Anybody Have the Temps Drop Below Zero Yet? (snow storm, averages, days)
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Actually even as a lifelong weather nut who's seen the statistics and understands the reasons I have trouble really believing how cold it gets in winter in the US/Canada at latitudes that in western Europe never get such cold weather. For example, I've been sunburnt (a little) after spending the day on the beach in February at 42N in more than 20C, so to think that across the Atlantic at the same time it can be well below freezing yet with the same sun in the sky at presumably the same strength, takes some understanding. Most British people would take some serious explaining that Florida has a lower lowest temperature than Northern Ireland and that Dallas (32N) has a record low significantly lower than anything Aberdeen (57N) has ever seen.
I guess it's all about perspective, seeing how everyone sees where the climate they grew up with as "normal" for their latitude.
I find it unbelievable how Reykjavik (at 64N) has its January low averaging -3C, and a daily mean of 0C, yet Iceland is right next to the Arctic circle. When I think Arctic, I imagine ones closer to -30C, which is the average January low of Iqualuit in Canada (at around similar latitude). It's odd to imagine that were I to visit Reykjavik in winter I could actually dress more lightly than I do in Toronto, while experiencing close to polar night.
I also wonder if knowledge of the Gulf Stream, and Europe's warmth (or alternatively, N.America's coldness) is common knowledge among the general public (on both sides of the pond).
I know I always heard about it growing up in geography class, and a fair number of people I talk to seem to be somewhat aware of the idea, but of course as you mention people are still surprised when shown real stats (or experience the differences firsthand ).
Actually even as a lifelong weather nut who's seen the statistics and understands the reasons I have trouble really believing how cold it gets in winter in the US/Canada at latitudes that in western Europe never get such cold weather. For example, I've been sunburnt (a little) after spending the day on the beach in February at 42N in more than 20C, so to think that across the Atlantic at the same time it can be well below freezing yet with the same sun in the sky at presumably the same strength, takes some understanding. Most British people would take some serious explaining that Florida has a lower lowest temperature than Northern Ireland and that Dallas (32N) has a record low significantly lower than anything Aberdeen (57N) has ever seen.
To me, East Asia's cold is even more shocking than the North American cold. Shanghai which is at 31N has the same winter temperatures on average as Ireland.
Another shocking example is Guilin which at 25N is at the same latitude as Miami or Northern Africa but has winter averages more similar to southern France at 43N.
I guess it's all about perspective, seeing how everyone sees where the climate they grew up with as "normal" for their latitude.
I find it unbelievable how Reykjavik (at 64N) has its January low averaging -3C, and a daily mean of 0C, yet Iceland is right next to the Arctic circle. When I think Arctic, I imagine ones closer to -30C, which is the average January low of Iqualuit in Canada (at around similar latitude). It's odd to imagine that were I to visit Reykjavik in winter I could actually dress more lightly than I do in Toronto, while experiencing close to polar night.
I also wonder if knowledge of the Gulf Stream, and Europe's warmth (or alternatively, N.America's coldness) is common knowledge among the general public (on both sides of the pond).
I know I always heard about it growing up in geography class, and a fair number of people I talk to seem to be somewhat aware of the idea, but of course as you mention people are still surprised when shown real stats (or experience the differences firsthand ).
Wow. Somewhere within the Arctic circle actually averages above freezing in the winter. It says on the page that it's the largest temperature anomaly in the world relative to latitude.
Interesting article on the only day that supposedly failed to reach zero in NYC.
The Day the Mercury Stayed Below Zero in New York City (http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Day-the-Mercury-Stayed-Below-Zero-in-New-York-City&id=250854 - broken link)
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