Why is Miami so hot in the summer despite being surrounded by water? (global warming, temperature)

[Astral_Weeks]

Originally Posted by Warszawa

Its a good answer about the warmth of the water, although I dont really agree with the degree argument. A lot of cities in Brazil, like Recife, Natal, Salvador de Bahia, they also have much more comfortable weather than Miami in the summer. And it seems like even Havana is a bit milder than Miami in the summer, although there is not a big difference

"Recife has a tropical climate (As in Köppen climate classification), with warm to hot temperatures and high relative humidity throughout the year. However, these conditions are relieved by pleasant trade winds blowing in from the ocean."

Also, Miami gets about 60 inches of rain and over 3,000 hours of sunshine a year. Recife gets 95 inches of rain and about 2,500 hours of sunshine per year.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recife#Climate

[PCALMike]

Its no Kaohsiung, Taiwan though. Take a look at the heat index:

https://www.wunderground.com/history...eqdb.wmo=46740

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaohsiung#Climate

[Travelassie]

Originally Posted by SFBayBoomer

High rises instead of high, shady trees might have something to do with it.

That was my thought, too. And all that concrete.

[billl]

Originally Posted by Warszawa

Miami has the massive Gulf of Mexico to the west while to the east there is the Atlantic Ocean...so why is it so hot and humid in the summer? Miami has six months with average highs above 30c, not to mention the insane humidity

In comparison, Tegucigalpa in Honduras, which is even farther south, only has two months with average highs above 30c, with much more pleasant humidity.

Miami elevation: 0m (0ft)
Tegucigalpa elevation: 990 m (3,250 ft)

Valencia in Spain and Perth in Australia also have just two months of heat and with less humidity. Buenos Aires has just one such month. Barcelona and Montevideo have none

Miami latitude: 25°46′N
Valencia latitude: 39°28′N
Perth latitude: 31°57′S
Buenos Aires latitude: 34°36′S
Barcelona latitude: 41°23′N
Montevideo latitude: 34°53′S

To put it another way, Miami is at a latitude similar to that of Egypt, Western Sahara (south of Morocco), Northern India, or Taiwan. The other cities you are comparing it to are at a latitude similar to that of Washington DC and New York. Except for Perth, which is more like Savannah or Jacksonville.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by EverBlack

I think it's just because of the very warm water. Maputo, Mozambique is in a similar position, but its summers aren't as hot. Its climate is quite similar overall, though. Even then, remember than not every climate is the same.

Port Elizabeth, South Africa is warmer in the winter than Sydney, Australia, I think because of warmer waters.

The gulf of Mexico brings hot temperatures up to New Jersey, and warms the western part of Europe during the winter, because it's a warm current.

Marsa Alam, Egypt is a desert that doesn't get any precipitation, and it's hotter than Miami during the summer.
Fuzhou, China is even hotter and more humid in the summer, though winters are much cooler there.

Florianópolis, Brazil is cooler, but that's just because of its geographic position and currents.

Sunshine Coast, Australia is also not that hot in the summer.

Yes, only eastern China is hotter (if you don't count Marsa Alam), but I think you just made this thread to bash against a climate, just because a person who says something you don't like lives there. I don't think this thread is very bright. It's obvious that a climate at 26 degrees from the equator isn't going to be cool or cold!

It is also a daylength and sun angle difference. On Jun 20 peak sun angle is at 23.5°N, so Miami gets a sun angle of 87.5° while those cities in Northern Brazil get a sun angle of around 73° or so, and Miami also gets one hour more of daylight+ at that time combined with the higher sun angle

[EverBlack]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

It is also a daylength and sun angle difference. On Jun 20 peak sun angle is at 23.5°N, so Miami gets a sun angle of 87.5° while those cities in Northern Brazil get a sun angle of around 73° or so, and Miami also gets one hour more of daylight+ at that time combined with the higher sun angle

All those cities I mentioned are all about at the same latitude, take or add not more than 2 degrees

[tarzan_taborda]

Barcelona is more northern than New York, it would be weird if it was as warm as Miami.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by EverBlack

All those cities I mentioned are all about at the same latitude, take or add not more than 2 degrees

I was talking about Natal and Recife

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by tarzan_taborda

Barcelona is more northern than New York, it would be weird if it was as warm as Miami.

It doesn't always work that way, Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico is 2°N of Miami, yet has the same temps in the winter and is hotter the rest of the year.

[37 Pieces of Flair]

As has been mentioned already, the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Miami is bath water for all intents and purposes during the summer months, thus has little if any cooling effect at all.

Also, don't forget about the Berumda High. The clockwise circulation around the high brings hot, humid wind to the Eastern seaboard during the summer months, particularly the Southeast U.S.