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Despite having a mean annual temperature of 52F (similar to warm temperate places like Seattle or Chicago), Boise seems to have one of the northernmost subtropical climates in North America and possibly the world (if you use the -3C/27F winter isotherm). It really baffled me to notice that it can resemble New York City, Albuquerque or even Nashville if you only pay attention to winter lows and summer highs! Yet it has winter days in the 30s (unlike Nashville and Albuquerque) and summer nights in the lower 60s (unlike Nashville and New York). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boise,_Idaho#Climate
Boston is widely believed to be the most northern place in North America with a subtropical climate under the -3C/27F winter isotherm, but probably because people tend to overlook Idaho's valley floors. It's far more humid and thus far snowier than Boise, but more summer humidity means more plant life (assuming temperature stays constant). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston#Climate
Seattle doesn't have hot enough summers to qualify, unlike Boston and Boise, but it remains cold for no longer, has far milder winters and has much more subtropical vegetation. Besides, any palms would be difficult (though not impossible) to grow unprotected in the other two, and Seattle even has warm enough average lows to stratify Southern Magnolia seeds into sprouting (which even Tennessean winters are only capable of in Memphis despite supporting magnolia cuttings, winter pansies, cool-season crops and hardy palms very well elsewhere). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle#Climate
As a bonus, I'd also like to hear which climate of the three would be your favorite, as well as least favorite. Unless you can't decide or just don't want to say.
Spoiler
As for me? Seattle is definitely closer to being subtropical than the other two due to its vegetation and milder winters, while still not fully qualifying.
However, I find all three to be unpleasant climates for their own reasons, and I can't even pick a worst one because Boise and Seattle, while otherwise somewhat less unpleasant, are further north than Boston. Daylight hours, sun angle and UV index play into my winter-hating, Sun Belt-oriented mind big-time, so I cannot give Boise nor Seattle a definitive edge over nastily snowy and somewhat hurricane-prone Boston.
EDIT: I just remembered that Billings also has a far-north "subtropical" climate like some Idaho valleys do. However, I don't regret leaving it out of this contest, as Billings is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b (too cold for any subtropical plants, even the tougher American Holly).
Last edited by Sun Belt-lover L.A.M.; 10-21-2019 at 11:55 PM..
Boston. It gets convective thunderstorms not unlike areas further south during the summer. Seattle is a close second due to the comparatively mild winters. Boise is just high desert IMHO.
Despite having a mean annual temperature of 52F (similar to warm temperate places like Seattle or Chicago), Boise seems to have one of the northernmost subtropical climates in North America and possibly the world (if you use the -3C/27F winter isotherm). It really baffled me to notice that it can resemble New York City, Albuquerque or even Nashville if you only pay attention to winter lows and summer highs! Yet it has winter days in the 30s (unlike Nashville and Albuquerque) and summer nights in the lower 60s (unlike Nashville and New York). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boise,_Idaho#Climate
...
Not even close, for instance if we use the 0C isotherm, Kennewick and Walla Walla pass as being "Subtropical", this is of course ignoring the precipitation.
if we use the -3 isotherm then have places even further north such as Chelan, and Osoyoos, BC comes very close as well.
Not even close, for instance if we use the 0C isotherm, Kennewick and Walla Walla pass as being "Subtropical", this is of course ignoring the precipitation.
if we use the -3 isotherm then have places even further north such as Chelan, and Osoyoos, BC comes very close as well.
Thanks for pointing that out! Too bad I can't edit my OP now.
How could it be anything other than Seattle? Let me know when Bostonians are growing palms and eucalyptus and olive trees. Thunderstorms have nothing to do with subtropical imo. Many subtropical places aren’t humid and thundery at all.
Seattle - the more plants a place can grow, the more subtropical that place is.
Quote:
Originally Posted by unobtainium
How could it be anything other than Seattle? Let me know when Bostonians are growing palms and eucalyptus and olive trees. Thunderstorms have nothing to do with subtropical imo. Many subtropical places aren’t humid and thundery at all.
Exactly!
(I would just give you both reputation, but it says I must spread some around first.)
Seattle. Anything with sub-zero winter can't be subtropical, and Seattle has "quite" warm winters.
I agree that -1C or lower is too cold for subtropical or even mild temperate. I don't think even 0C or 1C is warm enough; I think it should be 2C or even 3C.
I was just seeing what others think between two "subtropical" climates and a mild-summer climate that all aren't generally considered subtropical. It seems Seattle is running away with this poll, but I'd still like to leave the discussion open.
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