I moved to get away from the cold

by Sparky
(Wpg tor NYC )

I was raised in Winnipeg I decided to leave as soon as I could. At 25 I moved to Toronto. Much better weather in Toronto One can even grow a variety of plants.

At age 40, I moved to NYC. Now I can grow flowers right up until December (winter pansies). In March, I can start to grow primroses or pansies.

I have not had minus 20 since I left Canada. Yeah. It is not as cold in Canada as it was in the 1960's. But it is still old. It is also very expensive to fly away from Canada for a winter escape. However the free medical is nice when it's available.

Barry's Response - Is that icy sidewalk going to come with a hospital stay? It's a freebie.
Sparks, thanks for the story.

You've probably heard of plant hardiness zones. Depending on the climate, each one can grow certain kinds of plants. Plant hardiness is compared to minimum annual temperatures.

How do the zones work? The latitude - Most of Canada has a smaller variety of plants than most of the US.

The elevation of your garden - Mountains are cooler than adjacent lowlands

Continentality - Places further inland experience wider variations in temperature from season to season than similar places closer to the coast.

I'm sure you can guess which two affect Winnipeg the most...latitude and continental climate. Here is a hardiness zone map for the US. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/2012_USDA_Plant_Hardiness_Zone_Map_%28USA%29.jpg

Higher numbers, 10 and above, point towards more tropical locations. New york looks to be about a 7, while Winnipeg and TO, not shown, could be 3 and 7 respectively.

Search this site for more information now.

The climates of New York City (NYC) and Winnipeg differ significantly because of their geographic locations and regional climate patterns.

While both cities have distinct climates, they are influenced by latitude, proximity to water, and regional climate patterns. These differences help us understand the unique challenges and opportunities each city faces.

In the northeastern United States, New York City has a humid subtropical climate. Summers are hot and humid, with temperatures reaching the 80s and 90s Fahrenheit (mid-20s to mid-30s Celsius). With temperatures ranging from the 30s to 40s Fahrenheit (around 0 to 5 degrees Celsius), winters are usually cold but not as bad as in more northern regions.

Winnipeg, in central Canada, has a continental climate. Winters are long and cold, and summers are short and warm. Temperatures often drop below freezing in winter and remain there for weeks, with lows in the -10s to -20s Fahrenheit (around -20 to -30 degrees Celsius). The summers are short and much warmer, with average highs in the 70s to 80s Fahrenheit (around 20 to 30 degrees Celsius).

Note that climate change could affect both cities. In New York City, rising temperatures can lead to more heatwaves and extreme weather events, while in Winnipeg, they can affect (probably mitigate) cold spells. In order to understand the potential consequences for each region, we shall continue to monitor and study these changes.