For northerners in Austin, what is your biggest gripe about the climate? (Houston: living, low cost)

[cBach]

It was interesting to talk to a new neighbor from up north, she was talking about how they hated the see-saw weather in winter. She said they knew that the summer would be hot so that wasn't a surprise, but she didn't expect weeks that ranged from 90 to 20 within the course of 5 days.

I told them that our winter is very unstable, kind of like the springtime up north. Her response was that springtime was "supposed" to be unpredictable. I can't really identify with that statement. To me, springtime represents sunny mild weather and winter is an unpredictable crapshoot.

What surprised me was that the thing she hated the most was the 75 degree humid day that we had in December, she said "It shouldn't be humid in December." I actually kind of like those days because it helps my skin moisturize and I know it won't last long.

In any case, I figured I'd put a poll together for northerners only, I only want you to answer if you've lived north of I-70 for at least 4 years.

[scm53]

[Idlewile]

I could have voted for more than one and added a few.

The unstableness or 'up and down' is nothing new for us; it's more prevalent in CO around the Front Range than it is here. The only other difference is in CO there aren't really undesirable peaks and valleys as there are here -- more appropriate or welcomed weather changes for the season.

I felt the same way as your neighbor regarding that humid day in early December -- yuck! 75 degrees in a steam room -- in December -- is not great in my book, even with my dry skin.

[cBach]

Since I've lived up north, I decided to vote myself and I really don't like the seesaw weather either.

I would prefer it to be average in winter, high in low 60's, low in 40's than the roller coaster weather.

However, that being the case, I do like a little variation and I loved that 75 degree humid day. But I'm one of those rare people that love humidity in the winter and Houston's winter climate is among my favorite. In summer I like it bone dry and Austin suits me well in that regard, although I could use around 5-10 degrees less on many of the days that time of year... I guess California's Med climate suits me best overall but family and low cost of living keeps me here.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by Idlewile

I could have voted for more than one and added a few.

The unstableness or 'up and down' is nothing new for us; it's more prevalent in CO around the Front Range than it is here. The only other difference is in CO there aren't really undesirable peaks and valleys as there are here -- more appropriate or welcomed weather changes for the season.

I felt the same way as your neighbor regarding that humid day in early December -- yuck! 75 degrees in a steam room -- in December -- is not great in my book, even with my dry skin.

I don't know if there are not undesireable peaks and valleys in CO. A coworker in CO Springs said it was -15 with a high of 3 last week I believe. That is very undesireable to me...

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by cBach

Since I've lived up north, I decided to vote myself and I really don't like the seesaw weather either.

I would prefer it to be average in winter, high in low 60's, low in 40's than the roller coaster weather.

However, that being the case, I do like a little variation and I loved that 75 degree humid day. But I'm one of those rare people that love humidity in the winter and Houston's winter climate is among my favorite. In summer I like it bone dry and Austin suits me well in that regard, although I could use around 5-10 degrees less on many of the days that time of year... I guess California's Med climate suits me best overall but family and low cost of living keeps me here.

I would prefer it be average every month. The winter sucks. The 2011 summer absolutely sucked. You get this sweet spot for weather here during spring and fall and that's about it. With all of that, I still would prefer it over n'oreasterners...

[Idlewile]

Originally Posted by cBach

I don't know if there are not undesireable peaks and valleys in CO. A coworker in CO Springs said it was -15 with a high of 3 last week I believe. That is very undesireable to me...

That was highly unusual. HIGHLY. I never experienced temps like that in my 13 years there.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by Idlewile

That was highly unusual. HIGHLY. I never experienced temps like that in my 13 years there.

Neither did my coworker. He was very cold because he just moved to CO from SE Asia. Ouch! That must have been a real shocker!

[centralaustinite]

Midwestern childhood, four Iowa winters, one Chicago winter! They can keep winter!! Austin weather is fine by me!

(It did take many years to get used to it though).

[Decidigi]

I don't know that I count. While most of my life I've lived north of I-70, I was on the coast, which tends to make things milder all around.

I miss the soggy PNW. I miss the constant grey skies and rainy days. That said, I don't mind the weather in Austin too much. It beats the socks off the 100%+ humidity that I lived with in Florida. Summers suck, but they give me a reason to look forward to the winter. Winters rock. I love the unpredictable roller coaster that is Texas winters. It gets cold just long enough to enjoy it, and then boom - it's right back up to shorts and t-shirts weather. It's awesome.

All in all I'd say Austin is completely habitable - and downright comfortable for 9 months of the year. The other 3 months? Well, whoever invented Air Conditioning should be sainted.