The 10th Day of Patmas

On the 10^th Day of Patmas, I give to you…10 places to find a sunny Christmas!

Yup, just like the last two years, I’m bringing back a weather/travel themed post for the 10^th day of Patmas! 

We all know the song…the one about dreaming about a White Christmas.  You’ll excuse me if I pass.  Snow?  Wet?  Cold?  No thank you!  Give me a sunny, 65 degree Christmas…with maybe the slightest of breezes!  Or give me 78 and sunny…warm enough for T-Shirt and shorts!  Or give me the tropics…literally anything is better in the tropics!

So, this year, we’re going to make it happen.  Today, I’m giving you 10 places in the U.S. to find a bright and sunny Christmas!

1.  Honolulu, Hawaii – Uh, duh.  If you read my 6^th Day of Patmas post, you’ll know that Hawaiian Christmas customs center around the fact that its warm and awesome on Christmas.  People gather on the beach, have luau’s, go surfing…that sounds like a heck of a Christmas to me!  Average high temperature in December in Honolulu is 81 degrees; average low, 68.  Amazing!

2.  Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – Yeah, it can get a little cold here, but it can also be in the 70s come Christmastime (record high in December…84 degrees)!  More importantly, Myrtle Beach has an average of 2800 hours of sunshine a year!  Only 3 inches of rain falls on average in December here, so your chances of a sunny Christmas in Myrtle Beach are exceedingly high!

3.  San Diego, California – San Diego is one of the top-ten best climates in the Farmer’s Almanac and is one of the two best summer climates in America as scored by The Weather Channel.  So, uh, yeah…sunshine happens!  San Diego only averages 1 ½ inches of rain per December, and has an average high temperature of 65 degrees.  Yeah, that sounds pretty perfect to me!

4.  Miami, Florida – Not only is winter in Miami warm, its also the dry season!  Monsoonal moisture clears out, and you’re looking at probably the best weather of the year.  With an average high temperature of 77, an average low of 62, and only 2 inches of rain per December, Miami would be an ideal place to enjoy a sunny and warm Christmas holiday season!

5.  Corpus Christi, Texas – Corpus Christi, and most of Southern Texas along the Gulf Coast, enjoys a tropical climate with short, mild winters with little rain.  Thus, once again, we’re looking at an ideal sunny Christmas location!  Average high temperature in Corpus Christi is 68, but in December, it is not unusual to see temperatures between 70 and 80, and even the occasional temperature greater than 85!  Sign me up (you know, except for the whole Texas part)!

6.  Phoenix, Arizona – If the tropical climate isn’t quite to your liking, you can always head out to the desert!  Phoenix might be the place for you…Phoenix averages 85% of possible sunshine.  That’s a lot!  If you’re playing the odds, you’re most likely to see a sunny Christmas here.  It might not be quite as warm as your tropical locations (average high of 66 in December…but an average low of a chilly 44), but it’ll be sunny and bright!

7.  New Orleans, Louisiana – New Orleans can be hit or miss on the weather.  One day it could be 50 and blustery, and the next day it’ll be 75 and warm!  Tis winter on the northern Gulf Coast.  When I was there for New Years a few years back, it was 50 and cold the first night, and in the 70s the rest of the time!  Had a thunderstorm the last night…so yeah, the weather was erratic; but outside of the thunderstorm, it was sunny!  An average December temperature is 65 degrees, so it should be pretty nice for those looking for a place to party on Christmas Eve!

8.  Las Vegas, Nevada – Let’s head back out to the desert, as it really is the best place to find sun year round (and especially in the winter).  Las Vegas averages only half an inch of rain per December…which is absurdly low.  The average high temperature is typical of the desert, high right around 60, lows in the mid 30s.  So, while not the warmest of locations for Christmas, you’re almost assured of seeing sun!  So, if you want to party hard on Christmas Eve, and don’t want to go to New Orleans, Las Vegas is gonna be sunny as well!  Head on out!

9.  Puerto Rico – Puerto Rico is a territory of the U.S., so we’re going to count it.  They also recently supported a referendum to become a State…so we may soon see Puerto Rico become the 51^st State in the Union!  The best place for people in the U.S. to find a gorgeous, warm, sunny Christmas Day would be to head out to the Caribbean!  And Puerto Rico is our little slice of paradise out in the warm, clear Caribbean water!  The average high temperature in Puerto Rico is 83 degrees in December, with an average low of 72!  This is the best time of year to visit Puerto Rico, and you’re sure to have amazing weather for your Christmas on the beach!

10.  Pebble Beach, California – Yeah, I’m gonna throw it on here!  OK, we get rain on Christmas on occasion.  But I couldn’t tell you the last time this happened.  My most recent Christmas memories of Pebble Beach are of gorgeous, clear, sunny days where we can sit out on the back porch, overlooking Carmel Bay and Point Lobos, enjoying a Christmas cocktail and the bright, warm sun!  While plans have changed and I won't be in Pebble Beach this year, still hoping for a bright and sunny Christmas here in the Bay Area this year!

So there ya go.  If you, like me, reject the notion of enjoying a white Christmas, here’s some places where your Christmases will be sunny and bright!  Mele Kalikimaka!