Weather & Climate Data

Understanding Climate Data

Climate data helps you understand what to expect from the weather in any city before you visit or relocate. At AreaConnect, we use 30-year climate normals from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide accurate averages for temperature, precipitation, and sunshine across every major US city.

The number of sunny days per year is one of the most popular metrics for people considering a move. Cities in the Southwest like Phoenix and Las Vegas average over 290 sunny days per year, while cities in the Pacific Northwest like Seattle and Portland average closer to 150. This difference can significantly impact quality of life, outdoor activities, and even mental health.

US Climate Zones

The United States spans multiple climate zones, from tropical in Hawaii and South Florida to arctic conditions in northern Alaska. Most of the continental US falls into one of four major climate types: humid subtropical across the Southeast and mid-Atlantic, humid continental in the Midwest and Northeast, semi-arid across the Great Plains and interior West, and Mediterranean along the California coast. Understanding which climate zone a city falls in gives you a quick sense of what the weather feels like year-round.

Weather vs. Climate: What's the Difference?

Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions — what it's doing outside right now. Climate refers to long-term patterns averaged over decades. When you're choosing where to live, climate data is far more useful than any single weather forecast because it tells you what to expect across an entire year, including seasonal extremes and averages.