What would be your ideal climate?

[Sorcerer]

In light of a recent batch of UK heatwaves this summer there will no doubt be mixed opinions on the matter. Some will try to enjoy the hot weather because of the novelty (for now anyway, not so much in future), whereas some won't be able to cope so well in the heat because they naturally won't be used to it. Acclimatisation is hard when your body doesn't have time, and the UK weather can be notoriously inconsistent sometimes.

However, while there will be much talk about net zero and climate change after these heatwaves across Europe, I would like to instead ask everyone on the forums what they think would be their preferred climate would be. Let's picture a fantasy scenario where you found a small offshore island and are setting up your own small country. All infrastructure will naturally be built with the climate in mind. If you had it your way, what kind of climate would you prefer to live in?

Personally, while I prefer hot weather over cold weather, I think that I'd opt for a humid subtropical climate with consistent rainfall so that people could get a break from the heat of summer, and also because having a winter would help kill off tropical diseases. Winter wouldn't be too cold though. Think of climates like the Southern US or Central Eastern China. It's arguably among the most hospitable climates for human settlements compared to tropical rainforests or arid deserts even though we can still survive in both.

But what kind of climate would you all prefer to live in? Vote in the poll and let me know what you would prefer and for what reasons. Don't worry about the nitty-gritty too much such as how your private island country would have to be ran in accordance with climate, it's just for a bit of fun!

 

[DarloRich]

warm but not hot in summer, cool but not often cold in winter. Clearly defined snow period of, say, 2 weeks over xmas. Clearly defined HOT period of, say, 2 weeks when i am on holiday!

That or the climate of the north east: Cutting wind and bitter, sideways rain

 

[Peter0124]

Consistently warm temperatures all year round (eg 20°C so not too hot), rainfall ONLY at night and longer daylight.

 

[brad465]

Mediterranean would be best for me out of those, however I think a subtropical highland climate would be quite good, where you get constant cool/warm temperatures with a wet/dry season, which is more comfortable than a tropical climate. This climate is typical of Mexico City and other cities in the tropics at very high elevations; I experienced this climate while visiting Shimla and nearby places in the Himalayan foothills in 2016.

 

[stadler]

For me i would happily live somewhere that gets around 10° all year round. I absolutely hate hot weather but can manage cold weather easily. I find that 10° is the perfect temperature. It is not too hot but also not too cold. It is the ideal temperature where you can easily tolerate it. I would not mind a month or two in the winter of 0° and plenty of snow too.

 

[NorthOxonian]

Mediterranean - and more specifically the more moderate form found in places like northern California and the north west of Spain. Long dry summers which are warm but not hot, and cool winters with a fair amount of rain but falling mostly as drizzle not as storms.

I don't particularly mind warm weather (and as I get older, I actually find myself tolerating it more and more), but the more extreme humid heat you'd get in a tropical or subtropical climate wouldn't be to my taste. The sort of temperatures we've had regularly in the last month in the North East (25-30°C) are perfectly fine but I wouldn't want anything significantly hotter for long periods!

Places like Porto, Seattle, or Christchurch are perhaps most representative of this sort of climate now (and looking at the forecasts in each, all have weather in the next week or two that would be my preference - the former two summer and the latter winter).

 

[frankmoh]

If we are to assume this new climate is for Britain and its houses, I would like 20⁰C summers and lots of snow in the winter.

 

[Bletchleyite]

For me the traditional UK climate. No more than 25 in summer and even then only for a few days a year, very few days under 0.

 

[Howardh]

Jersey's - maybe with a little less rain!

 

[dangie]

For me the traditional UK climate. No more than 25 in summer and even then only for a few days a year, very few days under 0.

For me as well. Maybe not North of Scotland, but for here in the Midlands it'll do just fine. It's a British way of life to complain about the weather, but considering what other countries endure, it's really not too bad.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Jul 2025 ==

Jersey's - maybe with a little less rain!

Rain? What's that?

 

[PTR 444]

My ideal climate:

• Year-round spring/autumn-like climate with most days ranging between 8 and 18 degrees Celsius.
• Some days above this threshold in July/August and below this in January/February, but very rarely exceeding 25 or going below -5.
• Most precipitation to take place at night, with some occasional rainy days.

 

[McRhu]

Plenty of bright, bright, bright sunshiny days with a bit less of the rainy days and Mondays. I'd settle for a South Coast climate in the West of Scotland.

 

[Magdalia]

I only function at temperatures in the range 10-25C, so I would like most days to be in that range.

But I'm a gardener so I want a decent amount of rain (preferably at night), and enough frost or snow to kill off pests in the winter.

Basically that's the weather we used to have until recently, without heatwaves, droughts and storms.

 

[3141]

When I was working in Zambia's Western Province in the early 1970s, the most notable thing about the climate was its consistency.

The hottest was the start of the rainy season, roughly late September and early October, and that felt very hot because humidity was high. Mid-October to the end of March was less hot, partly because the altitude was 4,500 feet or higher. It didn't rain continuously during those months: there might be three or four weeks without rain, or with very little of it.

From April onwards it was normally dry. Temperatures reduced and in late May and June were only about 70 degrees F. Nights in June might go down to about 40 degrees. July and August were excellent - warm and dry with little humidity. If you planned to go somewhere you could feel confident that the weather wouldn't suddenly force you to cancel your plans.

So I'll choose somewhere at an altitude of at least 5000 feet, with a clearly-defined rainy season, and 30 - 40 inches of rain since it's got to last until the next time.

 

[Bevan Price]

Fairly similar to posts #3 and 13.
About 20C maximum in summer, 10-15C minimum in winter.
Rain only at night. No thunderstorms.

 

[Ashley Hill]

As long as it’s dry I don’t worry too much. However I do like snow so would appreciate a fortnights worth every winter.

 

[zero]

I'm unable to vote because I don't like any of the options.

If money was no object, I would like to be in northern Europe from approximately May to September, South East Asia / Middle East / Central America from December to February, and southern Australia or New Zealand (southern Chile/Argentina may also be acceptable) for the rest of the year.

For me, the only problem with UK heatwaves are that many UK buildings are not well-suited to being indoors when it is hot.

Although I dislike how cold it gets in northern European winter, the main problem for me is the dark, which is also exacerbated by cloudy weather. If Scotland had daylight from 7am to 5pm on 21st December, and it was sunny on at least 2/3rds of winter days, I could cope with the temperatures all year.

 

[Freightmaster]

Plenty of bright, bright, bright sunshiny days...

...so you can see clearly when the rain has gone?




MARK

 

[styles]

Somewhere between Oceanic and Polar.

I lived in London for a few years and I just found summers awful.

I moved to Scotland a few years back and I am much happier with the weather. It gets very hot for a few heatwave days a year but I can cope with that.

My main hobbies are all outdoorsy. Hiking, cycling, climbing, camping, etc. These are more enjoyable in cooler weather, and personally I really like winter mountaineering and winter camping, so it's better up here. Conversely, I used to live in north Wales and for most of the summer if I went camping in Eryri I'd be really uncomfortable. My hayfever would play up due to less moisture, and it would be too hot for sleeping very well, even in a hammock. Wake up sticky every time (which is why I'm careful to always camp near a water source for a wash!)

I would prefer it to be a bit cooler than it is here still, especially as I've moved from Fife to Midlothian. I've stayed in Arctic climates and been very happy.

 

[nlogax]

Given the chance to play weather god, I'd opt for the dry heat of a desert summer with occasional massive storms & downpours. Wintertime... crisp and cold would be ideal. Snow a plus.

Scotland provides me none of the former but a bit more of the latter. I'd rather be experiencing summer up here than down south though.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Given the chance to play weather god, I'd opt for the dry heat of a desert summer with occasional massive storms & downpours. Wintertime... crisp and cold would be ideal. Snow a plus.

Scotland provides me none of the former but a bit more of the latter. I'd rather be experiencing summer up here than down south though.

But then in Scotland you have the legendary midges...

 

[Sorcerer]

So perhaps not too surprising for a largely-UK-based forum, the Oceanic climate is winning the poll by a landslide (or tsunami?) which I think is a very fair choice. It isn't my personal favourite, but I can't argue against it since we seem to do best in cooler weather. Even I who prefers the humid subtropical climate of Florida admits it can be quite a struggle at first. I dread to think how much we spent on drinks holidaying there in September of 2008.

However, I do apologise for those who might not feel like any of the poll options suit their preferences. I was trying to include as many as possible without too much clutter, hence why I included desert and semi-arid climates together because of their similar seasonal temperatures and sparse rainfall, which is slightly higher in the latter's case but still not quite lush as a temperate climate.

But I do not apologise for those who voted for a polar climate with no summers and constant cold. You guys sound like actual psychopaths.

 

[McRhu]

...so you can see clearly when the rain has gone?




MARK

Nothin' but blue skies...

 

[GusB]

Another vote for Oceanic from me. I'm fairly content with the climate here, although I will admit that I've been finding the recent high temperatures rather oppressive; it was up to 28C at one point over the weekend and that's just far too much for me. Today it's around 20C with a nice cooling breeze and, since we're doing musical references, That's The Way...

I'm not keen on the lack of daylight in winter but I can't really complain about the climate too much. Being on the Moray coast, snow tends not to lie for very long when it does fall and most of it tends to fall in the hills anyway. It's only when we get a really cold northerly blast that things become unpleasant.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I've ticked oceanic, but I'd like it somewhat warmer in summer and colder in winter than we actually have.

 

[Yew]

I think I'd go for Alpine Mountain, High 20s in the summer, with snow in the winter. Or perhaps sub-Saharan Africa?

 

[nlogax]

But then in Scotland you have the legendary midges...

If I were a weather god midges would cease to be...see also, wasps.

 

[urbophile]

Somewhere between British and Mediterranean. In other words, fewer grey and damp days, rare to non-existent snow and ice, but enough rainfall to ensure a green countryside, and days below 10 degrees or above 25 to be rare. I can do without wind though.