofball hours.

[ryanthegoldengod]

Originally Posted by Chimérique

These Phoenix temps are not Warm.

This is California tunnel vision if I've ever seen it.

[mixxalot]

Quite the downpour today- picked up raincoat and rain pants so will be ready for the cold wet 3 months we have ahead of us!

[Chimérique]

Originally Posted by ryanthegoldengod

This is California tunnel vision if I've ever seen it.

ryan, No it's not tunnel vision it's called facts: 30's, 40's, 50's, and 60's is not Warm and that is where Phoenix temps have been for the last few weeks.

Taco, No, I have never said that a Sacramento winter was warmer than a Phoenix winter. I'm pointing out that Phoenix is not warm in the winter; it's not Hawaii warm and and it's not Florida warm. In fact, there are times during the winter when Phoenix is/was actually colder than Sacramento, and Sacramento is 750 miles north of Phoenix.

When Phoenix is 78F and above and low temps are in the upper 60's than you can call it Warm.

If am seeking warmth in the winter, I'd pick Hawaii, Florida and Mexico any day over Phoenix.

Jan 6, 2019 8:15pm

Sacramento 49F - If Phx has "warm" winters I guess Sac does too.
Phoenix 48F
Las Vegas 47F
Denver 43F
Portland 40F
Seattle 40F
Tucson 35F
Spokane 35F
Salt Lake City 34F

[KC6ZLV]

What's warm is subjective, but I think most people would consider 60 degrees to be warm during the winter and 78 to be somewhat exceptional.

[tstieber]

Originally Posted by mixxalot

Quite the downpour today- picked up raincoat and rain pants so will be ready for the cold wet 3 months we have ahead of us!

I'm getting the feeling you *just* moved to Sacramento. Although we are in an El Nino pattern this winter, and it may rain more than usual, Sacramento is among the less rainy climates in America *on average.*

Average sunshine hours per year:

Sacramento 3608
San Diego 3055

Average annual sunshine probability

Sacramento 81
San Diego. 69

It may be rainy right now, but it's a small fraction of the year. You'll have clear days for months and months before you know it. That's just how Mediterranean climates are. Enjoy the rain, bc CA can't afford another drought!