climate analogue for Valencia in Spain in USA?

Hi

I am looking to get a rough idea of areas in the US (or elsewhere) which would have similar climates to Valencia in Spain. From the web i seam to be getting all of the western sea board of the states from Portland down to California. Don't really know the climate zones in the US but this seams very broad. Could people who know the area narrow it down a bit or else confirm that I am looking in the right area?

Hoping to use this to tap into some resources and experience working in this climate zone.

Valencia is classed as having a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification sa. But influenced by Semi-arid climate BSh.

From wikipedia page on Valencia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valencia,_Spain
Its average annual temperature is 17.8 °C (64.0 °F): 22.3 °C (72.1 °F) during the day and 13.3 °C (55.9 °F) at night. In the coldest month - January - the temperature typically ranges from 10 to 18 °C (50 to 64 °F) during the day, and 2 to 12 °C (36 to 54 °F) at night, with the average sea temperature being between 13–14 °C (55–57 °F). In the warmest month - August - the temperature during the day typically ranges from 28–34 °C (82–93 °F), above 23 °C (73 °F) at night, the average sea temperature is 26 °C (79 °F). Sunshine hours are up to 2,660 per year, from 150 (average 4.8 hours of sunshine / day) in December to 314 (average 10 hours of sunshine / day) in July. Average relative humidity is 60% in April to 68% in August.[22] Average number of days above 21 °C (70 °F) is 200, average number of days above 32 °C (90 °F) is 11 (1 in June, 4 in July, 4 in August and 2 in September).[23] Generally, summer temperatures similar to those experienced in northern Europe last about 8 months (from April to November). Two months (December and March) are transitional, with temperatures above 20 °C (68 °F) sometimes occurring.

thank you
ronan

Here in the foothills, north of LA, we get colder winter nights than you - some good frosts in winter, even a dusting of snow last winter.  That is at 1800 feet, just under 300 meters.  But there are so many microclimates between the valleys, the hills, the coastline, the mountains it is ridiculous.  The valleys get hot, hot, hot in summer, closer to the coast is milder. Often cooler during the day, but never the frosts in winter.  I think it is probably drier here.  Perhaps some of the coastal areas of southern california would be closest.  As you get north, it is much less sunny and more rain (those two tend to go together  ) along the coasts.  Inland, it is drier, with more extremes of temperatures. 

this tool is pretty good for climate comparisons, but doesn't seem to have rainfall for valencia.

http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/vacationplanner/compare

try north hollywood vs. valencia, pretty close.

here in Tujunga, CA, we have the same annual average temperature as Valencia, but wider swings - hotter in summer and colder in winter.

thank you for the answers


ronan

The one place I would love to live is Valencia, granted I'm sure much has changed since I was there in the early 90's. My friend had a flat off Calle De La Paz and another near the park with the Walt Disney statues. There isn't much room for gardening in the city, however going to Piccasent area there is/was a lot of open land and some of the olive and orange orchards had abandoned housing. It makes me think that they wouldn't mind partitioning some of that land to someone that would follow permaculture as it would only be a benefit to the area.

Also, there were many farms out West (I believe it was, sorry so long ago) around the sunflower fields. I saw many acres, some with old houses that were unused, again I have no idea what has happened to this land since. Arizona, most likely between Phoenix and Prescott is the one place I've been that has a climate similar to Valencia. Yet, you have the moisture from the Mediterranean to take into account, so the rainfall there (Arizona) will be too small. Southern California and most likely not more north than Bakersfield, CA would be my best guess then for the climate most similar.

Good luck to you wherever you choose.