As someone who has lived in Arizona their whole life up until a few months ago, I have never known the true meaning of a “white Christmas” until now. My family and I moved down to Ohio this summer. When my family arrived, we loved seeing all the greenery and fluffy clouds. Ohio is a beautiful state and very different from Arizona. Unlike Ohio, the temperature in AZ can stay in the hundreds until November, and there are not many trees unless you count all the cacti. Moving here to Dover, Ohio, I knew things like the scenery would be different but it never really crossed my mind about what the weather would be like, especially in the winter. If you’re interested in learning about winter in a desert with little to no rain, and is always hot, like Arizona, compared to Ohio’s rainy and humid climate, you’re in luck! I have come up with some differences between both climates and my experiences with them during the winter season.
People living in Arizona lack the opportunity to experience snow in the same way that Ohio’s people do. It only snows in very few places in Arizona, mostly in Flagstaff. AzCentral states that snow starts falling in early December and ends in February. Despite this, Arizonans can only experience a few inches of snow, usually about 5 to 12 inches per year. Nevertheless, according to the Current Results weather page, Ohio may receive up to 30 inches of snow or more, with lows of -30 degrees. Snow brings several commitments, such as shoveling your driveway, de-icing everything, and defrosting your vehicle. In Arizona, we never had to worry about these problems. Despite the disadvantages of dealing with the trouble of clearing snow, you can do many enjoyable things with it! For example, Snowboarding, snowman building, snowball battles, and even snow days and so much more! Even though it still can snow in AZ, it’s very different. Arizona snow is muddy and sloshy as compared to Ohio snow, which is soft and powdery and much simpler to make snowmen with.
Although it still can get cold in AZ, it is never below freezing. It is not as wet as it is in Ohio; instead, the cold is more of a dry kind. I now know that I need to start shopping for better clothes in preparation for the upcoming months of snow. Gracie Keith provided the following advice: “The best clothes to stay warm in the snow is to have shoes that are high off the ground, sweatshirts, and lots of layering.” Layering especially, is something I have learned that’s crucial to staying warm in the snow. For the entire winter season, most people in Arizona could get by only wearing jeans and a sweater to stay warm. However, based on what I’ve learned, those individuals would most likely freeze to death if they did that in Ohio. Even though the people who live here are far more tolerant of the cold, it would not be enough to keep them warm.
On November 1 for the first time this winter, there was some snowfall! It was exciting to see because it was my first time living in a place where it snows! On the other hand, some people may be sick of snow as they have lived in areas like Ohio where it snows every year. Coincidentally, when I arrived here, I met a friend named Addy, who used to live in Arizona as well, and now lives in Dover OH. “I love Ohio, but I miss the warmer winters in Arizona sometimes,” she said regarding the winter here. Even though it can get really cold in Ohio, I think the snow gives winter a very aesthetic and pretty white Christmas feel. But if you want a break from the snow and want to enjoy a warmer winter, I suggest you take a trip to Arizona. Both states have good qualities about each other that are different and unique. I am happy my family moved to Ohio, it’s been fun experiencing how the seasons work here especially winter and seeing the snow. So grab your swimsuit or your snow jacket and enjoy your winter in whatever state you choose.
Sources:
https://earthdevelopmentinc.com/blog/what-to-expect-in-the-ohio-winter
https://www.azfamily.com/weather/
