Belmont Microclimates
For those of you who live and work in Belmont it may come as no surprise to find the temperature in one part of Belmont completely different from another. These so called "microclimates" exist all over the Peninsula but in some cities such as Belmont, they can be found within the city itself. Back in the day before air-conditioning, choosing a mild climate was key to comfortable summer evenings. In the 1860's, William Chapman Ralston picked a strategic place in Belmont to build his home. Located near the then bustling downtown section of Belmont, yet secluded inland far enough to be protected from the cooler San Francisco Bay winds, this area today is known for its superior microclimate. Other microclimates can be found elsewhere such as in the hills overlooking the bay. These higher elevations are affected two fold; by more exposure to the wind and their inherent altitude. Also referred to as the "lapse rate"-for every 1,000 feet in elevation, temperatures are around 3.5 degrees lower. So it stands to reason that a home up in Bellcrest Gardens near Highway 92 would be cooler than a home in Sterling Downs. But it's not just elevation that accounts for the differential in temperatures. Microclimates created by the shelter of a hillside, ravine or eastern exposure can create a protected environment free from the cool afternoon wind which can drop temperatures as much as 20 degrees in the course of just a few hours. Almost everyday the temperature in Belmont peaks in the afternoon and typically has cooled considerably by early evening. Want to know what time of day is typically the warmest? On average it's 2:10 in the afternoon. Our weather station located at our home in Belmont has been providing real-time weather reports from Belmont for years. Log on to: MorganHomes.com and click on "Interesting Links" to view our station-we hope you find it interesting.
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