Dear Tom,
My husband and I hate hot weather and want to retire somewhere in the United States besides Alaska, where it rarely gets above 80(degrees). Any suggestions?
Sandy Koll
Dear Sandy,
Unless you want to relocate to a high-altitude mountainous location, the coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest should offer a climate to your liking. Coastal areas from northern California to Washington have a cool, damp climate strongly influenced by the chilly Pacific Ocean waters. Winters are cool and wet, but temperatures generally remain above freezing, and snowfall is rare. Summers are very cool and rain-free but characterized by frequent intrusions of low clouds and fog. In summer, highs typically remain below 70(degrees), and though occasional hot spells can occur, they are infrequent and short-lived. At Eureka on the northern California coast, the all-time record high is only 87(degrees).
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Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist at WGN-TV. His forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN-TV News at noon and 9 p.m.
WGN-TV meteorologists Steve Kahn, Richard Koeneman and Paul Dailey plus weather producer Bill Snyder contribute to this page.
