Observing_the_ocean - - Integration and Application Network

Click on the Gulf Stream

The Gulf Stream is a strong, fast moving current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico. It carries warm water up along the eastern coast of Florida and flows offshore of the United States until it turns eastward off the coast of North Carolina. This current moderates the climate of many cities along the east coast.

Portland: Summers are warm with infrequent rainfall. Most of Maine’s precipitation arrives in the form of snow during the long cold winters. The climate in this region is considered to be continental, which means that summers are generally hot and winters usually feel very cold.
Average July High Temperature: 78.8°F
Average January High Temperature: 30.9°F

Charleston: Summer brings heat and humidity, which is briefly broken by afternoon thundershowers. Winter is short and mild, and snow is very rare.
Average July High Temperature: 90°F
Average January High Temperature: 60°F

Miami: Hot and humid summers are typical while winters are non-existent: the winter months are warm and dry. This city enjoys a tropical monsoon climate.
Average July High Temperature: 91°F
Average January High Temperature: 76°F

Seattle: Cool summers punctuated with frequent cloudy days and rain. Winters are mild and rainy and snow is infrequent, despite this city's northern location.
Average July High Temperature: 75°F
Average January High Temperature: 45.8°F

San Francisco: Cool summers and mild, while wet winters are typical. Cool currents in the Pacific Ocean moderate climate and results in very little seasonal variation.
Average July High Temperature: 66°F
Average January High Temperature: 56°F

Minneapolis: Summers are warm and humid. Winters are cold - in fact this is the coldest large city in the continental United States. While winters are relatively dry what snow does fall remains until spring warms the region in March.
Average July High Temperature: 84°F
Average January High Temperature: 21°F

Wichita: Hot, humid summers transition into cold, dry winters. This region is particularly vulnerable to severe weather such as thunderstorms, hail and tornadoes as warm air masses cross the Great Plains.
Average July High Temperature: 87.1°F
Average January High Temperature: 40.1°F

Dallas: Hot humid summers are frequently made even hotter by dry inland winds that frequently send the temperature well over 100°F. Winters are filled with clear sunny days that are mild.
Average July High Temperature: 96°F
Average January High Temperature: 55°F

Pittsburgh: This city sits on the northernmost boundary of the humid subtropical zone. Rain is abundant year round, and winters feature lots of snow. Summers are hot and humid.
Average July High Temperature: 83°F
Average January High Temperature: 35°F

Ocean City: The discomfort of hot, humid summers is dampened constant cool breezes blowing off the Atlantic Ocean which guarantees the temperature here is a few degrees cooler than inland. Winters are mild and wet. Most precipitation during winter is as rain, rather than snow.
Average July High Temperature: 84°F
Average January High Temperature: 44°F