Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I agree with you, North America is warmer in winter latitude for latitude.
I think tom77falcons argument that NA is "colder" than China is record coldest temps
are lower. For example, Tallahassee, Florida at 30N has a record cold temp of -19C / -1F.
Less winter stability from eastern seaboard to the Rockies, west of the Rockies winter temps are more stable.
Hence no growing commercial citrus north of Florida.
No question North America winter average winter temps are warmer,
Shanghai is at 31N and struggles with a 8C average jan high, Brunswick, Georgia USA it's more like 18C,
huge difference! Homestead, just south of Miami has an average jan high of almost 26C,
Homstead is at 26N, nowhere at that latitude in China comes close.
Simple, more continental.
East Asia is considerably cooler and drier to anywhere else in similar latitudes, even on the eastern facades. This is due to Siberia High.
North America has similarities in extreme heat and cold, but is clearly smaller for any comparison.
This doesn't take elevation into account, but it gives you an idea of what's not warm, what's subtropical, and what's more like tropical:
You forgot coastal California and southeastern California...
Anyways, I think Trewartha probably has a better definition of subtropical than Koppen, except places under 36F in winter shouldn't be subtropical even then and those over 50F in winter should be semi-tropical. The former can't sustain palms long-term, and the latter can support tree-growth year-round. Also, while Koppen's a and b is a good idea of hot/mild summers in terms of upper limits for heat tolerance, Trewartha's 8 months over 50F is better for some plants in terms of minimum growing season requirements (Koppen's mean annual temperature of 64.4F is also a good indicator for California Fan Palms).
New York City, Philadelphia, Louisville, Evansville, Wichita = mesothermal, NOT subtropical
Clarksville, Annapolis, Johnson City = mesothermal, NOT subtropical
District of Columbia, Roanoke, Cookeville, Arlington Va. = mesothermal, NOT subtropical
Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington Tex., Charleston S.C., Savannah = hot four-season climates, solidly Deep South
Houston, Mobile = straddles solidly Deep South and marginally semi-tropical
Austin, San Antonio, Panama City Fla., Baton Rouge, Jacksonville, New Orleans = marginally semi-tropical
Orlando, Corpus Christi, Tampa, Brownsville = solidly semi-tropical
Lol what? Charleston and Savannah have quite warmer winters than DFW. Houston is far warmer than Mobile. Houston is also warmer than Austin, San Antonio, Panama City, and Baton Rouge. Houston falls into the same tier with New Orleans and Jacksonville, this trio is noticeably warmer than the other cities previously mentioned.
Lol what? Charleston and Savannah have quite warmer winters than DFW. Houston is far warmer than Mobile. Houston is also warmer than Austin, San Antonio, Panama City, and Baton Rouge. Houston falls into the same tier with New Orleans and Jacksonville, this trio is noticeably warmer than the other cities previously mentioned.
I went by winter averages, not cold snaps nor summer averages. Also, Houston has two weather stations, one of which has a winter mean under 50F and the other over.
EDIT: I forgot to add, that trio is still closer to fitting in where I put them than they are to being as warm as those in the final group.
Last edited by Sun Belt-lover L.A.M.; 04-10-2020 at 02:50 AM..
I went by winter averages, not cold snaps nor summer averages. Also, Houston has two weather stations, one of which has a winter mean under 50F and the other over.
EDIT: I forgot to add, that trio is still closer to fitting in where I put them than they are to being as warm as those in the final group.
You must be looking at some fake data
January mean temps straight from NOAA 1981-2010 normals for both major stations:
Houston is semi-tropical, and we all know it. Now, once you get “north” of Houston, Harris County, it changes. The Woodlands is not the same as Pearland.
William P. Hobby Airport says 49.6F. George Bush Intercontinental Airport says 53.1F.
Wrong wrong wrong. Even the northernmost part of the metro area, Conroe ~40 miles north of Houston, averages 50.7F in January. The southeasternmost part, Galveston, averages 55.2F. It's just laughable to group Houston with Mobile and put it in a lower tier than Austin, San Antonio, Baton Rouge, and Panama City. Stay off wikipedia!
This doesn't take elevation into account, but it gives you an idea of what's not warm, what's subtropical, and what's more like tropical:
I just want to point out that much of what you labeled subtropical has colder winters than the west coast of Canada.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
