Summer is the hottest of the four seasons. In most parts of the world this is seen as the best time to go on vacation, the best time for travel and festivals, the best time for picnics and barbecues and outdoor sports. For many people, summer is when life is really lived; the rest of the year is just a painful wait for the sunny season. Thankfully though, the whole world does not experience summer at the same time.The largest discrepancy in seasons around the world is the fact that when it is summer in the southern hemisphere, it is winter in the northern hemisphere and vice-versa. In addition, depending on how far you are from the equator, how high you are above sea level, and a number of other factors, summer may set in at different times for different places in the same hemisphere, and may last for drastically different durations. What this means is that if you’re adventurous enough, you may be able to hop around the world chasing warm weather, ensuring that you never have to wear a sweater, turn on indoor heating, or struggle with ice on your windshield and snow at your door. Climatic conditions are an important consideration for almost anyone when moving to a place for either long-term or short-term employment, but for some people, they’re the main consideration – these people move abroad primarily to enjoy better weather.
The climatic conditions of a particular geographical area depend on several factors.
The location of a place on the globe plays a major role in determining the seasonal changes and climate. Depending upon its location, a place can be categorised under various climatic belts/zones, such as temperate, tropical, and Mediterranean, to name a few. The course of each season, its duration, and its severity are determined by the difference in the climatic zones.
Proximity to water bodies also helps in moderating seasonal changes. In spite of being located near the equator, a city’s climate may be moderated by a water body. Owing to this, summers can become bearable and moderate, and the climate in general can be mild in comparison to nearby inland regions, where summers are relatively harsh.
Altitude plays an extremely important role. Just like a region’s proximity to a water body, altitude helps in moderating the climate. The higher the altitude, the lower the temperature, even if the city is located in the hottest climatic belt.
Of course, even the most ardent fans of summer aren’t usually willing to do away with winter only to struggle with brutal heat in which being outdoors for more than half an hour can be a health hazard. What you want therefore is a place where summer is mild and pleasant. Many cities across the globe experience four seasonal changes – summer, winter, spring, and autumn – but in some places, the differences between the seasons are marginal. If you want year-round sunshine but need to be location-bound for either professional or personal reasons, your best option is to move to a place that remains fairly warm throughout the year. However, there aren’t too many such options, and if your life is location-independent, you may instead want to hop around the world, enjoying the best weather that any one location has to offer, and escaping its excesses of heat, humidity, rain, and cold. Here are ten places that you might want to consider putting on your list.
Located on the Mediterranean coastline of Southeast France, Nice boasts a beautiful blue-green sea. Owing to its location, the city’s Mediterranean climate offers pleasant and mild climatic conditions. Although it is one of the warmest cities along the Mediterranean coast in France, its average warmest temperature is about 27°C (81°F). The city experiences rare to moderate rainfall, and the winters are also quite mild. Despite experiencing four of the five seasons, including spring, the city’s climate is best described as sunny and dry, yet pleasant.
San Diego is the eight-largest city in the USA and is located along the Pacific Ocean coast in Southern California. The city is known for its long beaches, and experiences roughly 300 days of summer throughout the year; however, it has a mild climate with low rainfall, and the average highest temperature here tends to be over 21°C (70°F) for most of the year. According to The Weather Channel, an American satellite television channel, San Diego has one of the best summer climates in America.
Ecuador is located in the northwestern part of South America and is officially known as República del Ecuador, which literally means the Republic of the Equator. The city of Cuenca in Ecuador is a major expat attraction and is located 2500 metres above sea level. Similar to the rest of Ecuador, Cuenca enjoys a mild climate throughout the year. The days in the city are characterised as warm and the nights are cool. The city experiences two of the five seasons – summer and monsoon – but the monsoon is also characterised by sunny days with mild afternoon showers. The average temperature of the city is above 14.7°C (58.5°F).
Sitting off the coast of West Africa, the climate of these Spanish islands varies due to the presence of the various high mountains in the region. The archipelago is best known for its beaches, climate, and scenic beauty. The subtropical climate here is a major attraction for people who want to either relocate or plan long-term travel to the Canaries. The islands experience long, warm summers with moderate winters. Although the region as a whole has a desert climate, most of the islands have large coastal areas, and the Atlantic Ocean makes the climate moderate and the summers bearable. The average yearly temperature is over 24.8°C (76.6°F).
San Francisco is one of the most populous cities in the United States. The city is known for its cool summers and Mediterranean climate. Owing to the currents of the Pacific Ocean, the weather is naturally pleasant and moderate, with mild winters and dry summers. Even though the temperatures during summer can soar, they usually tend to be controlled by the water body surrounding the city, helping it maintain a mild climate throughout the year.
The Maldives are an island country located in the Indian Ocean. Considered to be an exotic vacation spot, and boasting beautiful blue-green beaches, the Maldives have a climate that is influenced by the moisture-rich air from the Indian Ocean. The region experiences two seasons: a dry winter and a rainy season, both of which are associated with monsoons, although the former is a dry monsoon. Despite both the dominating seasons not being characterised as hot, the average temperature of the country is maintained at around 30°C (86°F).
Located in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, this country is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, the most populous, and is also a major tourist destination. Cyprus has one of the warmest climates in the Mediterranean, with the highest average temperature being 24°C (75°F). The island country experiences eight months of summer, and this season is quite mild in the areas located on the coast, although the same cannot be said about the inland regions, which face temperatures soaring as high as 35°C (95°F), against the coastal temperatures of only 30°C (86°F).
São Paulo is Brazil’s largest city and is home to tall buildings, monuments, parks, and museums. The cosmopolitan city has a humid subtropical climate and experiences four of the five seasons, with mild and sub-dry winters, moderate and rainy summers, and fall and spring being transitional seasons. Owing to the altitude at which the city is located, the summers are not particularly hot and the average highest temperature is roughly around 24.9°C (76.8°F). Despite the high temperatures on certain summer days, the climate soon changes after sunset, bringing back the cool winds.
Famous as a world trade hub, and also for its highly developed public transportation network, beautiful skyline, and deep natural harbour, Hong Kong is probably the most visited city and the most diverse in the world. Despite being located close to the Tropic of Cancer, Hong Kong has a humid subtropical climate, characterised by hot and humid summers, with the possibility of occasional showers, and mild winters. The highest average recorded temperature in Hong Kong is 32°C (90°F).
The world’s only island city-state, Singapore lies a degree north of the equator, very close to the southernmost tip of Asia. Singapore experiences a tropical rainforest climate, with the temperature ranging from 22°C to 35°C (72°F to 95°F). Owing to its tropical rainforest climate, Singapore experiences no dry season, and even the summers are characterised as hot and typically wet. This may not be everyone’s idea of a perfect summer, but for those who don’t mind a little rain, Singapore offers a pleasant climate with beautiful structures, great scenic beauty, and a rich variety of cuisine and culture.
A transcontinental country, Panama is located between North and South America and is bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean in the north, and the Pacific Ocean in the south. It has a tropical climate characterised by uniformly high temperatures, and is relatively humid. The temperatures in the coastal areas on the Pacific side are much lower in comparison to the areas facing the Caribbean, and given the altitude of the mountainous regions, the temperatures here are bound to be even lower. The highest average temperature is recorded to be 29°C (84.2°F), but temperatures may sometimes go up to 32°C (89.6°F).
Since the Tropic of Cancer divides the country into two climatic regions, temperate and tropical, Mexico’s climate is considered to be diverse. The regions north of the Tropic of Cancer experience cooler temperatures whereas the ones in the south experience warm, fairly uniform temperatures throughout the year. The northern part of Mexico rarely receives any rainfall and is mostly dry, while the southern region experiences a fair amount of rainfall. The highest average temperature ranges between 20°C (68°F) and 24°C (75.2°F) in the areas north of Tropic of Cancer, whereas it ranges between 24°C (75.2°F) and 28°C (82.4°F) in the regions south of the Tropic.
The state capital of NSW and the most populous city in Australia, Sydney’s climate is humid and subtropical, with warm summers, cool winters, and uniform rainfall. The temperatures vary between the coastal areas and the inland suburbs, and are moderated by the city’s proximity to the coast. The rising summer temperatures are balanced by uniform rain throughout the year. Mainly described as having a year-round pleasant climate, the highest average temperature here is recorded to be 21.7°C (71.1°F).
The largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, Christchurch has a temperate climate. Due to its close proximity to water bodies, Christchurch is mainly described as having an oceanic climate. Despite the temperatures in summer being relatively high and making the season quite warm, the weather is moderated by the sea breeze from the Northeast. During winters, the temperature drops considerably, but it is not considered to be extreme.
There are of course many more places that experience similar weather and seasonal changes to the ones on our list, but these are probably the most expat-friendly, at least in terms of factors such as job opportunities, lifestyle, and quality of life. As you’ve probably noticed, most of the listed places are islands, places located along the coastline, or at an altitude, all of which contributes to making summers bearable. If you’re looking for other options, these are characteristics you’ll want to look out for.