It is time to get on with booking a summer beach trip. If you haven’t already decided or don’t have a favorite go to spot, YourCast has some Eastern U.S. options where you might find the best vacation weather.
This is not an opinion… we don’t… we can’t do that. There is too much data to consider and we are analytical types that like to apply math and science to our decisions to anticipate possible weather weeks ahead. So, how did we come to our rankings? Here is the process and the criteria.
First, we started with locations on the Atlantic Ocean that regularly have water temperatures at or above 70 degrees in July. This eliminated coastal communities in states north of New Jersey.
Second, we chose a central beach town in each state to best highlight the differences in weather. For example, we did not analyze North Myrtle Beach, SC versus Ocean Isle Beach, NC because they only sit a few miles apart and would have almost the same weather. So through our rankings, you should look at this as a state by state comparison and expect similar weather at nearby destinations in the same state.
Third, we used locations that had at least 30 years of climate data. That is the amount of time needed to establish climate averages per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Fourth, in our most subjective bit of analysis, we ranked based on the assumption that most people would prioritize ideal beach weather as no rain and warm but not too humid. We looked at the average monthly: number of days with rain, high temperature, low temperature, relative humidity and dew point. There are a number of other factors you might want to consider such as wind, the chance for severe weather and even the chance for tropical storms. YourCast can deliver all of those, in detail, when you work with a weather planning team! Now, on to the rankings!
The Garden State won the race by a healthy 26% margin. New Jersey tied for the fewest rainy days with 9, the lowest (but still warm) average high temperature of 80 degrees and the lowest average dew point temperature of 68 degrees. Data came from the Atlantic City Marina (records since 1874).
It was close but the First State was the second state on this list and barely edged out the number two spot with its small strip of coastline. Delaware average one more rainy day than New Jersey with 10 in July, an average high temperature of 85 degrees and the second lowest average dew point temperature at 69 degrees. Data came from Lewes Delaware (records since 1945).
Only scoring 5% shy of the second place spot, Virginia relatively few coastal options average some nice weather in July. Given it’s warmer average high temperature in July of 87 degrees compared to Delaware and New Jersey, but location far enough north compared to Florida and Georgia, Virginia has the lowest average relative humidity of 71 percent. Data comes from Oceana Naval Air Station (records since 1945).
Really, Maryland had a tie score to our number five but we gave it the nod with one less average rainy day in July with 11. Maryland has an average July high temperature of 84 degrees and an average dew point temperature of 71 degrees–the fourth lowest on the list. Data comes from Ocean City Airport (records since 2000).
The Palmetto State rounds of the East Coast countdown. While it averages out to be the third hottest spot with an average July high temperature of 88 degrees, the average relative humidity and dew point temperature were quite a bit lower than other southern counterparts like Florida and Georgia. Additionally, South Carolina tied New Jersey for the fewest average number of rainy days in July with 9. Data comes from Myrtle Beach (records since 1989).
The remaining three states scored in order: North Carolina which was 30 percent higher than Florida and Georgia which tied. YourCast holds nothing against Florida or Georgia! They are beautiful states with beautiful beach towns. However, from an objective, weather-based standpoint, these southern spots are considerably hotter and more humid than the northern locations are during the month of July. Not to mention, due to all of the energy injected into the atmosphere by summer heat and humidity, the Southeastern U.S. are prone to frequent, afternoon showers and thunderstorms and can get into long patterns where they are a daily occurrence–not ideal for a beach vacation! All three states averaged rain on approximately a third of the days in the month.
Data retrieved from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
Data for states not ranked comes from: Cape Hatteras (NC), Savannah International Airport (GA), Daytona Beach (FL)
Photo credits:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Atlantic_Ocean_shoreline_in_Myrtle_Beach,_South_Carolina.jpg
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