What state has the worst weather in the U.S.

[Dough4872]

I wonder what state in the U.S. has the worst overall weather. Personally I feel it's somewhere in the Northeast US since you get plenty of heat, cold, rain, and snow.

[Max Rockatansky]

That's a subjective measure.  For example, lots of the retiree crowd likes the warmer weather in Florida (particularly in the winter).  Me personally, I couldn't stand the constant humidity and general muggy atmosphere when I lived there.  I'll gladly take a semi-arid or desert climate over something like the Southeast.

[Rothman]

Indiana

[epzik8]

This year, it seems the answer is Illinois.

[ZLoth]

"Worst weather" is going to be a very subjective opinion, and is going to be accompanied by the opinion as to how the area is equipped to handle the bad weather. Population density will also play a factor since the western half of the continental United States has only about 20% of the population while the eastern half has 80%. There is also the part about handling the expected bad weather verses the rare occurrence.

Also, do you consider earthquakes or it's partner, tsunamis, part of weather?

[jgb191]

Alaska -- that's the one state you'll never see me going to anytime of the year.

[Dough4872]

That's a subjective measure.  For example, lots of the retiree crowd likes the warmer weather in Florida (particularly in the winter).  Me personally, I couldn't stand the constant humidity and general muggy atmosphere when I lived there.  I'll gladly take a semi-arid or desert climate over something like the Southeast.

Oh I love Florida, especially in the winter when the north is cold. Miami in January really felt good compared to the cold and snow Pennsylvania was getting

[Max Rockatansky]

That's a subjective measure.  For example, lots of the retiree crowd likes the warmer weather in Florida (particularly in the winter).  Me personally, I couldn't stand the constant humidity and general muggy atmosphere when I lived there.  I'll gladly take a semi-arid or desert climate over something like the Southeast.

Oh I love Florida, especially in the winter when the north is cold. Miami in January really felt good compared to the cold and snow Pennsylvania was getting

Back in 2015 that humid summer weather put me in the ER after 13.5 mile run.  It was something like 90F and 90% humidity when I got up in Orlando to run before sunrise.  I drank about 50oz of water during the run but I ended up losing over 10 pounds.  I thought that I was fine after getting home until I collapsed while walking my dog. 

In actual winter weather 50oz might be all I need before, during and after a run of similar distance.  It also doesn't help that the Florida humidity makes it feel like you're being paddle boarded during any kind of exercise.

[ZLoth]

Alaska -- that's the one state you'll never see me going to anytime of the year.

I disagree. I took an Alaskan cruise with my mother in the summer of 2017, and it was enjoyable. There is a beauty in the ruralness.

However, I advise sailing from Vancouver, BC. There is a US law that requires that foreign-flagged vessels visit at least one foreign port, and Vancouver qualifies as that port. Alaskan cruises also depart from Seattle, WA, and have to make a quick stop at a Canadian port, usually Vancouver Island, to fulfil that foreign port requirement.

[Scott5114]

The official position of the US Forest Service is New Hampshire.

[ClassicHasClass]

That's a subjective measure.  For example, lots of the retiree crowd likes the warmer weather in Florida (particularly in the winter).  Me personally, I couldn't stand the constant humidity and general muggy atmosphere when I lived there.  I'll gladly take a semi-arid or desert climate over something like the Southeast.

Oh I love Florida, especially in the winter when the north is cold. Miami in January really felt good compared to the cold and snow Pennsylvania was getting

Orlando in July does not.

[Scott5114]

I don't know if it's the absolute worst, but... when I lived in Oklahoma, I don't know that I ever experienced weather that I would consider pleasant for more than 24-48 hours at a time before it would change to something outlandishly stupid.

Southern Nevada summers are brutal, but during the spring and fall it will be in the 70s and sunny every single day for a solid month or two, which is something I've never experienced before moving here. The worst the winter gets is upper 40s or so. The key thing about the weather here is that it is stable—I know what to expect from the calendar, rather than it being random every single day—and that is much, much easier to plan around than the total dice roll you get in the Plains states.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I don't know if it's the absolute worst, but... when I lived in Oklahoma, I don't know that I ever experienced weather that I would consider pleasant for more than 24-48 hours at a time before it would change to something outlandishly stupid.

A few years ago after spending a few days in Missouri I had commented to others how that seemed to be the kind of place that got both the worst of summer and the worst of winter. Long, hot, humid summers, high late-season tornado risks, then a winter that may not be as cold as a place like MN but more vulnerable to large, crippling ice storms than we usually get.

[oscar]

Alaska -- that's the one state you'll never see me going to anytime of the year.

I disagree. I took an Alaskan cruise with my mother in the summer of 2017, and it was enjoyable. There is a beauty in the ruralness.

However, I advise sailing from Vancouver, BC. There is a US law that requires that foreign-flagged vessels visit at least one foreign port, and Vancouver qualifies as that port. Alaskan cruises also depart from Seattle, WA, and have to make a quick stop at a Canadian port, usually Vancouver Island, to fulfil that foreign port requirement.

Or you can take an Alaska Marine Highway ferry out of Bellingham WA to the southeastern Alaska panhandle (and sometimes continue to Prince William Sound, with road and rail connections to Anchorage, Denali National Park, Fairbanks, and other destinations). No need to clear Canadian customs, even though you pass through Canadian waters. The ferry is more spartan than a cruise ship, but that's my preference.

In the summer weather is not really an issue in most of Alaska, though the mosquitoes are (also in the parts of spring and fall warm enough for the mosquitoes).

[Rothman]

The official position of the US Forest Service is New Hampshire.

When I was young, I was at the summit of Mount Washington with my family when the temp dropped.  Hikers started to come in with ice on their faces and rescue teams had to be sent out.  This was in July...

[oscar]

That's a subjective measure.  For example, lots of the retiree crowd likes the warmer weather in Florida (particularly in the winter).  Me personally, I couldn't stand the constant humidity and general muggy atmosphere when I lived there.  I'll gladly take a semi-arid or desert climate over something like the Southeast.

Oh I love Florida, especially in the winter when the north is cold. Miami in January really felt good compared to the cold and snow Pennsylvania was getting

Orlando in July does not.

Miami in July is even worse. When I went to the zoo there, the animals were all in hiding, to beat the heat and humidity.

[Rothman]

Alaska -- that's the one state you'll never see me going to anytime of the year.

I disagree. I took an Alaskan cruise with my mother in the summer of 2017, and it was enjoyable. There is a beauty in the ruralness.

However, I advise sailing from Vancouver, BC. There is a US law that requires that foreign-flagged vessels visit at least one foreign port, and Vancouver qualifies as that port. Alaskan cruises also depart from Seattle, WA, and have to make a quick stop at a Canadian port, usually Vancouver Island, to fulfil that foreign port requirement.

Or you can take an Alaska Marine Highway ferry out of Bellingham WA to the southeastern Alaska panhandle (and sometimes continue to Prince William Sound, with road and rail connections to Anchorage, Denali National Park, Fairbanks, and other destinations. No need to clear Canadian customs, even though you pass through Canadian waters. The ferry is more spartan than a cruise ship, but that's my preference.

In the summer weather is not really an issue in most of Alaska, though the mosquitoes are (also in the parts of spring and fall warm enough for the mosquitoes).

Although I loved the ferry when my wife and I took it all over the Inside Passage, I thought the AMH was now having trouble with their longer routes in terms of frequency.

Also, if I recall correctly, the Juneau dock is being moved even further out.  It was already a pain to get to Juneau from the current dock...

[Scott5114]

I don't know if it's the absolute worst, but... when I lived in Oklahoma, I don't know that I ever experienced weather that I would consider pleasant for more than 24-48 hours at a time before it would change to something outlandishly stupid.

A few years ago after spending a few days in Missouri I had commented to others how that seemed to be the kind of place that got both the worst of summer and the worst of winter. Long, hot, humid summers, high late-season tornado risks, then a winter that may not be as cold as a place like MN but more vulnerable to large, crippling ice storms than we usually get.

That's about what Oklahoma is like. The winters certainly aren't as bad as Minnesota's but they're certainly not good enough to offset how much worse the summers are.

[JayhawkCO]

Kansas or Wyoming

[kphoger]

"If you don't like the weather, then just wait an hour!"

— What people in every state think uniquely describes their state

[CoreySamson]

I don't know if it's the absolute worst, but... when I lived in Oklahoma, I don't know that I ever experienced weather that I would consider pleasant for more than 24-48 hours at a time before it would change to something outlandishly stupid.

I liked how variable Oklahoma weather is when I lived there. It was always something novel and interesting (if a little wild at times). There were a lot of pleasant days too in my opinion, but I also did not live there during the summer, so that could also change my perception if I lived there full time.

For all the things that I like about Houston, the weather is not one of them. Your options? Flood, hurricane, heat wave, sauna, gully washer, opaque sea fog, mosquito swarm, or a nasty cold wind whenever it does cool down. Heck, it's almost October and it's still 90 degrees outside!

I recall a couple years ago that @JayhawkCO or someone else started a thread (I think called "What's Your Perfect Weather?") sharing a website where you could see how many days of "perfect weather" your area had per year according to personal preferences that you could adjust. Out of curiousity, I adjusted all the preference sliders to their max making the preferences for humidity and temperature as wide and all-encompassing as I could, and one of the only parts of the country that had days that fell outside of those comfortability zones was the Houston area.

That's pretty convincing evidence for this area having the worst weather in the country.

[Rothman]

Makes me wonder about Corpus Christi.  I've been there on a pleasant day, but my father has horror stories about walking around in the fish tank with his shirt stuck to him like glue.

[hotdogPi]

Makes me wonder about Corpus Christi.  I've been there on a pleasant day, but my father has horror stories about walking around in the fish tank with his shirt stuck to him like glue.

I'll tell you one particular reason I am attached to South Texas so much: Our climate.

I still firmly stand by my belief that South Texas has the most desirable climate anywhere in North America.

We have affordable cost of living, friendly people, laid-back culture, great food, and excellent year-round weather climate....one of the best in America,

Look no further than southern Texas gulf coast....either Corpus Christi or Rio Grande Valley area.  We have the closest to perfect year-round climate as you'll find anywhere in the country.  Even in the middle of January we can enjoy golfing, barbecue, a day at the beach, or any other form of outdoor activity.  Not very many states outside Texas will you find ideal beach weather in the winter. 

--  The single biggest reason is that we have the best climate in the continental 48 states.

[Rothman]

O.o

[CoreySamson]

Makes me wonder about Corpus Christi.  I've been there on a pleasant day, but my father has horror stories about walking around in the fish tank with his shirt stuck to him like glue.

My area's weather is bascially the same as Corpus, as I live about 30 minutes from the Gulf. It's as bad as you imagine. I was in Coahuila, Mexico on a missions trip earlier this August. During that trip, I was outside for much of it even though it was 100 degrees. Because of the lower humidity, I was generally fine. When I got back home to this area's heat, I was struck by how much worse the heat was here...

Granted, the one time I formally visited Corpus in June a couple years ago, it wasn't awful, but I suspect I hit it on a good day.