Weather in United States of America
The climate is mostly temperate, but with some notable exceptions: Hawaii and Southern Florida have a tropical climate, while Alaska has Arctic tundra. The Great Plains in the Mid West dry, flat and grassy, turning into arid desert in the far West and Mediterranean along the California coast.
In winter time, the northern and mid-western major cities can see heavy snow fall, as much as 2 feet (61 cm) can fall in a single day and temperatures can plummet.. Summers are humid, but mild. Temperatures regularly reach over 100°F (38°C) during the Midwest and Great Plains summer. Some areas in the northern plains can experience cold temperatures of -30°F (-34°C) in winter. Temperatures below 0°F (-18°C) sometimes reach as far south as Oklahoma.
Southern climate is also variable. In summer, it is hot and humid, but from October through April the weather can range from 60°F (15°C) to cold snaps of around 20°F (-7°C).
The Great Plains and Midwestern states also have a tornado season ranging from late spring to early fall, earlier in the south and later in the north. States along the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico risk hurricanes between June and November. These intense and dangerous storms frequently miss the the U.S. mainland, but evacuations are often ordered and should be heeded.
The Rocky Mountains are cold and snowy in winter and some parts of the Rockies see more than 500 inches (1.2 m) of snow in a season. Even during the summer, temperatures are cool in the mountains, and snow can fall nearly year-round.
The Southwest's desert climate is hot and dry during the summer, with temperatures often exceeding 100°F (38°C). Thunderstorms are very frequent from July through September. Winters are mild, and snow is unusual. Average annual rainfall is low, usually less than 10 inches (25 cm).
Cool and damp weather is common in the Northwest (the states of Washington and Oregon mainly). Rain is most frequent in winter, although snow is rare, especially along the coast. Extreme temperatures and weather are uncommon. Rain falls almost exclusively from late fall through early spring along the coast.
Northeast cities are known for summers with temperatures reaching into the 90s or more, with extremely high humidity, usually 80%. This can be a drastic change from the Southwest. High humidity means that the temperature can feel up to 20 degrees hotter than actual readings. The Northeast also gets plenty of rain and snow.
