🇺🇸 Denver vs 🇺🇸 San Francisco

Denver at 5,280 feet (exactly one mile high) has a semi-arid climate with 300 days of sunshine annually. The Rocky Mountains 40 miles to the west dramatically influence weather — Chinook winds can raise temperatures 50°F in hours, and afternoon thunderstorms are nearly daily in summer. Snowstorms can be intense but melt quickly due to high altitude sun.

San Francisco's climate is shaped by its position on a peninsula surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. The coastal fog (Karl the Fog) rolls in through the Golden Gate each summer afternoon, keeping temperatures mild year-round. The city has dramatically different microclimates — the Sunset District fog-bound while the Mission basks in sun on the same day.