Why is the North American west coast warmer in the winter months in cooler in summer months in the East Coast?

Land has a lower heat capacity than oceans, and it also heats and cools faster than oceans. During the winter, land is much colder than the oceans. When the westerly winds blow over it, the air cools substantially. Thus, the East Coast experiences extreme cold weather during the winter.

Why is the United States West Coast warmer in the winter and colder in the summer compared to the East Coast?

The cold temperature on the East Coast is due to the winds. In the winter, the westerly winds blow warm moist air onto the West Coast, which makes it rain so much. Since land cools and heats more than the ocean does, the land is much colder than the ocean during the winter.

Why are temperatures near the coast warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer?

Water has a higher heat capacity than soil and rock, so the ocean takes much longer to heat and to cool than the land. Coastal areas will generally have more moderate temperatures than inland areas because of the heat capacity of the ocean.

Why is the West Coast cooler in the summer?

The climate of the west coast of the US is dominated by air coming off the Pacific Ocean. While the ocean is cool, dominated by the current flowing clockwise around the North Pacific, it is moderated by the water temperature which is in the 50s and not nearly as cold as the Arctic air.

Why is the West Coast of Canada warmer?

To put it simply, ocean currents from the North Pacific bring warm air over the coast, which keeps temperatures up year-round.

Why is the West Coast ocean so cold?

The water along the coast of California is cold for a couple of reasons. First, the California Current brings cold water from Alaska southward along the coast. And second, cold water from the deep ocean comes up to the surface through a process called upwelling. So water from the deep ocean is sucked to the surface.

Why is it colder near the coast?

The cooler ocean waters will bring sinking air and a high pressure over the water. Air will flow from high to low pressure and that will create a wind. The cooler air over the ocean will flow to the warmer air off the coast, creating what we call a Sea Breeze, thus making it feel a bit cooler when along a waterfront.

Is the west coast of Canada warmer?

To put it simply, ocean currents from the North Pacific bring warm air over the coast, which keeps temperatures up year-round. While the west coast isn’t freezing in the winter, it can be wet and this part of Canada has a notorious reputation for its wet season.

Is the west coast of Canada cold?

The west coast is the only part of Canada in which the average temperature remains above freezing (0 °C or 32 °F) even in winter, and Vancouver is the only major city not having a freezing winter.