Why is California so warm for its latitude?

CA is cool in the North because of the Pacific ocean currents drifting down from Alaska. Being on the West of the continent, California enjoys all that warm tropical air that blows East across the Pacific.

Why do countries on the same latitude have different climates?

Places at the same latitude may have very different climates if one is on a coast and one is inland. On the coast, the climate is influenced by warm moist air from the ocean. Farther inland, the climate is influenced by cold or hot air from the land. This air may be dry, because it comes from over land.

Where can you find the hottest temperatures in California?

Death Valley
A Place of Many Weather Records The hottest air temperature ever recorded in Death Valley (Furnace Creek) was 134°F (57°C) on July 10, 1913. During the heat wave that peaked with that record, five consecutive days reached 129° F (54°C) or above. Death Valley holds the record for the hottest place on earth.

Is California Hot or cold?

Weather & Seasons Much of California has a Mediterranean-like climate with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. On the coast, the average daily high temperature hovers around 70°F and up, but can occasionally spike to 80°F or more on hottest summer days; freezing temperatures are rare, even in winter.

Why do coastal cities tend to have more moderate climates in cities in the middle of continents?

Water has a higher heat capacity than soil and rock, so the ocean takes much longer to heat and to cool than the land. Coastal areas will generally have more moderate temperatures than inland areas because of the heat capacity of the ocean.

Why do different places have different temperatures?

There are differences in climate around the world because of differing amounts of radiation received from the Sun at different parts of the Earth at different times of the year. More heat from the Sun is received near the equator than near the north and south poles where the angle of the Sun’s rays is lower.

Why are some states hotter than others?

Many factors, such as elevation, ocean currents, distance from the sea, and prevailing winds, can affect the climate of an area. The latitude of an area indicates how far it is — north or south — of the equator. Latitude affects climate because it is related to the length and intensity of sunlight an area receives.

Why does California have better weather than other states?

Okay, all the other responders talked only about temperature without ever mentioning all the real reasons California has better weather: (1) California doesn’t get much humidity…. and it they does, it’s in the milder areas of the state.

Why does California have a Mediterranean-style climate?

It’s because the central-to-southern coast of California has a generally Mediterranean-style climate, due to the drier nature of the U.S. west of the 100th parallel and the influence of the Pacific Ocean.

Why do the Canary Islands have a warmer climate than California?

For this reason they enjoy a warmer climate than any place in California. Actually, the Canary Islands have a dry tropical climate, and although in terms of rainfall the climate of the archipelago is very similar to Southern California, in terms of temperatures the Canary Islands are rather similar to the warmer and sunnier state of Florida.

Why is California so hot even at 70 degrees?

But even at 70, the ocean is a GIGANTIC heat sink, and it absorbs solar and atmospheric heat that would otherwise make California as hot as many other places of similar latitude.