US - United States of America

When to go:

The climate is mainly temperate with some crazy exceptions. Alaska is an Arctic state; while Hawaii, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and Florida are tropical. The western half of the country is covered by plains and mountains. The Great Plains are arid, flat and grassy and become an arid desert moving further west with even deep canyons. As with any place, if you plan to visit the United States, it is better to know the climate and bring appropriate clothing.

Seasons can vary dramatically in some regions, including cities in the north and midwest. During the winter, cities like New York, Chicago, or Boston experience heavy snow and cold temperatures. Summers however are hot with some very humid days. Sometimes temperatures above 38 ° C cover the entire Midwest and the Great Plains. Some areas of the northern plains can reach dangerously cold temperatures (-30 ° C) during the winter. Sometimes cold temperatures reach even more southerly areas like Kansas or even Oklahoma.

The Great Plains and the Midwest are also the areas of tornadoes from late spring until early autumn. If you plan to visit an area in these areas, be careful to follow the weather forecast and keep an eye on the sky for threatening clouds. In many areas there are alarm sirens and when they sound they indicate a tornado nearby and essentially tell you to seek refuge.

The climate of the Southeast states is hot and humid during the summer, while winter is generally clear with pleasant temperatures that make outdoor activities very suitable. Autumn, on the other hand, is an explosion of colors. The best time here is from October to April, when the weather is splendid and there are fewer insects. In this region, especially along the Atlantic coast, hurricanes can occur, particularly during the summer. Few of these affect the inner regions, but if they are announced, don’t take it lightly. In fact, entire areas are often evacuated.

The Rocky Mountains are cold and snowy and in some locations 1,200 cm of snow falls in a single season. Some world famous ski resorts are located in Colorado and Utah. Even during the summer it can snow, so much so that in some areas it snows practically all year round.

In the intermontana zone and in the Great Basin between Oregon and Washington State, temperatures often drop to -18 ° C in winter and rise to 38 ° C in summer.

The deserts of the southwest are arid and torrid with temperatures well over 40 ° C even in cities like Las Vegas and Phoenix. From July to September, thunderstorms are frequent, even severe, due to the summer monsoon rising from Mexico. Winters are mild and snow is rare.

Cold and humid weather is common in the northwestern area such as Seattle or Portland. Rain is more frequent in winter and snow along the coast is rare. In Washington State, rain falls practically throughout the year, while in other areas it is more frequent from autumn to spring.

The reservoir of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers marks an ideal border between east and west and crosses the country from north to south to the Gulf of Mexico.