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One more thing - despite the "temperate oceanic" classification, on 7 February 1973 Christchurch and 2 other locations in the east of the South Island recorded maxima of 42C, and many other stations in eastern areas as far south as about 45S reached or exceeded 100F (37.8C). Given the absence of any nearby continental landmass, this was quite remarkable. Papers analysing the event later concluded that it combined a foehn effect with the transport of hot air originating from eastern or central Australia, which did not interact much with a layer of cooler moister air over the Tasman Sea. It also helped a bit that the summer had been very dry to that point, the previous month very warm, and soil temperatures were warmer than average. The record-breaking day was preceded by 3 or 4 very warm days.
One more thing - despite the "temperate oceanic" classification, on 7 February 1973 Christchurch and 2 other locations in the east of the South Island recorded maxima of 42C, and many other stations in eastern areas as far south as about 45S reached or exceeded 100F (37.8C). Given the absence of any nearby continental landmass, this was quite remarkable. Papers analysing the event later concluded that it combined a foehn effect with the transport of hot air originating from eastern or central Australia, which did not interact much with a layer of cooler moister air over the Tasman Sea. It also helped a bit that the summer had been very dry to that point, the previous month very warm, and soil temperatures were warmer than average. The record-breaking day was preceded by 3 or 4 very warm days.
That is surprising…give the climate type and latitude. However, as the climate comparisons between Charleston and Christchurch above show…summers in many locations on South Island, New Zealand would be consider cool/cold compared to summers in South Carolina or the American subtropics. A fleeting hot day doesn’t determine the general climate of any region: Ponds Inlet Canada (beyond the Arctic Circle) has recorded 25 C (77) F on one occasion.
In the areas to the west of the Atlantic coast like Columbia, SC…from May to September - 80 days a year (every year) hit 32 C (90 F) or higher…and at least 5 to 10 days a year (every year) hit 37.8 C or higher. The record high temperature has hit 32 C (90 F) or higher in every month of the year except Dec, Jan, Feb in cities like Columbia, South Carolina. Many times since just 1990...cities like Cloumbia have hit 42 C.
Of course none of the above temperatures in South Carolina factor in the dew points which can often be in the 75 – 77 range in the hot season. The typical southerly flow from the tropical Gulf/Atlantic not only brings heat - but high dew points. On August 1st, 1999 the heat index hit 51 C (124 F) in Charleston, South Carolina. A few days later it got seasonally “cool again” with heat index values in the 37 C range.
Trust me...average summer temps (or the hot season) in most of New Zealand is cold compared to the American subtropics
Last edited by wavehunter007; 07-06-2010 at 06:58 AM..
You are just proving more and more that I need to leave here or just join the people that have homes in the Beaufort to Charleston area (not because of the climate, I just like that area). One person's junk is another person's treasure.
The only place I'd consider the American subtropics is Savannah south (staying on the coast to Florida, then most of Florida).
You are just proving more and more that I need to leave here or just join the people that have homes in the Beaufort to Charleston area (not because of the climate, I just like that area). One person's junk is another person's treasure.
Well you have a preference for cooler, drier climates. That’s fine. But climate facts are climate facts. I suppose like beauty….a nice climate is in the eye of the beholder. I agree however, the interior south can be tough to deal with in the hot season. That’s why I would only choose the coastal southeast/Gulf Coast.
The American subtropics are blisteringly hot for at least 6 months of the year no doubt... but what confuses me about wavehunter007's explanation of the cold season is that if somewhere like Myrtle Beach has so few days (3-4 days per month) where the daytime high is only 7C or below during an average winter and many more days where the high is 20-22C or even 26C during winter, then why isn't the winter average of somewhere like Myrtle Beach in January like 18C or 20C instead of 14C? you would think that the many more days of highs with 21C plus would reflect more on the average temperature than the lows would... as it's a simple law of averages. Just something I was wondering about....
Trust me...average summer temps (or the hot season) in most of New Zealand is cold compared to the American subtropics
Never claimed it wasn't - I just don't like reading climate inaccuracies, particularly about our country. I don't want the SE subtropics of the US anyway - I don't care for that much humidity. The other side of the nation is much more to my preference.
The American subtropics are blisteringly hot for at least 6 months of the year no doubt... but what confuses me about wavehunter007's explanation of the cold season is that if somewhere like Myrtle Beach has so few days (3-4 days per month) where the daytime high is only 7C or below during an average winter and many more days where the high is 20-22C or even 26C during winter, then why isn't the winter average of somewhere like Myrtle Beach in January like 18C or 20C instead of 14C? you would think that the many more days of highs with 21C plus would reflect more on the average temperature than the lows would... as it's a simple law of averages. Just something I was wondering about....
Well maybe you misunderstood me (or the data).
Chester Z mentioned he/she was under the impression that “many days in Myrtle Beach had highs under 7 C (about 44 F)”…when (as I showed above) in an average winter month (Dec, Jan, Feb) maybe 4 to 8 days have highs that fail to reach above 7 C. Some years have only 2/3 days in the three winter months that fail to reach above 7 C. Many, many more days have highs between 10 C and 16 C. My point was a few sub 0 C nights pull down the monthly averages at many stations in the American subtropics…making them seem cooler than they really are.
Of course Myrtle Beach/Charleston/Savannah…etc don’t’ have “average” daily max temps in the 20 – 26 C range…I never said that. I did say that it’s quite common for daily highs to be around 16 C on many winter days in the three winter months. However, because of the latitude/climate controls around in the coastal Southeast…it’s not unheard of to have a 25/26 C day once in a while…something that would NEVER happen in a cool oceanic climate like the Pacific Northwest or south Island, NZ in winter.
The average daily max temps in the three winter months in Charleston, SC are as follows (you can see for yourself):
Never claimed it wasn't - I just don't like reading climate inaccuracies, particularly about our country. I don't want the SE subtropics of the US anyway - I don't care for that much humidity. The other side of the nation is much more to my preference.
Just as I don’t like reading climate inaccuracies about my country. The climatic fact is that Christchurch, NZ shares little with the climate of a city like MB/Charleston/Savannah…etc. The coastal southeast like MB/Charleston has a much better winter climate than most places in New Zealand...in terms of sunshine/daily high temps/and stable weather. Additionally, a location like MB/Charleston is far warmer much of the year than Christchurch, NZ - by far. The mean temp between both locations is 14 F apart!
As far as climate preference…as I stated, it’s in the eye of the beholder. Personally, I am the opposite. I would find it totally depressing if I lived in a place like Christchurch, New Zealand where “summers” only have a mean temperature of 16 – 17 C. I grew up on the coast/beach…and a climate with summers that cool would be terrible for me. Add in the gray skies prevalent in Temperate Oceanic climates in winter…and I would be running for the first airport.
Just as I don’t like reading climate inaccuracies about my country. The climatic fact is that Christchurch, NZ shares little with the climate of a city like MB/Charleston/Savannah…etc. The coastal southeast like MB/Charleston has a much better winter climate than most places in New Zealand...in terms of sunshine/daily high temps/and stable weather. Additionally, a location like MB/Charleston is far warmer much of the year than Christchurch, NZ - by far. The mean temp between both locations is 14 F apart!
As far as climate preference…as I stated, it’s in the eye of the beholder. Personally, I am the opposite. I would find it totally depressing if I lived in a place like Christchurch, New Zealand where “summers” only have a mean temperature of 16 – 17 C. I grew up on the coast/beach…and a climate with summers that cool would be terrible for me. Add in the gray skies prevalent in Temperate Oceanic climates in winter…and I would be running for the first airport.
You should read my notes more carefully. You're arguing with the wrong person. I made no claims about the relative merits of the two places in winter (or any other season) - as I said, it's pointless. My sole statement specifically about Myrtle Beach was about its annual sunshine. I don't defend NZ winter conditions for beach lovers - that would be ridiculous. But I can point out that the sunniest parts (around Nelson and Blenheim) get about 58-60% of the possible sun in the winter season, coupled with modest rainfall totals. That's quite pleasant for the latitude.
You had to retract your original inaccuracies about Christchurch's climate.
My winter preferences? I already said they were for southern hemisphere locations with high sunshine and low rainfall, low seasonal humidities and "warm" temperatures - daily maxima of 23-24C upwards would be good enough.
If I were choosing a climate for year-round living in the US, it would have to be in the western states, where there would be plenty of choice.
You should read my notes more carefully. You're arguing with the wrong person. I made no claims about the relative merits of the two places in winter (or any other season) - as I said, it's pointless. My sole statement specifically about Myrtle Beach was about its annual sunshine. I don't defend NZ winter conditions for beach lovers - that would be ridiculous. But I can point out that the sunniest parts (around Nelson and Blenheim) get about 58-60% of the possible sun in the winter season, coupled with modest rainfall totals. That's quite pleasant for the latitude.
You had to retract your original inaccuracies about Christchurch's climate.
My winter preferences? I already said they were for southern hemisphere locations with high sunshine and low rainfall, low seasonal humidities and "warm" temperatures - daily maxima of 23-24C upwards would be good enough.
If I were choosing a climate for year-round living in the US, it would have to be in the western states, where there would be plenty of choice.
Well you were the first person to attack my rebuff about ChesterZ comments…I thought you might be the same person.
However…no matter who (you or he) stated that Myrtle Beach/Charleston/coastal southeast…etc have a similar climate to Christchurch, NZ in winter… is incorrect – as the data above shows. Christchurch, NZ and coastal South Carolina have two totally different climates…in both winter and summer. Further, a comment above by ChesterZ that winters would be similar in coastal South Carolina and Christchurch, NZ is also incorrect. Coastal South Carolina is sunny, semi-warm, and steady in the winter months. Christchurch is often cloudy in winter, rarely warm, and often has anything but steady weather in the cold season. My more general point… was that I think most people would find coastal South Carolina (or many other locations in the coastal American subtropics) far superior to the winter climates offered in Temperate Oceanic climates like New Zealand or the Pacific Northwest in the USA. When one thinks of winter in your typical Temperate Oceanic climate (i.e Hokitika, New Zealand, Seattle, WA, much of Ireland, parts of Britain…etc)…sunny, warm, and steady weather is not the first thing that comes to mind – lol.
As far as preferences...as I mentioned…they are much like beauty itself…they are in the eye of the beholder. You mentioned your dislike of the humidity in the American subtropics…which is of course a preference. I merely stated my preferences: They are for sunny, warm, subtropical locations in the Gulf and South Atlantic states. If I were to move down the southern Hemisphere…I think only climates like Brisbane would be of interest to me…even Sydney is too ‘cool” for my tastes. This also has to do with what you are used to in winter. Most people who live in the United States would vehemently argue that any place where the warmest months are no higher than 15 to 17 C…has no real summer or warm season. Even a place like NOVOSIBIRSK , Siberia (with a severe subarctic climate) has a warmer summer month than a location like Christchurch or Hokitika, New Zealand:
So even what passes for "summer" (or the warm season) has much to do with where your from and what your used to...
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