Sunday, March 2, 2014

Have You Had Enough of Winter? Here's When It Will Heat Up in Your City

By: By Nick Wiltgen
Published: March 2, 2014

Northeast: Boston & New York

New York City
Photodisc
The Manhattan skyline as viewed from Central Park.
If you live east of the Rockies and north of Florida, you've probably had enough of this winter's seemingly endless parade of arctic blasts and snow and ice storms.
(MORE: List of 2013-14 Winter Storms)
You're probably waiting impatiently for some warmer weather to arrive. To give you an idea of how much longer your wait might be, we've taken a look at historical data to give you an idea of when you typically see your first 80- and 90-degree weather of the year.
Note that we use "median" dates instead of "average" dates for the past 10 years (2004-2013); for example, the median date of the first 80-degree day tells you that 5 of the last 10 years reached the 80s before that date, and 5 of the last 10 years waited until after that median date for the first 80-degree temperature.
(MORE: Weather History Data at Weather Underground)
We start in the Northeast, where you typically wait until April for the first 80s and June for the first 90s. However, as recently as 2010, 90-degree weather reached Boston and New York City during the first week of April, the earliest on record.
You'll notice that in the past 10 years, the first 80s have reached the Big Apple like clockwork in a narrow window between April 7 and April 25.
Boston:
Earliest 80º high on record: March 21, 1921
Earliest 80º high (2004-2013): March 22, 2012
Longest wait for an 80º high (2004-2013): May 24, 2011
Median date of first 80º high (2004-2013): April 23
First 80º high of 2013: May 16
Earliest 90º high on record: April 7, 2010
Earliest 90º high (2004-2013): April 7, 2010
Longest wait for a 90º high (2004-2013): June 20, 2012
Median date of first 90º high (2004-2013): June 8
First 90º high of 2013: May 30
New York:
Earliest 80º high on record: March 13, 1990
Earliest 80º high (2004-2013): April 7, 2010
Longest wait for an 80º high (2004-2013): April 25, 2009
Median date of first 80º high (2004-2013): April 17
First 80º high of 2013: April 9
Earliest 90º high on record: April 7, 2010
Earliest 90º high (2004-2013): April 7, 2010
Longest wait for a 90º high (2004-2013): June 20, 2012
Median date of first 90º high (2004-2013): June 4
First 90º high of 2013: May 30
Next, we head south down Interstate 95.

Mid-Atlantic: Philadelphia & Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.
Photodisc
Cherry blossoms and the Washington Monument.
As you'd expect, in a typical year the heat starts a little earlier in the Mid-Atlantic, with the first day of 90-degree heat typically coming in late May instead of early June, though there is quite a bit of variability from one year to the next. The nation's capital reached 90 unusually early last year.
Philadelphia:
Earliest 80º high on record: March 8, 2000
Earliest 80º high (2004-2013): March 23, 2012
Longest wait for an 80º high (2004-2013): April 25, 2009
Median date of first 80º high (2004-2013): April 12
First 80º high of 2013: April 9
Earliest 90º high on record: April 7, 1929
Earliest 90º high (2004-2013): April 25, 2009
Longest wait for a 90º high (2004-2013): June 8, 2005
Median date of first 90º high (2004-2013): May 28
First 90º high of 2013: May 29
Washington, D.C.:
Earliest 80º high on record: February 25, 1930
Earliest 80º high (2004-2013): March 13, 2006 and March 13, 2012
Longest wait for an 80º high (2004-2013): April 25, 2009
Median date of first 80º high (2004-2013): April 5
First 80º high of 2013: April 8
Earliest 90º high on record: March 22, 1907
Earliest 90º high (2004-2013): April 6, 2010
Longest wait for a 90º high (2004-2013): June 8, 2005
Median date of first 90º high (2004-2013): May 26
First 90º high of 2013: April 10
Next, some surprising statistics from the Southeast.



Southeast: Atlanta & Nashville

Atlanta
Nick Wiltgen
An Atlanta neighborhood.
While you won't be shocked to find that Atlanta and Nashville have hit the 80s earlier than the big Northeastern cities, you may be quite surprised to see that Atlanta has never hit 90 degrees before April 23. Even northern cities like Boston, Chicago and Minneapolis have all seen 90-degree weather more than a week earlier than that at least once!
In fact, Atlanta, at an elevation of 1,000 feet, never got above 92 degrees in all of last year. Of all the cities on our list, only San Francisco had a cooler yearly maximum temperature in 2013. So much for "Hotlanta."
Nashville just set a record for its earliest 90-degree day on record three years ago, in 2011, but even that April 9 is not as early as the first 90s on record for the Northeast megalopolis. Who knew?
Atlanta:
Earliest 80º high on record: February 15, 1989
Earliest 80º high (2004-2013): March 9, 2009
Longest wait for an 80º high (2004-2013): May 8, 2005
Median date of first 80º high (2004-2013): March 26
First 80º high of 2013: April 8
Earliest 90º high on record: April 23, 1980
Earliest 90º high (2004-2013): April 24, 2007
Longest wait for a 90º high (2004-2013): June 15, 2005
Median date of first 90º high (2004-2013): May 28
First 90º high of 2013: June 11
Nashville:
Earliest 80º high on record: February 13, 1962
Earliest 80º high (2004-2013): March 2, 2012
Longest wait for an 80º high (2004-2013): April 10 in 2005, 2008 and 2013
Median date of first 80º high (2004-2013): March 23
First 80º high of 2013: April 10
Earliest 90º high on record: April 9, 2011
Earliest 90º high (2004-2013): April 9, 2011
Longest wait for a 90º high (2004-2013): June 11, 2013
Median date of first 90º high (2004-2013): May 30
First 90º high of 2013: June 11
Next, how fast does it heat up in Texas?



South-Central: Dallas-Fort Worth & Houston

Dallas-Fort Worth
Comstock
Downtown Dallas and the Trinity River.
In Texas, it's not uncommon to see an occasional highs in the 80s in the depths of winter, and 90s are not unheard of early in the year.
In fact, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston have already reached the 80s this year, hitting 82 and 80 respectively on Feb. 18, 2014.
In one truly freakish episode of heat on February 21, 1996, Austin hit 101 degrees and San Antonio hit 100. However, for the state's two largest metropolitan areas, 90-degree weather holds off until early May as often as not.
Dallas-Fort Worth:
Earliest 80º high on record: January 1, most recently in 2006
Earliest 80º high (2004-2013): January 1, 2006
Longest wait for an 80º high (2004-2013): March 30, 2010
Median date of first 80º high (2004-2013): February 16
First 80º high of 2013: January 29
Earliest 90º high on record: January 31, 1911
Earliest 90º high (2004-2013): March 1, 2006
Longest wait for a 90º high (2004-2013): May 20, 2004
Median date of first 90º high (2004-2013): May 6
First 90º high of 2013: May 17
Houston:
Earliest 80º high on record: January 1, most recently in 2006
Earliest 80º high (2004-2013): January 1, 2006
Longest wait for an 80º high (2004-2013): March 14, 2010
Median date of first 80º high (2004-2013): February 12
First 80º high of 2013: January 28
Earliest 90º high on record: February 20, 1986
Earliest 90º high (2004-2013): March 18, 2013
Longest wait for a 90º high (2004-2013): May 23, 2004
Median date of first 90º high (2004-2013): May 2
First 90º high of 2013: March 18
Next, we head to the Great Lakes







Great Lakes: Chicago & Detroit

Chicago
Nick Wiltgen
Part of the Chicago skyline as viewed from Lake Shore Drive.
The influence of the Great Lakes often keeps cities like Chicago and Detroit from heating up too rapidly in the spring months. Detroit has never hit 90 degrees before the first week of May, and in 2013 the 90s didn't come until a five-day heat wave arrived in mid-July.
However, given the right wind direction (southerly or southwesterly), that lake influence can be held at bay, and 80s can arrive as early as early March. If the last 10 years are any indication, Chicago and Detroit can count on an 80-degree day no later than April 30.
Chicago:
Earliest 80º high on record: March 3, 1974
Earliest 80º high (2004-2013): March 14, 2012
Longest wait for an 80º high (2004-2013): April 30, 2013
Median date of first 80º high (2004-2013): April 14
First 80º high of 2013: April 30
Earliest 90º high on record: April 10, 1930
Earliest 90º high (2004-2013): May 10, 2011
Longest wait for a 90º high (2004-2013): June 23, 2009
Median date of first 90º high (2004-2013): May 26
First 90º high of 2013: May 14
Detroit:
Earliest 80º high on record: March 8, 2000
Earliest 80º high (2004-2013): March 20, 2012
Longest wait for an 80º high (2004-2013): April 25, 2008
Median date of first 80º high (2004-2013): April 17
First 80º high of 2013: April 18
Earliest 90º high on record: May 5, 1895
Earliest 90º high (2004-2013): May 25, 2012
Longest wait for a 90º high (2004-2013): July 15, 2013
Median date of first 90º high (2004-2013): June 6
First 90º high of 2013: July 15



Have You Had Enough of Winter? Here's When It Will Heat Up in Your City
By: By Nick Wiltgen
Published: March 2, 2014

North-Central: Minneapolis-St. Paul & Kansas City

Minneapolis-St. Paul
Thinkstock
The Minneapolis skyline.
The Upper Midwest certainly has some brutal winters. But for places like the Twin Cities, being far away from any major bodies of water allows the climate to heat up quickly in the spring and summer.
You may be surprised to learn that for half of the past 10 years, Minneapolis-St. Paul has hit 90 degrees by May 21, an earlier median date than Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Nashville, and Kansas City.
Minneapolis-St. Paul:
Earliest 80º high on record: March 17, 2012
Earliest 80º high (2004-2013): March 17, 2012
Longest wait for an 80º high (2004-2013): May 25, 2008
Median date of first 80º high (2004-2013): April 18
First 80º high of 2013: April 28
Earliest 90º high on record: April 15, 2002
Earliest 90º high (2004-2013): April 28, 2004
Longest wait for a 90º high (2004-2013): June 25, 2008
Median date of first 90º high (2004-2013): May 21
First 90º high of 2013: May 14
Kansas City:
Earliest 80º high on record: February 24, 1930
Earliest 80º high (2004-2013): March 5, 2009
Longest wait for an 80º high (2004-2013): April 30, 2008
Median date of first 80º high (2004-2013): March 28
First 80º high of 2013: March 15
Earliest 90º high on record: March 21, 1907
Earliest 90º high (2004-2013): April 3, 2011
Longest wait for a 90º high (2004-2013): July 11, 2004
Median date of first 90º high (2004-2013): June 4
First 90º high of 2013: May 14
Next, we head for the mountains.




Intermountain West: Denver & Salt Lake City

Denver
Comstock
The Colorado State Capitol.
Toasty weather tends to come on quickly in the interior West. In fact, of the 20 cities on our list, Salt Lake City has the shortest time span between its typical first 80s and first 90s - just 18 days.
Just last year, that span was 3 days, as Utah's capital had its first 80-degree day on May 10, 2013, and its first 90-degree day on May 13.
Denver:
Earliest 80º high on record: March 18, 1907
Earliest 80º high (2004-2013): March 26, 2012
Longest wait for an 80º high (2004-2013): May 12, 2009
Median date of first 80º high (2004-2013): April 16
First 80º high of 2013: April 29
Earliest 90º high on record: April 30, 1992
Earliest 90º high (2004-2013): May 19, 2009
Longest wait for a 90º high (2004-2013): June 10, 2007 and June 10, 2008
Median date of first 90º high (2004-2013): May 30
First 90º high of 2013: June 3
Salt Lake City:
Earliest 80º high on record: March 31, 2012
Earliest 80º high (2004-2013): March 31, 2012
Longest wait for an 80º high (2004-2013): May 19, 2005
Median date of first 80º high (2004-2013): April 30
First 80º high of 2013: May 10
Earliest 90º high on record: May 2, 1947
Earliest 90º high (2004-2013): May 11, 2007
Longest wait for a 90º high (2004-2013): June 19, 2005 and June 19, 2010
Median date of first 90º high (2004-2013): May 18
First 90º high of 2013: May 13
Next, we check the hottest part of the country.




Have You Had Enough of Winter? Here's When It Will Heat Up in Your City
By: By Nick Wiltgen
Published: March 2, 2014

Desert Southwest: Las Vegas & Phoenix

Las Vegas
Flickr/Chad M Photography
A casino hotel on the Las Vegas Strip.
Not surprisingly, 90-degree weather typically arrives in Phoenix earlier than any other city on our list, doing so by the end of March six of the past 10 years.
And 80s are not at all unheard of in winter for the Arizona deserts; Phoenix has already had its first ten 80-degree days of 2014, starting with a high of 81 on Jan. 21, followed by nine 80-degree days in February as of Feb. 24.
Las Vegas first hit 80 this year on Feb. 16, 2014, the earliest start to 80-degree weather there in 11 years.
Las Vegas:
Earliest 80º high on record: February 1, 2003
Earliest 80º high (2004-2013): March 9, 2004 and March 9, 2005
Longest wait for an 80º high (2004-2013): April 3, 2006
Median date of first 80º high (2004-2013): March 13
First 80º high of 2013: March 13
Earliest 90º high on record: March 13, 2007
Earliest 90º high (2004-2013): March 13, 2007
Longest wait for a 90º high (2004-2013): May 4, 2005 and May 4, 2010
Median date of first 90º high (2004-2013): April 20
First 90º high of 2013: April 21
Phoenix:
Earliest 80º high on record: January 1, most recently in 2012
Earliest 80º high (2004-2013): January 1, 2012
Longest wait for an 80º high (2004-2013): March 16, 2010
Median date of first 80º high (2004-2013): January 29
First 80º high of 2013: January 22
Earliest 90º high on record: February 24, most recently in 1986
Earliest 90º high (2004-2013): March 9, 2004
Longest wait for a 90º high (2004-2013): April 15, 2010
Median date of first 90º high (2004-2013): March 26
First 90º high of 2013: March 14
Next, California isn't as predictable as you might expect.





California: San Francisco & Los Angeles

Los Angeles
Medioimages/Photodisc
The Los Angeles skyline.
Nobody really thinks of Los Angeles climate as being highly variable, but downtown L.A. has seen its first 90-degree day range from early March to late July -- and that's just in the past 10 years.
However, the City of Angels regularly hits the 80s in the first half of January. Only three of the past 10 full years (2004-13) have not had an 80-degree high before January 15. This year, 2014, is off to the races with nine 80-degree days in January alone, including a high of 81 as early as Jan. 2.
San Francisco is another story; three of the past 10 years (2005, 2007, and 2013) have had no 90-degree days at all, and 80s have never been officially recorded in the City by the Bay in January or February.
Los Angeles (Downtown):
Earliest 80º high on record: January 1, most recently in 2012
Earliest 80º high (2004-2013): January 1, 2012
Longest wait for an 80º high (2004-2013): February 9, 2008
Median date of first 80º high (2004-2013): January 11
First 80º high of 2013: January 20
Earliest 90º high on record: January 8, 1923
Earliest 90º high (2004-2013): March 8, 2004
Longest wait for a 90º high (2004-2013): July 20, 2005
Median date of first 90º high (2004-2013): April 26
First 90º high of 2013: May 3
San Francisco (SFO Airport):
Earliest 80º high on record: March 3, 1959
Earliest 80º high (2004-2013): March 15, 2004
Longest wait for an 80º high (2004-2013): July 23, 2005
Median date of first 80º high (2004-2013): April 20
First 80º high of 2013: April 10
Earliest 90º high on record: April 8, 1989
Earliest 90º high (2004-2013): April 20, 2009
Longest wait for a 90º high (2004-2013): October 1, 2012; but 2005, 2007, and 2013 had none at all
Median date of first 90º high (2004-2013): June 20 (for the 7 years with at least one 90-degree high)
First 90º high of 2013: None; highest temperature was 89 on May 2
Finally, when do clammy winters give way to heat in the Northwest?







Pacific Northwest: Seattle & Portland

Seattle
Nick Wiltgen
The Space Needle in Seattle.
Like San Francisco, Seattle has not always hit 90 degrees in recent years, missing the mark in two of the last 10. Seattle is also the city with the latest median arrival of 80-degree weather on our list, at May 21, and is the only one of our 20 cities that has never reached 80 before April 1.
As you might expect, Portland sees earlier dates for virtually all measures of heat thanks to its more southerly latitude and slightly more inland location.
Seattle:
Earliest 80º high on record: April 1, 1987
Earliest 80º high (2004-2013): April 11, 2004
Longest wait for an 80º high (2004-2013): July 7, 2010
Median date of first 80º high (2004-2013): May 21
First 80º high of 2013: May 5
Earliest 90º high on record: May 17, 2008
Earliest 90º high (2004-2013): May 17, 2008
Longest wait for a 90º high (2004-2013): August 4, 2012; but 2005 and 2011 had none at all
Median date of first 90º high (2004-2013): July 3 (for the 8 years with at least one 90-degree high)
First 90º high of 2013: June 30
Portland:
Earliest 80º high on record: March 16, 1947
Earliest 80º high (2004-2013): April 11, 2004
Longest wait for an 80º high (2004-2013): June 12, 2010
Median date of first 80º high (2004-2013): May 5
First 80º high of 2013: May 4
Earliest 90º high on record: April 30, 1998
Earliest 90º high (2004-2013): May 15, 2006
Longest wait for a 90º high (2004-2013): August 4, 2012
Median date of first 90º high (2004-2013): June 10
First 80º high of 2013: June 28
MORE: Scenes from the First Day of Spring, 2013

Badamwari, Kashmir

Badamwari, Kashmir
Getty Images
Kashmiri park-goers walk past blooming almond orchards as spring arrives at Badamwari in Srinagar on March 18, 2013. Spring has arrived in Indian-administered Kashmir, which marks a thawing of the lean season for tourism in the Himalayan region. (TAUSEEF MUSTAFA/AFP/Getty Images)






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