What are the best climates to live in, according to the Köppen classification?

[lillo9546]

I live in Florence. June, July, and August are unbearable, feels like Dubai. The sun between 10 AM and 5 PM feels scorching, with UV levels often hitting 10. Temperatures stay above 30°C, and humidity is very high. These 90 days drain all productivity. The rest of the year, spring, autumn, and winter, are perfect.

I’m thinking of moving somewhere cooler in summer maybe a nearby mountain village (or maybe just relocating elsewhere with a better climate longterm). But with Italy’s rising heat and high UV, wildfire risks are very high, threatening many mountain areas and old villages every year.

What about you? If you realized your hometown’s climate wasn’t right, how did you choose where to live?
Did you use Köppen’s system?

[chenda]

Jacob has suggested to be at least 40 degrees north as a minimum (or south, but there's not much inhabitable land at that in the southern hemisphere)

[lillo9546]

Jacob has suggested to be at least 40 degrees north as a minimum (or south, but there's not much inhabitable land at that in the southern hemisphere)

That's actually where italy is

[Bytore]

Is there something akin to the Plant Hardiness Zone Map for Italy/Europe? edited to add this link to a European Hardiness Zone Map (not sure of it's current accuracy) https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iiu6H6tcjEk/ ... Europe.jpg

Following this sentence is a link to the United States Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zone Map. https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/

I personally would base my movement in the USA partly on this while keeping in mind that the climate may change in each area. In my state of Oregon, Oregon State University has published some predictions recently as to how this might change in each county of Oregon. My home county is in rough shape for wildfires and air quality. We are at ~43' latitude. By the Koppen system currently warm summer mediterranean. Zone 9a by the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

[jacob]

You can combine the hardiness maps with this: https://fitzlab.shinyapps.io/cityapp/

[chenda]

That's actually where italy is

Yes most of it. 45 - 50 degrees N would perhaps be preferable.

[zbigi]

In Europe, I'd say Baltic and North Sea coasts are very ERE/doomer-friendly. Southern Britain coast as well. Mild summers and mild winters make for low heating and cooling bills. No adverse climate change effects in the future as well, as long as you don't settle in an area that might get flooded due to rising sea levels.

[chenda]

@zbigi - I agree although a lot of the east coast of Britain is vulnerable to flooding, especially East Anglia (a lot of it is reclaimed marshland) It would be better to go inland to higher ground.

[jacob]

If you're planning ahead for decades, you also need to look at the degree to which the place is adapted or adaptable to change. For example, if the area is dependent on tourism (like the Mediterranean or the snow-free ski slopes of the Alps), will it be able to do something else when tourists no longer want to visit? If the area depends on agriculture (French wines), will they be able to grow something else when grapes can no longer grow? To which degree have people installed A/C and to which degree can the electricity grid/energy policy cope with such demands. How well does the housing deal with e.g. summers that are 10-15C hotter for a few months? Are the roofs capable of withstanding more extreme weather? Can the residential drainage handle 10" of rain falling within a few hours even if they weren't designed for it? (all those now commonly occurring 100-year and 1000-year events).

These are not easy questions to answer and they certainly can't be answered with a map. However, they are important because what usually "gets" people are sudden changes they're not prepared for. Like, when there's a heatwave in the north or snow in the south leading humans to make all kinds of mistakes out of ignorance.

[Bytore]

In Europe, I'd say Baltic and North Sea coasts are very ERE/doomer-friendly. Southern Britain coast as well. Mild summers and mild winters make for low heating and cooling bills. No adverse climate change effects in the future as well, as long as you don't settle in an area that might get flooded due to rising sea levels.

There is the possible ending of the AMOC to consider. Might make those areas a tad bit chilly.

[chenda]

There is the possible ending of the AMOC to consider. Might make those areas a tad bit chilly.

That would doom us.

[Bytore]

That would doom us.

May it never come to that.