>>2413792>latitude equals climateCommon misconception. And the US defies that logic even more. States like Arizona, California, and Nevada hit 50C every single summer in certain locations and also hit -30C every single winter in other spots, both also have locations that get an annual average precipitation of just 3" (76mm) or less and also have locations that average 30-40" (762-1016mm+; Hawley Lake and San Francisco Peaks along with 6 other separate locations in AZ, Mt Rose in NV, most of the Sierra north coast and north in CA; CA's max average is over 100") or more of annual precipitation all within a single state. Every US state has a record high of 100F (37.8C) or higher and 28 US states have a record low of -40F (-40C) or below.
Stats for just the western US (unless noted otherwise)
Highest air temp - 134F (56.6C) CA
Highest Humidex - 135F (57.2C) AZ
Coldest air temp
- contiguous US - -80F (-62.2C) AK
- lower 48 - -70F (-56.6C) MT
- coldest *average* yearly extreme low temperature contiguous US - below -55F (-48.3C) AK
- coldest *average* yearly extreme low temperature *all US states* in the lower 48 US - -40F (-40C) or colder - MT, ID, WY, CO, ND, MN, WI. (close, -35F [-37.2C]) - NY, VT, NH, ME, MI, SD, NV, UT. 11 more states can be included if using a temp of -20F (-29C) - AZ, NM, CA, OR, WA, IA, NE, IL, WV, PA, MA. ie. half the US (26 states) hit -29C or colder every winter in an average winter.
Highest *average* precipitation
- contiguous US - 225" (5715mm) AK
- lower 48 US - 137" (3480mm) WA
- entire US - 460" (11680mm) HI
Highest *average* annual snowfall
- lower 48 - 670" (1702cm) WA
- states with an annual avg snowfall over 400" (1016cm) - WA, OR, AK, UT, CA, CO.
- states with an *alltime record season* *all US states* snowfall over 400" (1016cm) - WA, OR, AK, UT, CA, CO, NM, AZ, NV, ID, MT, WY, SD, NH, and NY. (close but not quite there, upper peninsula MI w/ 392")
Lowest *average* annual precipitation
- 1.60" (40.64mm) CA
