If we move to ATL do we get rid of our winter coats? (Atlanta: live in, storage)

[RainyRainyDay]

Originally Posted by lastminutemom

Won't you need them if you go home to visit?

This is true. We visited family in Ottawa last Christmas and that had us digging through the basement storage area to find our Sorels which had, of course, never once been worn in 7 years in metro Atlanta.

We're from northern BC. Hello again, OP - we discussed immigration on another thread. As a fellow Canadian I can assure you that the boots and the kids' snowsuits will likely not be used in Atlanta. My husband has never worn his down-lined jacket here either. (It was worn in Ottawa last Christmas, though). I do wear my heavy winter coat during a few weeks, most years.

Take a look at these figures: Monthly Averages for Atlanta, GA (30328) - weather.com You can see average lows in December, January and February are freezing or lower. There are a lot of days when it gets well below freezing at night, although it almost invariably warms up substantially during the day, as you can see from the average highs. Nonetheless, it's pretty cold when you're heading out to school or work in the morning. Warm outer clothing and gloves are desirable.

Many people, particularly but not restricted to lower-income people, don't have proper winter jackets and coats here. The schools take this into account when considering weather closures. There's an occasional "snow day" down here, often in conditions that wouldn't be considered candidate for a "snow day" up north. The reason is usually some combination of icy driving conditions and temperature/wind that are too cold for kids to be standing out on school bus stops in fleece hoodies, which seems to be all the winter jacket a lot of them have.

Another poster mentioned the nearby ski areas in NC. That's a good point also. We don't ski, but if your family are skiers, you'd doubtless use your winter gear on ski trips.

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by RainyRainyDay

Another poster mentioned the nearby ski areas in NC.

Yeah, but the conditions are pretty mediocre. My son is a snowboarder and we ski, so we promised him we'd go to some mountains after we moved, so went to Gatlinburg in TN last year, and it was slushy, icy, and pretty bad if you're used to New England, and absolutely miserable if you're used to the Rockies. It just doesn't get cold enough and the amount of natural snow is very small, if any at all.

[windsorslp]

Wow, that's great info! Thanks everyone. So, oK, I am keeping a winter coat for each one of us but getting rid of the boots and snow pants. I can always buy the kids snow pants and boots if we go home or go skiing ( I used to ski in Montreal where I grew up and haven't done so in 20 years, but the kids might want to try it someday). I have lived in Montreal, Ottawa, Vermont and Windsor (across from Detroit) so I guess I will find the winters pretty easy in Atlanta! I hate snow and cold but I can put up with it for a couple of months I guess. I really am shocked that it gets that cold in Atlanta!

[anthonyr]

Ha! I was wondering the same thing T.S.- Great advice everyone- I guess its all relative to what your used to. We will be moving to that area from N.W. Montana! - Sounds like shorts anD T-shirts for us for the winter! We will keep our tennis shoes and sweat socks though, so our toes don't get too cold. We won't take the sandals out till the end of Feb.!

[atlantaATL]

Originally Posted by south-to-west

While the advice and insight offered on this thread has been great, I respectfully disagree a little. It doesn't feel like Mid-Atlantic winters down here to me as it's usually 10-15 degrees warmer than places like DC and NYC; and it sure as heck doesn't get down to 0 degrees down here. If that happened, this place would be declared a state of emergency. Atlanta has very mild winters--but that doesn't mean they're nonexistent. Bring your winter coats for the days when it doesn't get too much above freezing and for the evenings when it gets down into the teens.

As a rule of thumb the coldest part of winter is from the end of January until the beginning of February. During this period, you will have 2 to 3 weeks of weather when the daytime highs won't get above 40 and the nighttime lows often dip into the teens. The rest of the winter (December to February) is a continual series of warm ups (daytime highs of 50-65 degrees) and cool downs (daytime highs in the 40s). By the tail end of February you'll see the first signs of Spring.

People like to think that Atlanta gets cold winters, but in reality it's nothing but an extended late Autumn.

This year it was colder there were many weeks where the weather was in the 20s etc

[atlantamoi]

Originally Posted by windsorslp

I have lived in Montreal, Ottawa, Vermont and Windsor (across from Detroit) so I guess I will find the winters pretty easy in Atlanta!

You will probably really like winter here! It gets cold enough to feel like winter, but doesn't last forever. A couple of stray 70 degree days in January or February. I grew up in the Midwest and think I like winter more than summer now. Nasty hot summers suck.

[brookdaleresident]

The winter is extremely mild. My kids don't wear heavy winter coats ever since it always warms up in the afternoon. They dress in layers; a midweight jacket with a sweater in the morning and by the time they get out of school, they only need one or the other. I never wore gloves yet (I'm from NJ)

[KevK]

Originally Posted by windsorslp

I know it can get quite cool in the winter months but we are from the north and were wondering if we move to ATL, would be a good idea to get rid of the kids snow suits, our heavy winter coats and boots, ect.

You can dump the boots and snow suits but hold on to the coats. It gets down right cold here. Last winter was horribly cold with a few days getting down to 16 degrees!

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by windsorslp

I know it can get quite cool in the winter months but we are from the north and were wondering if we move to ATL, would be a good idea to get rid of the kids snow suits, our heavy winter coats and boots, ect.

Depends on what you're used to. I don't wear a coat down here except very rarely, and that's just a light leather jacket, but I'm also used to a MN climate which gets a LOT colder.

[Legs1357]

Get rid of the snowboots and get rainboots. And yes there were plenty of days that I found myself wearing my heavy coat, gloves, and a scarf and I don't get cold super easily, I grew up in Colorado. But then again if you'll be extremely car dependent and your only walking will consist of walking to your car and walking from your car to your destination, then no you probably don't need much. Just be on the safe side and pack it away, see what you personally will need.