Click for Milan, Italy Forecast Click for Palm Desert, California Forecast

Quick Summary

With reference to details listed on the rest of this weeks reflection, please view the following points for a general outline of some of the most prevalent differences and similarities between the climate of Palm Desert, California and Milan, Italy;

Differences:
  • Milan is an average 32.3 inches wetter than Palm Desert.
  • On average, Palm Desert, CA is warmer than Milan, Italy by 21°F.
  • Palm Desert has a Continental Tropical (cT) air mass while Milan experiences a Maritime Polar (mP) air mass for most of the year.
  • Palm Desert: Subtropical Arid climate |          Milan: Mediterranean and Temperate climate - influenced by five important subtropical high pressure cells that are not present near Palm Desert, California.

 

Similarities:

  • Both locations experience Urban Heat Island effects.
  • While fronts create for the possibility of the mP air mass to move through Palm Desert (i.e. from Mexico), they do the same for the cT air mass to move through Milan (i.e. from Africa).
  • Milan’s close proximity to the Alps and the high mountain ranges on three sides and a south-sloping valley floor of Palm Desert are some of the geographic contributors that greatly influence the climate of each location.

Temperature Differences and Urban Heat Island Effect Similarities

       The Subtropical - Arid climate of Palm Desert, California draws an average annual high temperature of 95 °F (35 °C) and an average annual low of 60 °F (16 °C). Palm desert experiences sunshine for most of the year with clear skies due to the high pressure and stable descending air of the climate. Milan, Italy falls into the Mediterranean & Temperate climate zone where mild temperatures with plenty of fog and and a good rain supply govern throughout the land. Milan’s Mediterranean climate zones is largely associated with five large subtropical high pressure cells of the oceans which include the Azores High, the South Atlantic High and the Indian Ocean high.
      Urban Heat Island effects of busy urban areas where the buildings, concrete, asphalt, and the human and industrial activity of the areas cause cities to maintain higher temperatures than their surrounding countryside are seen in both locations although in different levels.Palm Desert’s population of 48,445 making for about 1,793 people per square mile and Milan’s population of 1,334,077 (19,010 / sq. mi.) are great contributors to this effect.

 

IMILAN13 vs. KCAPALMD17 

Just a quick look at Milan’s weather station (IMILAN13) in contrast with Palm Desert’s weather station (KCAPALMD17) for the winter month of January 1st  year 2011, suggests some of the vivid differences between both locations.

Palm Desert, California vs. Milan, Italy Animations!
Please view the below links for animations depicting the comparisons in the average highs and lows of temperatures (°F) and the precipitation levels (in) for each location

 Comparisons (Precipitation / Rainfall)

Like all deserts, Palm Desert, CA is prone to receiving very little precipitation and on average Milan receives about 32.3 more inches of annual rainfall than Palm Desert. January is the month with the most precipitation with an average of 0.6 inches. In Milan, with an average of 5.2 inches, May is the month with the most year to year precipitation. Please notice the blue bars in the graph below indicating the Average Precipitation in Palm Desert, CA for year 2010 and compare that to the averages for Milan in year 2009. Note that 1 millimeter equals about 0.04 inches so 132mm is about 5.19 inch of rainfall for May in Milan.



Works Cited:

Please click on each image to be directed to the site from which they have been gathered

Climate Averages for Milan - http://www.holiday-weather.com/milan/averages/#avg_rainfall

Palm Desert, CA statistics - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Desert,_California#Climate

Compared blog location - http://palmdesertwx.tumblr.com/

Animation of chart comparing the Average High of both locations –http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/vacationplanner/compare/results?from=vac_compare&clocid1=ITXX0042&clocid2=USCA0827

Animation of chart comparing Average Low of both locations -http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/vacationplanner/compare/results?from=vac_compare&clocid1=ITXX0042&clocid2=USCA0827

Animation of chart comparing Average Precipitation of both locations - http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/vacationplanner/compare/results?from=vac_compare&clocid1=ITXX0042&clocid2=USCA0827
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