Winter at 33 degrees north latitude

Here in the Phoenix, Arizona area, at 33.32 degrees north latitude, we are entering winter. Like everywhere in the northern hemisphere, the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting longer, as the planet tilts away from the sun. My fellow-travelers on the planet that are at about the same latitude are; Los Angeles, California, USA at 34.04 degrees; San Diego, California, USA at 32.42 degrees; Dallas, Texas, USA at 32.46 degrees; Atlanta, Georgia, USA at 33.45 degrees; Casablanca, Morocco, Africa at 33.32 degrees; Osaka, Japan at 34.42 degrees.

But these other cities have an advantage in the winter that we don't have here in the desert, the tempering effect of the ocean. So, if you live near the ocean (and I don't mean literally on the beach, the tempering effect of the ocean goes inland for miles), it just won't get as cold where you are as it does here. So latitude doesn't tell the whole story.

If it weren't for the ridge of mountains that are just east of Los Angeles and San Diego, the desert wouldn't exist. These mountains stop the moisture, and the tempering effect of the ocean. In the satellite view below, you can see Southern California on the left and then the desert area of The Imperial Valley right away on the other side of the mountains. The greenish blob on the far right is Phoenix, by the way.