Best places to move to avoid snow

It's coming.  We're already seeing it in the Northeast— with 30 inches of snow in some places, power outages that could last for days, and cancelled trick-or-treat festivities turning smiles into frowns— winter is upon us (though it's not official until December 22nd).  The truth is, I dread winter.  If I have to choose between a snowy and a sunshiny vacation destination, I'm choosing sunshine every time.   No snow for this girl. 

So let's talk about the cities across the U.S. that thrive on sunshine; where you won't need an electric blanket, snow shoes or thermal underwear; where the ground is visible all year long; where it's not necessary to "winterize" your home or vehicle.  Here they are— the top U.S. cities to move to avoid snow:

Cities with no snow:

  • San Diego, CA – With average highs that normally don't get above 78 in the summer or below 49 in the winter, San Diego is a fabulous place to move.
  • Miami, FL – Here the average high is around 91 in the summer and the low around 62 in the winter. 
  • Los Angeles, CA – If you can handle big-city living, Los Angeles is a good fair-weather pick. The highs average about 85 in the summer and the lows around 48 in the winter.
  • Riverside, CA – With average highs of 94 in the summer and lows of around 41 in the winter, Riverside is a great destination for sun-lovers!

Cities with little to no snow:

  • Phoenix, AZ – While you can sometimes see traces of snow during the winter months in Phoenix, it's not very prevalent.  If you really love the heat, this is the place for you.  Highs get to about 107 in the dead of summer and drop down to only about 44 in the winter.  Pack your sunscreen. 
  • Sacramento, CA – it's another California city with comfortable temps. Though here you may see traces of snow, it's not enough to make you hate it!  Average highs are around 94 in the summer and lows are around 40 in the winter.
  • San Francisco, CA – This is a great place for folks who like a good, happy-medium.  The highs in San Francisco get to about 71 in September and it usually doesn't get colder than around 46 the winter.  Not too hot, not too cold. 
  • San Jose, CA – Ahh…a lovely average of 84 in July and August and a comfortable low of 41 in December. That's what I'm talking about.
  • Jacksonville, FL – This is a great destination for sun and water lovers.  Highs get to about 90 in the peak of summer and drop down to around 45 in the coldest winter months.
  • Orlando, FL – If Orlando is your destination, you're definitely going to experience more warm weather than cold. If that's your cup-of-tea, and you're a lover of all things Disney, this is a fabulous destination. Highs get to about 92 in the summer and drop down to about 50 in the winter.
  • Tampa, FL – Another Florida city with great weather conditions.  You'll experience peak summer temperatures of about 90 and low winter temperatures of about 52. 
  • New Orleans, LA – It's definitely more than just a place to have a good time.  New Orleans also offers pleasant weather, though you may have to get accustomed to the humidity. You'll experience highs of about 91 in the summer and lows of about 43 in the winter.
  • Austin, TX – If you can handle the heat, Austin is a great pick.  You'll see temps around 100 in the hottest summer months, but it probably won't get below 40 in the winter.
  • San Antonio, TX – Hot is a great description of this area. You certainly won't need thermal underwear here.  Highs average around the 100's in the summer and it normally doesn't ever get below freezing— the coldest month is usually only about 39.

Cities that get 5" or less of snow each year

  • Birmingham, AL – If you can handle a little snow, but don't want to spend the entire winter wading in it, Birmingham is a good place to live.  It usually gets up to the mid-90s in the summer and doesn't usually get below 32 in the winter.
  • Atlanta, GA – Another southern state where you might see some snow, but not enough to cause cabin fever.  The high in "Hotlanta" is normally in the low-90s, and it sometimes gets to just below freezing in December, January and February.
  • Memphis, TN – With average highs in the mid-90s and average lows in the low-30s in December, January and February, you may see a few inches of snow in Memphis, but not enough to require snow chains.
  • Dallas, TX – There's a reason Dallas is such a hot spot for relocatees.  It's a booming metropolis that averages great temperatures. While it's not always as pleasant as some California and Florida cities, it gets to about 96 in the summer and drops to around 36 in the winter.
  • Houston, TX – The closer you get to Mexico, the less likely you are to see snow. While the white stuff sometimes falls in the winter, it's not common.  Highs average around 94 in the summer and lows drop to around 45 in the winter.

If you want to take a look at more cities that are at the bottom of the snowfall list, check this out… http://www.city-data.com/top2/c465.html.  It's interesting that all but six of those cities are located in Southern California.  If you want a little more detail, you can also check out the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) or the Regional Climate Centers websites to look into snowfall statistics more in-depth. 

Once you find your favorite snow-free city, check out MoveBuilder for moving you there!

What's your favorite snow-free city?  Let us know!