While we’ve all been enjoying steady sun and perfect temperatures for weeks now, most Buffalonians might not have noticed that all these days have added up to something groundbreaking — Buffalo has moved past San Diego to earn the top spot on a list of U.S. cities with the Best Weather.
According to Weather Wunderground, their “Best Weather” list uses data found from published U.S. government weather reports, historical trends from publications like the Farmer’s Almanac, and an economics tool called the “Outdoor Inventory Index” (OII) which quantifies outdoor activity dependent on weather conditions. The OII looks at the weather outside standard meteorological tools — including such seemingly mundane things as different prices offered for golf tee times by hour, recreational rental activity, and even how often restaurants offer outdoor seating.
Outdoor seating? Don’t mind if I do.
Anybody can say their weather is great. Filling up a patio day after day at a place like Charlie’s Boat Yard (the new restaurant at the Small Boat Harbor site formerly occupied by Dug’s Dive) proves it.
“‘Great weather’ is a term typically applied subjectively,” explains Jeffrey Bartoo, who helped compile the list. “But when you start to look at time spent outdoors, you learn what conditions truly have mass appeal. An average temperature of 78 degrees might sound ideal but when you see activity drop significantly during the middle of the day because it’s 100 degrees outside, you get a truer sense of how the weather is being used.”
Is Bartoo surprised to see Buffalo surpass a big-name weather city like San Diego? “Not really,” he says. “Each benefits from having a big body of water just to the west, which really moderates temperature and gives a broad inventory of usable outdoor time. San Diego is starting to face some population issues that impact the weather — like air quality — and that’s a problem a smaller city like Buffalo doesn’t have.”
How much of Buffalo’s top ranking comes from an unseasonably mild winter and this “great” stretch of summer weather? Not a ton. Historical trends from the past ten years play a much larger role and, and in the big picture, economic activity used in the OII tends to stay fairly consistent.
Looking to improve Buffalo’s ranking in the “Best Weather” category next year? Hop in your convertible and head to the “hot spots” listed in the links below… some great suggestions for doing your civic duty and utilizing a chunk of Buffalo’s untapped weather inventory.
- The 15 Best Places with Plenty of Outdoor Seating in Buffalo (2016- foursquare.com)
- 12 BUFFALO BARS WITH AWESOME VIEWS (2016- stepoutbuffalo.com)
- 15 HOT NEW PATIOS TO CHECK OUT (2015- stepoutbuffalo.com)
This is hilarious. I was raised in Buffalo and currently live in San Diego. Not sure about the “population issues” this guy was talking about. Area has always been crowded but not as bad as LA. I’ll be enjoying the sunshine here in SD while you guys get 2 feet of snow in November.
I too left Buffalo for San Diego – anyone who believes the weather in Buffalo is the best in the country is a raving moron…..
Yes! Very well said !
Yeah, no way. That tool is broken and needs to be scrapped.
Oh brother. Now how ’bout Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, March, April and maybe May too
Is nobody aware of the horrendous blizzards that Buffalo endures during their extremely brutal winters? Are you serious?
Ummm yeah… No. Lived there once, will never live there again. Winter sucks and so does the summer sometimes. They are just lucky this year has been on the nicer side. Just wait, next year will be different.
The weather in Buffalo is great any time of the year. We love the winter for skiing, sledding, ice skating on the canal also bicycle ice skatin. We love the fall for the glorious colors the wonderful Apples and craft shows. We love the spring for the tasty Maple Syrup that we produce. We love the new life of the spring popping up all over. We do
Love our summers for the lake,the boat rides galore, the golf courses, the swimming, the festivals on every weekend.. The Glorious waterfront we share with Canada,Our wonderful neighbors to th west of us. We truly have a great secret here.
Actually for three seasons of the year I love Buffalo and with the rapid change in the climate its may be the place to be. Yes lake effect storms are a reality but pale in compairson to tornadoes, hurricanes and the possibility of catastrophic earthquakes people face in California. Last winter I only had to shovel 2 or 3 times. We’re now the #1 real estate market in the US. My house trippled in value in 1 year. Most of the negative press in the past is no longer true.
I don’t understand this statement the winters are terrible! I live in Albuquerque NM it’s pretty awsom weather here except for 100 degree days in June/ July
Did one person vote?
I live in Florida and see all those sunbirds going to buffalo every winter to enjoy the snow and ice and cold ya right Buffalo keep dreaming
Buffalo weather has moderated quite a bit in the past two decades or so. Summers are amazing with plentiful sunshine and cool breeze over the vast body of water, lake Erie. Hot but not muggy and sweaty. When it snows, it is great for skiing and skating. Buffalo has four full blown seasons that would be envy of many other cities. No earthquakes, no fires, no droughts. Once in a ten year blizzard which people have come to manage very well. Bufflonians love it that way.
We have some beautiful winters, don’t be fooled. I will stick up for our town, but we also have beautiful summers, all us Buffalonians will take them snow storms when we get them more over, draughts, hurricanes, tornadoes, massive brush fires, and ohh yes all those critters and snakes lol y’all have. BTW we have had Indian summers in many late Novembers and Decembers. We have a plethora of seasons, which make us respect and appreciate our weather. We are also fine tuned to handling it more than other states that close down on 1/2 an inch of snow. Grant it their are not prepared, but when the going gets rough the Buffalonians are still tough!! LOL Thank you for your comments made me be more thankful for what we do have.
Snowstorms come and go in an instant here….we’re ready! It’s a good trade for tornado’s, earthquakes, hurricanes and flooding. No thanks.
oops “they’re”
Anyone who actually believes that Buffalo has the best weather in the country is an absolute raving moron and most assuredly has never traveled the United States, much less lived in San Diego….
What a joke. I lived in buffalo for 15 years and it felt like 9 months of snow every year. Phoenix should be on the list if that’s the case, 2 months of hell for 10 months of 80 degree weather.
I like Buffalo a lot. I lived there for 25 years. Since then I`ve traveled and lived all over the U.S. Whoever votes Buffalo as having the best weather can`t be taken seriously.
Personally, I love the weather here in Buffalo. I have traveled all over the U.S. and wouldn’t switch with anyone. I don’t want 80 degrees in the middle of winter, I want snow! In October I love throwing on a warm comfy sweater, in May i love putting on a pair of shorts and laughing at how white my legs are. The blizzards and snow are our version of earthquakes, tornadoes or hurricanes. And this doesnt make me a raving moron, it makes me someone who appreciates her hometown and all it has to offer
Are some of you people really serious? Read the article. It’s not all about sunshine and hot weather. Yeah winter can be a bit long but hop on a cheap flight south to get away. In the meantime, we make the best of it by skiing, sledding, ice skating, etc. Keep in mind that most days, it does not snow. At least our homes won’t blow, wash or burn away. Our Spring season reenergizes us, summers our amazing and Fall is colorfully gorgeous. More importantly, the people are great, no traffic, affordable homes and much more.Can you beat $37 for three months. of water?
buffalo has the best weather….3 seasons..with fall being the best! best food..restaurants..music..lets not forget anchor bar chicken wings..fish frys…lawnfetes….but winter sucks.and once it comes it lingers for months..no thanks 60 years there glad im in the sunshine state!!!
This is “Satire”? You meant to use “humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues?” Bad joke, Randall.
Apparently posts critical of this “satire” aren’t allowed. Can’t stand the heat, huh? Maybe that’s why you stay in Buffalo – where we have great weather most of the year. I’ll take an occasional snowstorm over a tornado, mudslide, or wildfire anytime.
Buffalo is becoming an exceptional city – for those of you who left and have gone to San Diego, you should come back and see what is taking place in the City and along the waterfront. It’s attracting people from all over the world who want to be part of the growth. The weather is exceptional – we don’t have to worry about flooding, hurricanes or tornadoes. The national news does a great job of reporting the high levels of snow, but also does a great job of not disclosing this in the ski towns of Western New York. The housing is exceptional and you can have a great quality of life and not live in a shoebox of a house for $1M like those who live on the west coast need to contend with. The schools are exception – secondary and colleges/universities and it’s drawing companies who want to be part of the growth and quality of life. Shame on you to show who put down Buffalo – it truly is a great place to be having lived in San Diego, Miami, Chicago, and other parts of the country and experiencing the high standard of living and crime.
Shhhh. Please don’t tell anyone our secret. You naysayers are all correct. The weather here is awful. People are cold and unfriendly. No growth or opportunities. Leave us alone to out 15 minute maximum commute.
🙂