California and its many microclimates
While the Golden State's climate is usually mild in winter and hot in summer, the intricacies of its valleys give rise to numerous microclimates:
Los Angeles enjoys rather pleasant weather conditions: a hot, dry summer, followed by a mild winter. It's never too cold, but sometimes too hot, when the sun beats down hard on the burning tarmac of the freeways, through the cloud of pollution. The atmosphere can become oppressive and unhealthy, especially as the city is surrounded by mountains that form a bowl preventing the air from renewing itself. Fortunately, the coast makes the situation more livable.
Ventilated, San Diego enjoys a cooler climate than the City of Angels in summer - despite being 200 kilometers to the south.
In the middle of the desert, Palm Springs offers a cool oasis in winter, sheltered from the sun by the San Jacinto peak. Although very hot in summer, temperatures remain bearable.
San Francisco presents a climatic paradox: it can be bitterly cold in any season - even August - as soon as the wind blows. Conversely, record-breaking temperatures can occur, as in April 2016. The cause of these variations: the configuration of the peninsula in the bay. Elsewhere, the temperature is a few degrees higher and the wind is less strong.
Deserts are naturally very hot in summer, so much so that it's advisable to be particularly vigilant. For example, you should never embark on a solo expedition without taking all the necessary precautions, especially with regard to water.
The ocean is absolutely icy, whatever the season! So, despite its hundreds of miles of beaches, California is not the ideal destination for sea bathing. For example, located on an island north of San Francisco, the notorious Alcatraz prison relied on the cold waters to deter prisoners from any thoughts of escape.
California in the grip of devastating fires
Synonymous with an unbearable increase in aridity for nature, climate change is clearly impacting the Golden State. In 2015, the state is facing the worst drought in its history: as early as January, scientists indicate that water reserves will not be sufficient. In April, Governor Jerry Brown was forced to implement a 25% water reduction measure. With fears of devastating fires and increased pollution, some politicians even talked about drawing resources from Canadian lakes.
It would take two years, in April 2017, for the governor of California to announce the end of five years of drought. A hasty conclusion, very quickly called into question: the entire American West will be devastated by about thirty fires three months later. In October, the Golden State was prey to a new series of fires. More than 40 people died and hundreds were missing, while more than 80,000 hectares of forest and more than 3,500 buildings were destroyed. The wine regions north of San Francisco were particularly affected, prompting Donald Trump to declare a state of natural disaster.
Nevertheless, the worst is yet to come. July 2018 marks the beginning of a terrible wildfire season. It will reach its peak with Camp Fire, the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history, with 85 deaths, 62,053 hectares decimated and the town of Paradise - 140 km north of Sacramento - ravaged. It will be totally extinguished on November 25, after starting on the 8th. More recently, there is the Dixie Fire, which destroyed more than 389,837 hectares of the northern part of the state between July 13 and October 25, 2021. To date, it ranks second on the sad podium of largest fires in recent Golden State history.
Arizona, frequent scene of heat waves
With vast spaces and wide variations in elevation, it is also difficult to generalize about Arizona's weather. In low-lying areas, such as Phoenix and Tucson, the climate is desert-like with mild winters and extremely hot summers - too hot. In June, temperatures can rise to 45°C in the state capital, making life impossible for residents. Such was the case in 2017, when a heat wave paralyzed the city: dozens of flights were canceled, street furniture melted under insane temperatures approaching 50 °C, and city dwellers flooded Instagram with photos showing cookies baking in car interiors. Similarly, 145 days marked by temperatures exceeding the symbolic threshold of 37.8 °C were recorded in 2020. On the other hand, from autumn to spring, the average temperature is around 24°C.
The climate of the Grand Canyon differs from that of the plains because of the altitude. Winters are cold and dry, with frequent snowfall and nighttime temperatures near freezing. Due to the small number of visitors and incredible brightness, this is one of the best times for observation. Not surprisingly, summers are hot and dry, and the temperature rises a few degrees at the bottom of the canyon.
Nevada's arid climate
Marked by its altitude and continental nature, Nevada is the driest state in the country. While the southern part of the territory and Las Vegas have extremely hot summers and mild winters, the altitude of the snow-capped mountains in the north leads to cold winters with frequent precipitation and snowfall. This is especially true in the Lake Tahoe region and east of the Sierra Nevada, where the summer is pleasant, with an average temperature in Reno of 23°C in July.
Utah, a land of four seasons
Because of its varied terrain, Utah has four different seasons... at the same time. It has a fairly temperate climate, with more desert and arid regions, but the northern cities have temperatures ranging from 3°C in January to 33°C in July. On the other hand, in the southwest and in the Saint George area - close to Bryce National Park - temperatures are higher by 5 to 10 °C.
