Weather in the USA

The climate and weather in the United States cover a vast region, stretching across nine time zones from east to west. It’s therefore no surprise that the country has diverse climatic conditions, from arctic regions to hot deserts.

California, on the West Coast of the US, has a pleasant, Mediterranean climate, while the Pacific Northwest experiences a maritime climate, with cooler summers and mild winters influenced by westerly winds.

The central part of the US has extreme temperature variations and a continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers. The eastern central US tends to be more humid, while the western central US is semi-arid.

The east side of the country has a continental climate caused by air masses moving from west to east, with hot summers and tornado activity that has shifted eastward from the traditional Great Plains into southeastern regions. Florida has the warmest winters on the eastern seaboard.

Elevation has a huge impact on temperature and precipitation, and temperatures decrease by about 3 to 4°F (about 2°C) for every 1,000 feet (300m) of elevation. Denver is above 5,200 feet (1,600m) above sea level, and it experiences much cooler temperatures than lower-altitude cities. The rain shadow effect also affects rainfall, as seen in Nevada, where western slopes capture moisture while eastern areas are arid.

Humidity shouldn’t be ignored either. Southeastern states like Florida and Louisiana have morning humidity levels that can reach 90 percent, making for oppressive summer heat, and southwestern states like Arizona and Nevada have much lower humidity at 25 to 40 percent. Coastal areas typically see higher humidity year-round.