This post examines U.S. cities that experience some of the most extreme seasonal temperature swings. It explores why those swings occur and what local geography and atmospheric patterns contribute to rapid transitions between summer heat and winter cold.
Drawing on regional climate patterns—from Tornado Alley to Alaska’s interior—we identify cities with the largest annual ranges. We explain the meteorological drivers behind their volatility.
How geography and atmospheric dynamics create extreme seasonal swings
Large temperature ranges reflect a combination of latitude, elevation, proximity to moisture sources, and the meeting of different air masses. In many of the cities below, sharp contrasts arise because cold continental air can clash with warm, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico.
Local effects such as mountain-induced winds and lake-effect snow also play a role.
Key mechanisms: air mass clashes, local topography, and transient winds
Air mass interaction is fundamental. When Arctic or polar air pushes south and collides with warm, moist air from lower latitudes the result can be abrupt temperature drops and severe storms.
Tornado Alley exemplifies this, but other regions see similar clashes on a seasonal basis.
Local features such as large lakes and mountain ranges amplify extremes. Lake-effect snow can bury lakeshore communities while mountain-induced Chinook winds can raise temperatures dramatically in a matter of hours.
Transient winds, like Chinooks or strong plains winds, transport heat or cold rapidly. These winds change day-to-day conditions and contribute to the perception of unpredictability in many Midwestern and interior Alaska locations.
Cities with notable seasonal ranges and why they matter
Below are cities that routinely record very large annual temperature ranges, with short explanations of the dominant local drivers.
Each example illustrates how a particular combination of factors produces extreme seasonal variability.
Here is the source article for this story: The 10 US Cities With Some Of The Most Extreme Weather Swings