Why is Tallahassee, Florida much colder than Haifa, Israel?

[seriously disabled]

Why is Tallahassee, Florida much colder than Haifa, Israel although Haifa is in an higher latitude (closer to the north pole) than Tallahassee?

 

Tallhassee is in latitude 30° 30' and Haifa is in latitude 32° 50' but still Tallhassee is much cooler than Haifa in winter. In December and January, the average high temperature in Tallhassee is 64 °F (18 °C) and the average low is 42 °F (6 °C). On occasion, temperatures fall into the 20s and 10s at night, and temperatures in the single digits have been recorded. Tallahassee recorded the state's lowest temperature of -2 °F (-20 °C), on February 13, 1899. Over the last 100 years, the city has also recorded several snowfalls; the heaviest was 2.8 inches on February 13, 1958. Historically, the city usually records at least observed flurries every three to four years, but on average, measurable amounts of snow (1" or more) occur only every 16 years.

 

In Haifa in winter it is rare for temperature to reach 0°C and snow is also very rare.

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

I'd guess that Haifa's proximity to water keeps it more temperate because of the water's effect in moderating temperatures: warm water in the Mediterranean keeps Haifa warm, and water takes a long time to cool down in winter, so the Med likely stays relatively warm throughout the winter.

[seriously disabled]

The problem with this theory is that Tallahassee is very much close to the Atlantic ocean too and especially to the warm water of the Gulf of Mexico.

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

I suppose it also depends on wind direction. If the primary wind in Tallahassee comes from the north, it doesn't matter how warm the Gulf is -- it'll still be cold air coming in.

 

I'd have to know more about their weather patterns to really know, though.

[seriously disabled]

Maybe the answer is that Tallahassee is in a humid subtropical climate while Haifa is in a mediterranean climate. These climates are obviously very different.

 

Britannica delves more into thehumid subtropical climate but I don't have access to the full article.

Edited December 17, 2009 by Uri

[PAL/SECAM]

Why is Tallahassee, Florida much colder than Haifa, Israel although Haifa is in an higher latitude (closer to the north pole) than Tallahassee?

 

it isn't much colder at all, from Wikipedia:

Tallahassee - "In December and January, the average high temperature is 64 °F (18°C) and the average low is 42°F (6°C)...The average summertime high temperature is 92 °F(32 °C)"

Haifa - "The average temperature in summer is 26 °C (79 °F) and in winter, 12 °C (54 °F)."

 

in winter average temperature is lower and in summer average temperature is higher in Tallahassee than in Haifa !

 

partly right answer was given by Cap'n Refsmmat - climate of Haifa is more moderate because of influence of the sea

 

The problem with this theory is that Tallahassee is very much close to the Atlantic ocean too

but Haifa lies exactly at the seaside, and Tallahassee tens kilometers from a sea Edited December 19, 2009 by PAL/SECAM