Comparative Climate

E

El and Bill

New member
Just for fun, after the recent posts about the wet nw and tropical tip of Texas, we've looked up a few stats:

Denver Brownsville,TX Seattle

Ave Hi 64 83 53
Ave Low 37 65 46
Ave Precip 15.4 26.1 34
Ave Poss Sunshine 69% 60% 43%
Ave Clear 115 days 96 days 71 days
Ave Cloudy 120 days 138 days 201 days
Ave Above 90 34 days 116 days 1 day

Judge, we rest our case.
 
Patty here. Those stats were depressing until the last one. I'll take that 1 day in Seattle over your 34 and 116 in a heartbeat! You can put on another layer if it's cold; you can use an umbrella if it rains; but oppressive heat is hard to deal with. JMHO
 
Heat is oppressive when it goes with high humidity. East of the Rockies (Texas included) ofttimes the humidity is higher than the temperature. I just can't take that, since I was raised in a desert (temp=110, humidity = 20%.)

So it's all relative.

Boris
 
Ah... statistics.

Brownsville is about a half hour west of us; they are not on the water. So, factor in some moderating climate due to being right at the water's edge. As improbable as it sounds, we have an average lower temperature, more sunshine, less humidity, and something intangible: the feeling of a vacation.

Port Isabel and South Padre Island are end of the road towns... one way in, the same way out. Like Key West... or Teluride (if you want a mountain perspective). The majority who come here do so for a short time, relaxation, and because it just feels so good. Those of us who live here understand and appreciate what a sub-tropical climate and a laid-back life style has to offer.

Now, having said that, I don't mean this to be a "my Dad can beat up your Dad" kinda conversation. The most important thing is to find a place where you are happy (same advice I gave our daughter when she was picking out a college). If you don't like warmth and humidity, this isn't the place for you. If you want to feel a Rocky Mountain "high", our sea level, beachy, flat terrain isn't going to make you feel at home. If you want the hustle and bustle of a city, professional sports, theatre and the arts, and a coffee shop on every corner, you will definitely be happier in Seattle.

But if you want to walk the beach barefoot... perhaps on New Years Day, and you think cold weather gear means you have to put on a sweatshirt with your shorts, well, this is an interesting option. South Padre Island has signs that read "No Tie Zone" (even the bankers here don't wear suits).

Rogerbum has been here and didn't much care for it. Brent and Dixie came down and within a day wanted to know more about buying a place here. Some get it, some don't... and I don't mean that in an unenlightened sort of way. I don't care for heavy traffic or waiting in lines - some think that is part of the "pulse" of city life. And I applaud that we all have different preferences.

The point of my posts on that thread that celebrated the unique characteristics of those from PNW was just that - a celebration. I love our diversity! I have experienced the mountains (lived there for years); staying in Bell Harbor in downtown Seattle was one of the highlights of our summer. I love being able to experience it all! :D

So, before we bring this before a judge, let me remind us of an old saying... "Home is where the heart is." If you like to wear a flannel shirt, long pants, a fleece vest, and hiking boots, you are going to be hot and sweaty around our home. :mrgreen: But, if you think just shorts is just enough, you might rethink your locale.

Right now, we have the door onto the deck open. There is a nice breeze, and it is a very hazy day. It will be a high of 73º, a low of 63º today. Pretty close to average for this time of year. The NWS is calling our current conditions "cloudy and windy, 70º, wind SSE at 23." I watched the sun come up this morning. I walked to get Joan a Sunday paper... in short sleeves. The birds were singing. I just took an annemometer reading on my deck - SSE at 15. I can see the sun through the haze.

I don't need a judge to decide, I listen to my heart. My hope is that wherever you are, you are happy. I know what it's like to look out the window and think, "I never want to see (fill in the blank) again." For us, that blank was "snow." If someone enjoys the snow and cold, I hope they can be somewhere that they can jump in it, roll in it, ski in it, and laugh with glee! :lol: Enjoy the rain? I hope you live somewhere that allows you to be "singing in the rain."

Still, the thing that pleases me the most is going to the best places at the best times. I have no case to rest.

:hug :love :hug2

Best wishes,
Jim

PS - Regarding those statistics... highest recorded temp in Denver: 112º; highest recorded temp in Port Isabel: 103º, highest recorded temp in Seattle: 100º.

Lowest recorded temp in Denver: -32º; lowest recorded temp in Port Isabel: 17º; lowest recorded temp in Seattle: -18º

Average high temp in July - Denver: 88º, Port Isabel: 86.9º, Seattle: 75.3º

Average high temp in January - Denver: 43º; Port Isabel: 69.8º; Seattle: 45.8º

And one of my favorite old Hawaiian sayings: "Never judge a day by the weather." :smiled
 
Averages can be miss leading. We could live anywhere we wanted and explored many places before settling down. (and temps/rain are not the only factors).

In Pensacola we have a low of 50% sunshine in January to 70% in several other months--average about 65%

We have 65" of rain a year (second highest in Continental US)--59 days a year of rain.--but mostly in heavy showers--and then clear. Up side--no water shortages!

Temperatures: Average Highs July and August (hottest) are 90, Average lows those months: 75 degrees, cool enough for sleeping. Average high in winter: 61 in Jan, average low in Jan: 42. Highest recorded: 106 degrees; lowest low: 18 degrees (Jan 2003). For the year: Average high is 77, and Average low is 60. That is why "averages" can be miss leading.

You acclimate to the heat. We had spent over a year in the tropics on our boat where it was high hummidity and temps in the 90's daily. (no airconditioning) When we reached Acapluco and it got down to 72 at night, we broke out the long johns!
 
Fortunately, Seattle is not the whole PNW. Here we are, 5 minutes from John Wayne Marina, in about 14-18 inches of rain a year, blue sky, (of some sort, some time during the day) 300 days a year, and less traffic and more lavender. Also, higher gas prices, but I'm not going there, and we did have some winter this year, both days :wink: . OH and by the way, when we left Portland today, the sky was so clear and blue, we could see the red hat on the skier on the top of "Mile High Lift" up on Mt. Hood and Mt St Helens at the same time. Also, Hood canal was flat and glassy all the way. :photo

But I remember S. Padre in the winter, and it is nice. Only problem down there in the summer was that you could only take off so many clothes be fore you got arrested.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Sure are lots of ways to judge the weather, and of course, folks each have their personal preferences -- in looking for a 'safe' harbor, we found that few places were 'ideal' (whatever that is) year round, and that there were many other factors to consider such as taxes, medical facilities, population density, social framework, availability of cultural activities, cost of living including housing, etc.(and as many etc. as there are opinions in this world). And, if still working and with kids, the availability of a job and quality of schools, etc.

It's interesting to see what some of the popular magazines come up with, in their annual "Best Places to Live (Retire)" issues.

Some years ago, our kids decided it would be great if we could all live in close proximity. So, they had a long consensus discussion on what the criteria were for "Our Town." Using those criteria, El and I set up an Xcell page and screened Internet sites until we boiled it down to ten towns -- and then we had a family discussion about those ten, and each member gave their opinions and did some of their own screening.

Three families now live a few miles from each other, and the other two, due to jobs, are apart, but think it likely they will move on retiring.

Oh -- and thinking of sunshine -- we lived for many years in a little town where the local pub would 'set up the town' in beer (no hard liquor allowed in that town) any day the sun didn't shine -- in our many years there, they 'set up' only once.
 
Interesting discussion.

You've further reinforced my retirement locations. Spring and Fall in Tucson. Winter in Savannah or around there. Summers in the PNW, perhaps Sequim or places near Bremerton. I think I'd grow weary of living in any of these places year around.

But then again, we could grow weary of traveling each season. Sure hope not! :?
 
Pat Anderson":2ewg1l32 said:
Patty here. <snip> oppressive heat is hard to deal with. JMHO
Click to expand...

Only if you're modest. :wink

One does acclimate. The difficult part is safety related. Up until this year most drivers under 21 in San Diego County had never driven in the rain or if they did it was only for an hour or so. That's the driving (no pun intended) factor behind the precipitous rise in accidents when it does happen to rain in daylight hours.

When that happens, the CHP reverts to "Mother" mode, as in "Are you bleeding? No? Then don't bother me I have more important things to do. They will only respond to injury accidents.

Don
 
I grew up in a small town with a population of 300 in Western NC. I often tell people it's the real Mayberry. After college while pursueing my occupation I thought I would only return home to visit family. My former profession took me to 49 of our 50 states and I only lived in large cities. Over the years I picked several places that were to be the "best place to retire to". Some of these were Washington state, Oregon, northern Idaho, northern Arizona and New Mexico.

After all, however, I couldn't find anything superior to my hometown. When I retired about ten years ago I moved straight back to Mitchell Co., NC and built a house at 5,000 feet elevation. The summer temps almost never go over 80 degrees F. and winters often bring 100 inches of snow. Low humidity and beautiful country are all great attributes. The best thing, however, are the people. Your neighbor may not like you but you know it. He doesn't offer pretenses in your presence and cut you down when you're not.

There is also a great deal of diversity here which was not the case growing up. People for many reasons, climate, cost of living, natural resources, etc. have moved here over the years improving our culture.

Having said all that I can't think of anywhere I have lived over the years that I hated. I believe that most of us can find the good things available no matter where we live.

Harper
 
Spring Break has sprung. The annual invasion of thousands of kids to South Padre Island. Since Pat didn't want to see any more "fricky-dicky" dolphin photos from the Tropical Tip, I decided to show y'all a slice of life from vacation land...

SB1e.jpg

SB2e.jpg

SB3e.jpg

These young folks appear to be having a good time without being concerned about wind chill.

Best wishes,
Jim
 
That's a hard act to follow Jim! My buddy Harvey must have a defective rain gauge. The official rain measurement last year in Sequim was 8.82"! Average was just about 11" since 2000. Must be Global Warming! Thanks Al.... We're about as far North and West as you can get in the contiguous states.

There's something to be said for having all 4 seasons. I'm not sure what it is though! See the Sequim weather at:
http://www.sequim.com/cgi-bin/weatherstation
 
Nice pictures but whatever happened to the Freshmen 15? The gals I went to college with suffered greatly from it. Obviously, these gals don't.

-Greg
 
FRESHMAN 15 ??? :crook

I must have missed something somewhere. :smilep
Maybe there is something to my 63 year old brother calling me "Old Guy" :disgust

Jack
 
"Everyone's heard warnings about the "freshman 15." But is it true that many college students pack on 15 pounds during their first year at school?

Recent studies find that some first-year students are indeed likely to gain weight — but it might not be the full freshman 15, and it may not all happen during freshman year. That might sound like good news, but it's not. Doctors are concerned that students who gradually put on pounds are establishing a pattern of weight gain that could spell trouble if it continues.

Studies show that students on average gain 3 to 10 pounds during their first 2 years of college. Most of this weight gain occurs during the first semester of freshman year."

Apparently, that's no longer a problem.

 
Oh...OK That must only apply to civilians. I was a 26 year old ex G.I. and it was like being turned loose in a candy shop, :smilep but after a while I began to feel like a baby sitter. :crook
Jack
 
Freshman 15 Defined:

"Everyone's heard warnings about the "freshman 15." But is it true that many college students pack on 15 pounds during their first year at school?

Recent studies find that some first-year students are indeed likely to gain weight — but it might not be the full freshman 15, and it may not all happen during freshman year. That might sound like good news, but it's not. Doctors are concerned that students who gradually put on pounds are establishing a pattern of weight gain that could spell trouble if it continues.

Studies show that students on average gain 3 to 10 pounds during their first 2 years of college. Most of this weight gain occurs during the first semester of freshman year."

MORE

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
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