Are you freezing during the winter? Does your city of choice plummet into negative temperatures, flirting with freezing every other day? Do you witness a white Christmas every year? If you’re yearning for a break from frigid temperatures, hoping to find a respite from bitter wind chills, look at these warmer winter climates. Escape the cold with a trip. 

1. Orlando, Florida

As a lifelong Floridian, I will say Florida does get cold. Though we don’t have to bundle up in parkas (but some of us do) when the temperatures drop below 70 degrees. 

Most of Florida enjoys a nice oceanfront sea breeze that keeps the climate cool, yet Orlando’s pavement-locked location exists miles away from the chilly sea winds. Statistics show the winter temperatures in Orlando range from 52 degrees to 71 degrees during the winter blip. 

2. Saint Petersburg, Florida

Saint Petersburg rests on the western side of Florida, kissing the Gulf of Mexico, and during the winter, the temperatures dip 30 degrees below the average, humid climate. Any northerner wishing to switch out their snow shovels for flip-flops? The winter numbers in St. Petersburg stretch from 57 degrees to 69 degrees. We thank that fresh Gulf of Mexico breeze for the slightly lower average high temperature than that in Orlando. 

3. Miami, Florida

They don’t call the basketball team the Miami Heat due to the city's cold spells. Dancing on Florida’s southern tip, we have Miami AKA the hottest part of Florida. Winter temperature in the 305 tends to remain in the 50s, creeping into the low 60s and high 70s. Typically, Miami winters float between an average of 63 degrees and 78 degrees. 

4. Los Angeles, California

According to a Floridian, Los Angeles winters might exude freezing temperatures. According to an upstate New Yorker or someone used to midwestern blizzards, the winter climate is moderate. The Californian metropolis undergoes a nearly 20-degree fluctuation throughout the crisp months. The low sits around 48 degrees while the high floats to 67 degrees. Los Angeles’ cold season lasts a month longer than Florida’s, giving the west coast state four months of cool air.   

5. San Diego, California

Sun-kissed San Diego sits south of LA. A booming paradise recognized for its year-round temperate climate and ample wildlife, the Southern California city finds a tight temperature scale during winter: a low of 51 degrees and a high of 65 degrees. The low is a few degrees warmer than its northern counterpart, Los Angeles. 

6. Palm Springs, California

Deeper into the Californian desert stands a city teeming with canyons and groves. An underground aquifer quenches the arid desert with a water lifeline. Given the surrounding desert of Palm Springs, visitors and residents undergo warmer averages than towns hours away. The average winter low is 46 degrees, with a high of 69 degrees. 

7. Las Vegas, Nevada

Like Palm Springs, Vegas’ desert landscape appeals to people needing a warmer winter vacation. The brutal Vegas heat dials back the flames a notch for the winter. Compared to the other spots on this list, Vegas is chillier, although the city’s winter climate stays above-freezing temperatures. The lowest of lows during the winter reach the high 30s, and the highest winter heat grows to 58 degrees. Insufferable to a Floridian, heaven to a native Michigander. 

8. Houston, Texas

Planted on the Eastern side of the southern state of Texas is a city dedicated to the rodeo, space, and delectable food paired with a comfortable climate, at least during the ¼ of the year known as winter. A textbook winter in Houston starts after Thanksgiving, stemming three months until the end of February. Within that quarter of a year, the city sees low temperatures of 47 degrees with a high average winter temperature of 64 degrees. Do yourself a favor and visit Houston during the cold season.    

9. Dallas, Texas

Moving about 250 miles northwest of Houston is a city famous for revolutionary healthcare and technology innovations, including serving as home base to numerous Fortune 500 companies. Aside from the STEM side of the city, Dallas holds a spot in its heart for cowboys and cowgirls, considering the football team’s namesake takes after the former. Over winter months, Dallas’ atmosphere features lows of 39 degrees and highs of 57 degrees. 

10. Austin, Texas

The best city in Texas, otherwise called The Live Music Capital of the World, or Austin, is a perfect warmer location to vacation in this winter. Southwest of Dallas and south of Houston, Austin perches itself in the middle of the Lone Star state, grabbing attention from every direction. Austin’s lower winter temperatures come in around 43 degrees, with an average high of 62 degrees. Overall, Austin boasts a warmer winter than Dallas and Houston. 

11. Phoenix, Arizona

In the Valley of the Sun, Phoenix enjoys a 360-degree desert view. Cacti speckle the red-rock landscape, presenting a stunning spectacle. Arizona’s capital maintains a 20-degree winter window, shuffling from the lowest low of 46 degrees to the highest high of 66 degrees. The relaxed climate encourages visitors to explore the gorgeous desert by embarking on a hot air balloon ride or hiking in the mountainous terrain. 

12. Yuma, Arizona 

Another Arizona spot reveling in its 20-degree winter margin is Yuma. Yuma borders Mexico as one of the southernmost cities in Arizona. Its location lends to its warm winters and its nickname as the Sunniest City on Earth. The constant sunshine and lack of rainfall create the ideal area for outdoor activities like hiking the Sonoran Desert or kayaking on the Colorado River. Yuma’s winter’s shift between 49 degrees and 69 degrees. 

13. New Orleans, Louisiana

Cobblestone paths direct visitors to the French Quarter, an historical feature displaying the best sights of this Louisiana town. Around every corner, a new storied landmark arises, inviting visitors to search the alluring premises. The scent of freshly baked beignets wafts through the pathway to St. Louis Cathedral. In the distance, voodoo museums lurk. In New Orleans, the winter months can dip to 48 degrees and soar to 63 degrees.  

14. Honolulu, Hawaii

Honolulu is Hawaii's largest city. It also doubles as the state capital. What does the Hawaiian island have to show for itself? Waikiki Beach: a surfing hotspot matched with clear water for sunbathers. Hanauma Bay, a snorkeler's dream. Humpback whales fluke as turtles paddle up to swimmers, meandering through the preserved ecosystem. Plus, the Pearl Harbor monument. Average temperatures in Honolulu winters drop to 68 degrees and rise to 79 degrees. 

Data pulled from: https://weatherspark.com/