> > > Anyone want to comment on what the deal is? I think the last person to *insist* on this fact was an English Professor who lived in one of the Carolinas. Is there a noticable temperature difference depending on where on the eastern coast you're at?
> >
> > I'm sure the ocean is warmer further south. The difference in air temperature is like night and day, only more so, but I think the ocean is warmer there as well. But I'm surprised to learn it might possibly be warmer than the Pacific. In any case, I guarantee you that the part of the Atlantic north of, say, Virginia, is much colder.
>
>
> Meanwhile, on the other side of the pond, Northern Europeans are thankful that the Gulf Stream carries enough warm water to defrost their climate.

Sure. The European North Atlantic coast has all that Carribean hotness in it. Which is good for maybe a degree or twos difference, after 5000 miles.

And just to take the cake in "being immersed in cold water" stakes, well, I don't think anyone took a thermometer reading, but when I was younger I had the great misfortune to fall into the Arctic Ocean in winter. There were ice crystals in there.

winter"my muscles literally froze solid"mute