# California Is Cold and Damp? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 23, 2014, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054 "2014-12-23T20:12:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054/21 "2014-12-23T23:45:54Z")
Hart might have written “San Francisco” instead and avoided this problem. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054/22 "2014-12-24T00:04:25Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I was miserable cold and damp at Disneyland. . . . That happened to me, too, once… BEST DAY EVER! Everybody else went home, and I had the place to myself! I rode the Matterhorn, and didn’t even have to get out of the car! The ride operator said, “Anyone who wants to go again, just remain in your seat.” WONDERFUL! Yeah, I was cold, and wet. But…I had the complete run of Disneyland with no lines! I’d do that again in a Silicon Valley nanosecond! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054/23 "2014-12-24T00:13:38Z")
> [@AppallingGael](#): > > Hart might have written “San Francisco” instead and avoided this problem. It’s not a problem. The whole point is that the woman has contrary opinions and preferences. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054/24 "2014-12-24T01:00:49Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > This describes the Central Valley not so much the coastal regions. It describes the Los Angeles basin, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Orange and San Diego Counties as well. > [@](#): > > Los Angeles has a Subtropical-Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csb on the coast, Csa inland), and receives just enough annual precipitation to avoid either Köppen’s BSh or BSk (semi-arid climate) classification. Los Angeles has plenty of sunshine throughout the year, with an average of only 35 days with measurable precipitation annually.[68] > [@](#): > > Ventura has a Mediterranean climate, typical of most coastal California cities, with the sea breeze off the Pacific Ocean moderating temperatures. It is not uncommon for the city to be affected by Santa Ana winds off the Transverse Ranges on occasion, which increase temperatures dramatically. > [@](#): > > San Luis Obispo experiences a cool Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csb). On average it has 50 days with measurable rain per year – mostly during winter months. Summers are generally warm and sunny > [@](#): > > San Diego’s climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and mild winters with most of the annual precipitation falling between December and March. > [@](#): > > Like many other South Coast cities, Anaheim maintains a Mediterranean climate, enjoying warm winters and hot summers.[34 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054/25 "2014-12-24T01:17:33Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > It describes the Los Angeles basin, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Orange and San Diego Counties as well. How does “hot” apply to places that, per your own cites say: 'with the sea breeze off the Pacific Ocean moderating temperatures" “Summers are generally warm” “warm, dry summers” The central valley is “hot” in the summer with temps typically in the 90s or higher. Places like Ventura and San Luis rarely get hot in the summer, with temps typically in the 70s and 80s. Hence “warm” or “moderate”. Even San Jose will mostly see 80s in the summer. Sacramento is a Central Valley city that you’d expect to hit 90 most days in the summer. And equally as important, it doesn’t cool off in the evenings as it does closer to the coast. It’s a rare summer night in San Jose that doesn’t dip below 70. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054/26 "2014-12-24T02:16:52Z")
California is 800 miles from north to south. It contains a mountain range with peaks over 14,000 feet tall. It has extreme deserts and also temperate rainforests with over 100" a year. Pretty much nothing you can say about Californian climate is true everywhere in the state. Northern coastal CA is about as damp as anyone could wish. Stay still for a few minutes and moss will start growing on you. ---
**Author:** ![Grotonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c2a13f/32.png) [@Grotonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grotonian)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054/27 "2014-12-24T03:30:09Z")
Has anyone checked the original lyrics? I think the “California” line was added by Sinatra, as a tweak to Hollywood. The original, from 1937, has very dated references to NYC in the 1930’s, according to our friends at Wikipedia. ---
**Author:** ![Grotonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c2a13f/32.png) [@Grotonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grotonian)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054/28 "2014-12-24T03:34:54Z")
Never mind. “California” is in an early Ella Fitzgerald version. It’s here if you’re interested: > **[The Lady Is a Tramp - Ella Fitzgerald](http://www.songlyrics.com/ella-fitzgerald/the-lady-is-a-tramp-lyrics/)** > > Ella Fitzgerald - The Lady Is a Tramp Lyrics. I've wined and dined on Mulligan Stew And never wished for Turkey As I hitched and hiked and grifted too From Maine to Albuquerque Alas I m ---
**Author:** ![agilpro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3e96dc/32.png) [@agilpro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/agilpro)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054/29 "2014-12-24T03:53:14Z")
It was sunny and 70 degrees today in the Bay Area. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054/30 "2014-12-24T05:52:46Z")
> [@agilpro](#): > > It was sunny and 70 degrees today in the Bay Area. Hush, you. The Ohio-folk will start packing up. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054/31 "2014-12-24T11:35:25Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > It’s not a problem. The whole point is that the woman has contrary opinions and preferences. Exactly - she’s contrary, and the lyrics namecheck somewhere known for its balmy weather for maximum irony. It would be a pretty dull lyric if it was a true comment on climate - “Hates Alaska…etc” (and it wouldn’t scan). ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054/32 "2014-12-24T14:18:45Z")
I don’t understand why people seem to love San Francisco so much. It’s always cold, and it’s completely overrun by homeless people. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054/33 "2014-12-24T18:25:35Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > I don’t understand why people seem to love San Francisco so much. It’s always cold, and it’s completely overrun by homeless people. It’s loved by and filled with people who are kind to the homeless, which explains the homeless. The sort of mean-hearted sons of bitches who despise the homeless are strongly disapproved of and shunned and not bought free drinks and generally encouraged to move to New York City with the lure of riches. We have our own stock exchange (The Pacific Stock Exchange) and our own lawyer culture, both of which are opposite of the nasty ass New York stockbroker and lawyer culture, both of which are shunned in the local professional community. There are only two days a year on average where an office building would need air conditioning, and the older ones don’t have it. It is in the middle of the State and all its other treasures are therefore equidistant for different trips. It is the Cool Gray City of Love. The Summer of Love started in the summer of 1967 and occurs only in San Francisco. Hint: it is still going on, the hippies just took baths and got professional degrees and licenses and jobs, their children and grandchildren are continuing it. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054/34 "2014-12-24T19:05:31Z")
> [@G0sp3l](#): > > He’s probably thinking about parts of California that people actually care about. If you or anyone else for some inexplicable reason doesn’t care about Northern California and the Sierra Nevada (which include the tallest peaks outside of Alaska in the US), you’re missing out on some of the most glorious natural beauty to be find anywhere. Mt. Shasta, Redwood Forest, Sequoias, Yosemite, Mt. Lassen, Mk. Whitney, Lake Tahoe, Death Valley … sheesh. “Don’t care.” Pfft. California has a full range of global climates and biomes, from temperate rain forests to desert and through to alpine tundra. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054/35 "2014-12-24T20:51:16Z")
The entire song is about irony. That’s why she’s so contrarian. She’s doing sensible things, contrary to the behavior of the “in” crowd. Sort of like “If these things make me a tramp in your eyes, then so be it, I’m a tramp.” ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054/36 "2014-12-24T21:10:37Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > California has a full range of global climates and biomes, from temperate rain forests to desert and through to alpine tundra. When I moved here I was told about the microclimates. On any given day the weather in San Francisco is going to be different from the weather in Pleasanton which is going to be different from the weather in San Jose. BTW today it is cold and damp - cold by our standards, anyhow. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054/37 "2014-12-25T13:58:47Z")
The coldest football game I ever played in was in Moro Bay, California, and that includes a blizzard in Golden, Colorado, that we got a longer halftime for. It was 40 deg and 100% humidity with a slight breeze. If thats not cold and damp I don’t know what is. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054/38 "2014-12-25T15:53:12Z")
I always assumed it was irony. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054/39 "2014-12-25T19:15:58Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > Several times in years past I’ve noticed that on Christmas day the temperature was lower in Los Angeles than New York City–or close to it. The low temperature forecast for New York City tomorrow (Dec 26) is 38 degrees F. The low temperature forecast for La Mesa, CA (the city next to San Diego) tomorrow is ALSO 38 degrees F. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054/40 "2014-12-25T19:26:13Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I always assumed it was irony. Her clothes are wrinkled because she hates irony. She’s dynamite with a laser beam [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-cold-and-damp/708054.md?page=3)