Why is Tallahassee, Florida much colder than Haifa, Israel although Haifa is in an higher latitude (closer to the north pole) than Tallahassee?

Tallhassee is in latitude 30° 30' and Haifa is in latitude 32° 50' but still Tallhassee is much cooler than Haifa in winter. In December and January, the average high temperature in Tallhassee is 64 °F (18 °C) and the average low is 42 °F (6 °C). On occasion, temperatures fall into the 20s and 10s at night, and temperatures in the single digits have been recorded. Tallahassee recorded the state's lowest temperature of -2 °F (-20 °C), on February 13, 1899. Over the last 100 years, the city has also recorded several snowfalls; the heaviest was 2.8 inches on February 13, 1958. Historically, the city usually records at least observed flurries every three to four years, but on average, measurable amounts of snow (1" or more) occur only every 16 years. In Haifa in winter it is rare for temperature to reach 0°C and snow is also rare.

I think that distinction is in totally different climates:

Tallahassee is in humid subtropical climate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humid_subtropical_climate), while Haifa has an mediterranean climate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_climate).

So you can compare Tallahassee to Trabzon, for example, but not Haifa or other Mediterranean cities.

I think that distinction is in totally different climates:

Tallahassee is in humid subtropical climate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humid_subtropical_climate), while Haifa has an mediterranean climate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_climate).

So you can compare Tallahassee to Trabzon, for example, but not Haifa or other Mediterranean cities.

Ok thank but why is Tallahassee humind subtropical climate colder than Haifa's mediterranean climate? Does it have to do with Tallahassee's proximity to the ocean?

Ok thank but why is Tallahassee humind subtropical climate colder than Haifa's mediterranean climate?
Mediterranean sea is closed entity, i.e. isolated from the direct Oceans' influence.
Whole Mediterranean basin is associated with the Azores High, one of the largest subtropical high pressure cells of the oceans. Azores High is further associated with the Sahara Desert and this cell determines the whole Mediterranean Basin's climate, which usually has dry and hot summer and cool and rainy winters.
Exceptions are coast of Croatia (especially its northern parts), because this coast belongs to Adriatic sea, which is isolated from the rest of the Mediterranean sea and some other parts. These parts have climate similar to humid subtropical climate (i.e. has more rainfalls during the summer and generally lower temperatures than the rest of Mediterranean).

In some aspects (by origin for example) Black Sea can be considered as a part of this great basin. It's also isolated and has humid subtropical climate in some parts, like in northern Turkey (that's why I mentioned Trabzon) with generally lower temperatures and more precipitations than the rest of Mediterranean basin.


Tallahassee, as being mentioned, belongs to the humid subtropical climate which has lower temps and more precipitations (including rare snowfall) as we're going to the North.
This climate is under direct influence of the ocean (not isolated) and frequent shifts between pressures, that cause more precipitations during summer than in Mediterranean climate.
Precipitations occur during thunderstorms and tropical storms, including hurricanes or cyclones, which is not case in the Mediterranean (again with exception of Adriatic sea where small hurricanes on the open sea, known as 'leeches', are possible).

However, this climate in North America has many variants depending on many factors.
The northernmost limits of the humid subtropical climate experience much greater seasonal variation, according to Wiki.

Besides global climate, macro and mesoclimate should be taken into consideration when we talk about climate and specific region.
Hilly area of Tallahassee can be responsible for slight changes as well, like, for example, more rainfall in certain periods of year, colder months, etc.

Unfortunately, I hadn't opportunity to study North American climate more comprehensive, so I can tell you only general differences.


* Edit:

However, to depict this better for you, I will give you one imaginary example.
Take Volgograd instead of Haifa. It's 'closer to the North Pole' and currently it has continental climate with warm summers and cold winters (with the -16 Celsius).
Process of desertification of Caspian sea and certain areas in Central Asia, caused a expansion of Iranian and Kyzyl-Kum deserts.
High pressure cell has been formed associating itself to both deserts or one 'super desert', created by desertification.
In the same time Caspian sea is expanding to the north (anthropogenic influences like dams channels, nature occurrences like precipitations, excessive floods, ...).
General temperature has risen above the average and normal values.

Volgograd is now 'closer' to the influence of the sea (being basically a coast city) and of the high pressure cell from the desert(s).

Temperature of the whole area is now higher, or at least during the winter.
Summer would have unreliable weather with lot of storms and rainfall.

Basically, Volgograd is now closer to Mediterranean or humid subtropical climate (or some other warmer varieties) than the continental climate.

* Disclaimer:
This example is given only for informative purpose. It's fictional and cannot describe reliably what would happen under mentioned circumstances.
It's been given as an example to better explain differences between the climates mentioned above the edit.

Mediterranean sea is closed entity, i.e. isolated from the direct Oceans' influence.

But how does this effect rain and temperature?

This climate is under direct influence of the ocean (not isolated) and frequent shifts between pressures, that cause more precipitations during summer than in Mediterranean climate.

But why do frequent shifts between pressures cause more rain during summer?