Is Denver's winter "mild" the same way many describe Seattle's rainy season as mild? (Broomfield: 2014, place to live)

[Pacifico]

Because yes it rains lightly in Seattle during most of the year but it's torture for some. I realize Denver's winter weather has been discussed in previous threads but I'm looking for some analogy.

[KaaBoom]

Originally Posted by Pacifico

Because yes it rains lightly in Seattle during most of the year but it's torture for some. I realize Denver's winter weather has been discussed in previous threads but I'm looking for some analogy.

Get ready for the fireworks. Yes, Denver's "mild" winters are exactly like Seattle's "mild" rainy season.

Average 57.5 inches of snowfall spread over nine months. With low temperatures around 0 °F (records as low as −29 °F). Enough said.

[SkyDog77]

KaaBoom is on record as hating all cold weather. Like to a strange degree. He seems to think Denver is being sold as having the same weather as San Diego.

Does it get cold? Yes.
Does it snow? Yes.
Does it stay cloudy and gray for weeks? No.
Do we get 50 degree and sunny days in the middle of January and February? Yes.
Is it sunny more often than not? Yes.
Does snow stay on the ground all winter? No.

We have a real winter, but the amount of sunshine makes it far more mild than Midwest winters. I lived in the Midwest for 5 years in an area that from a temperature and snowfall standpoint has a more mild winter than Denver, but the reality is that it was a much worse place to live because it was damp and cloudy all winter as opposed to sunny and dry.

If you are expecting South Beach, it's not for you, but if you are used to winter in New York, Chicago, Kansas City, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, or Boston, Denver has a more mild winter.

(Now is the point in the thread where KaaBoom posts all sorts of data in an attempt to prove that Denver is really the same as Minneapolis. Trust me. It's not even close.)

[Pacifico]

On average how often do you get those 50 degree days from December thru February? Once or twice a week? Once or twice every other week? Does it happen fairly regularly or is it more of an exception to the rule sort of thing?

[Texas Ag 93]

Agree with SkyDog. I have been through 2 winters in Denver, and I thought this past one was more mild (with respect to snowfall anyway). To me, what makes it so different from the NE or Midwest (where I lived as a kid and for 5 years in my 30s) is that there are, indeed, pockets of sunny and mild weather (i.e. 50s) that come and go.

That prevalence of sunlight is what is lacking in the Pacific NW and causes so many people to have seasonal depression.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by Pacifico

On average how often do you get those 50 degree days from December thru February? Once or twice a week? Once or twice every other week? Does it happen fairly regularly or is it more of an exception to the rule sort of thing?

50 degrees is not a weekly occurrence, but 35-40 and sunny is very common and with the lack of humidity and intense sunshine it feels like 50 degrees.

We had two 1 week stretches this winter that got really cold. Outside of that it was quite pleasant.

[davebarnes]

December 2013
Denver Month Weather - AccuWeather Forecast for CO 80203
12 days with a high OVER 50° F

January 2014 data
Denver January Weather 2014 - AccuWeather Forecast for CO 80203
12 days with a high OVER 50° F

February 2014
Denver Month Weather - AccuWeather Forecast for CO 80203
12 days with a high OVER 50° F

Sounds like "a weekly occurrence" to me.

P.S.
Today's Denver Post headline.
Berthoud Pass blizzard temporarily derails Ride the Rockies
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_25...s-ride-rockies

[SkyDog77]

I stand corrected.

Denver weather in a nutshell:
Dec 2 high 62
Dec 6 high 8
Dec 12 high 56

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by Pacifico

On average how often do you get those 50 degree days from December thru February? Once or twice a week? Once or twice every other week? Does it happen fairly regularly or is it more of an exception to the rule sort of thing?

I think last year was a pretty "normal" winter. Here are the stats from the Weather Underground for Broomfield (Louisville)

December: 14 days > 50 including 3 above 60
January: 12 days > 50, 3 > 60
February: 11 days > 50, 5 > 60
Weather History for Broomfield, CO | Weather Underground

Some of the days come in groups, sometimes it's just a random day. Take a look at those calendars I linked.

ETA: I just saw Dave's stats for Denver, very similar

[denverian]

Originally Posted by KaaBoom

Get ready for the fireworks. Yes, Denver's "mild" winters are exactly like Seattle's "mild" rainy season.

Average 57.5 inches of snowfall spread over nine months. With low temperatures around 0 °F (records as low as −29 °F). Enough said.

Spread over 7 months (at worst) would be more accurate. Even with the late snow last month, the first to last snow for the season was less than 7 months. Yes, we all know it snowed in June back in 1492 in Denver. It's NOT the norm.