Winter in Birmingham?? (Mobile, Florence, Daphne: to rent, insurance, crime)

[bonnie]

Really would like to know: What is the normal winter weather like in and around Birmingham? How long does winter last and what is the average growing season? Do you have four seasons? Would you tell me what you're longest season is? Where I live....winter is our longest! LQQKING for better weather and a nice place to live. Any info would be appreciated, thank you.

[Sandra-A1]

The following might answer your question:

Climate
Birmingham has a temperate climate characterized by warm summers, mild winters, and abundant rainfall. Birmingham has slightly less rainfall than the Gulf Coast and is slightly cooler. January sees average daily high temperatures of 53.0 °F (11.7 °C) and lows of 31.8 °F (−0.1 °C). In July the average daily high is 90.6 °F (32.6 °C) and the low is 69.2 °F (20.7 °C). The average annual temperature in Birmingham is 62 °F (17 °C). Snowfall is infrequent in the area, with a yearly average of only 0.5 inches (1 cm). The average yearly rainfall in Birmingham is about 52 inches (1330 mm), with March being the wettest month and October the driest.

The spring and fall months are pleasant but variable, but cold fronts frequently bring strong to severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes to the South. The fall season features less rainfall and fewer storms, as well as lower humidity than the spring, but it is also a secondary severe weather season. Birmingham is located on the heart of a tornado alley known as the Dixie Alley due to the frequency of tornadoes in Central Alabama. In late summer and fall months, Birmingham experiences occasional tropical storms and hurricanes due to its proximity to the Central Gulf Coast

Historical Weather Information
Average Temperature: 62°F

Average Rainfall: 52.16"

Average Snowfall: 2.1"

Number of Days of Precipitation: 117

Number of Days of Maximum Daily Temperature Above 90 degrees: 51.8

Number of Days of Maximum Daily Temperature Below 32 degrees: 3.5

Number of Days of Minimum Daily Temperature Below 32 degrees: 53

Freezes: First in early November, last in mid to late March

[jewlena]

Originally I'm from Canada...
I don't live in Birmingham but northwest of there in Florence Al. Winter is very mild for the most part here. The humidity will chill you to the bone tho, so you still have to bundle up. There are some days that a below freezing, however there are also days where you can still wear a t-shirt.
I guess its really what your used to.

[jmbreland]

I lived in Birmingham for a short time from summer through fall and winter then moved back to Mobile at the beginning of spring. After being accustomed with Mobile's mild winters, I could tell you that Birmingham is considerably colder than Mobile. It surprised me just how much colder because Birmingham isn't that far north. But, I do realize the coastal area where Mobile is located is under strong marine influence from the Gulf of Mexico, which has a moderating effect on temperatures there.

Bonnie, I can't resist: if you're looking for a nice place to live, I invite you to take a look at the Mobile Bay area. It's like no other: the large, modern, historical port city of Mobile, quaint bayside towns, beautiful sugar-white sand beaches, and a Southern landscape adorned with Spanish moss-draped live oaks and palms, azaleas, and camellias.

[bonnie]

Originally Posted by jmbreland

I lived in Birmingham for a short time from summer through fall and winter then moved back to Mobile at the beginning of spring. After being accustomed with Mobile's mild winters, I could tell you that Birmingham is considerably colder than Mobile. It surprised me just how much colder because Birmingham isn't that far north. But, I do realize the coastal area where Mobile is located is under strong marine influence from the Gulf of Mexico, which has a moderating effect on temperatures there.

Bonnie, I can't resist: if you're looking for a nice place to live, I invite you to take a look at the Mobile Bay area. It's like no other: the large, modern, historical port city of Mobile, quaint bayside towns, beautiful sugar-white sand beaches, and a Southern landscape adorned with Spanish moss-draped live oaks and palms, azaleas, and camellias.

Hi, Thank you for the info & I hope you're willing to answer a few questions since you're familiar with both areas. I have looked a little into the Fairhope Alabama area. Would Fairhope be part of the area you're referring too? It does look beautiful! The reason I looked into Fairhope in the first place is because I adore the look of the old south...Spanish moss draping from the trees, magnolia's, everything you mentioned...the whole scene. It was my first choice when considering the move south. But after talking with a few people who were familiar with the area they convinced me (due to the humidity along with hurricanes, hurricane insurance, drug problems, crime, and the prices of homes) that I would be better off looking into the suburbs of Birmingham.

What is your feeling of personal safety? And how about the problem with drugs...what's your feeeling regarding that area? I know drugs are everywhere but some areas are worse than others. And being on the coast myself (even though Maine isn't known for having a drug problem) find that drugs in this area are much worse than other areas of Maine. Even though the population is low the drug problem is extreme. And as far as the weather, you mentioned the winter being colder in Birmingham - what are the winter's like where you are? And how about the summers, would there be much of a difference in summer temperatures? How is the overall economy in your area compared to the Birmingham area?

Sorry to have so many questions but believe me this isn't all of them! Hope you find the time to answer. I do appreciate any information you may offer. Have a good day, Bonnie

[jmbreland]

Sorry for the long delay since my last log-in. I didn't expect a reply to my posting.

Anyway, yes, Fairhope's a part of the Mobile area and is one of these quaint bayside towns I mentioned in my earlier posting. The risk of hurricanes in the area is real, but I do know that Fairhope has the advantage of being situated atop a bluff on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, protecting it and the other bayside towns from the storm surges from hurricanes that deluge the low-lying western shore, which includes the city of Mobile. Drug problems and crime--those things are almost nonexistent in Fairhope. Fairhope is almost like utopia, really. As for Mobile, it's a very safe area. Drug problems here are not bad at all, I rarely hear of drugs in the local news. West Mobile, where I live, is so safe we sometimes just leave the house unlocked when going somewhere for a short time. Police presence in the city core (downtown) is high, keeping the area very safe, even at night. (To be continued.)

[mayflowermn]

Hello,

I currently live in Minneapolis MN and I am contemplating a move to the Mobile area. My boyfriend just recently took a job down in the Mobile area and is moving down there at the end of this month. I'm in a bit of a panic after reading some of the posts from others regarding Mobile. All of the post were extremely negative and it sounded like Mobile was a real cesspool according to them. You paint a completely different side of it. From what you've written, it sounds really nice and I am starting to feel a bit better about taking the plunge and moving there.

I expect there to be crime/drug problems in any larger metropolitan area. I think that is a given and from your descripition, Mobile is no different and there are working on improving the area for the citizens.

So, would you be able to tell me what neighborhoods should be avoided or what areas of Mobile would be good to rent in?

I've been looking on the web to get different perspectives but would love to hear from someone that actually lives there and can offer some insight. Just what is Mobile like?

Thank you much!!

Donna

[JRA2000TL]

I'm from Mobile, but I have visited Minneapolis so I may be able to relate to what you might be looking for. I don't know which part of Minneapolis you lived in, but the newer fast-growing areas of Mobile are way out in west Mobile or across the bay in Daphne/Spanish Fort. These areas are newer and are more like something you'd find out near Minnetonka, Plymouth, maybe Eden Prairie or any of the further suburbs outside of the city. The midtown area is alot like the residential downtown areas of Minneapolis...alot of older/historic homes. Most are well-kept, but it's a little more spotty here as to a mixture of nice houses with crummy ones, and the crime is a little higher there being closer to downtown. There is nothing in downtown Mobile worth living in, in my opinion. What part of Minneapolis are you living?

[ronideal]

Winter is not really that bad in Birmingham at all. It has a few cold days into the 20's, but most of the time it is 40-60. It snows maybe once a year, and winter is over before you know it. Moderator cut: realtor advertising

Originally Posted by bonnie

Really would like to know: What is the normal winter weather like in and around Birmingham? How long does winter last and what is the average growing season? Do you have four seasons? Would you tell me what you're longest season is? Where I live....winter is our longest! LQQKING for better weather and a nice place to live. Any info would be appreciated, thank you.

[Mestizo]

Originally Posted by bonnie

Really would like to know: What is the normal winter weather like in and around Birmingham? How long does winter last and what is the average growing season? Do you have four seasons? Would you tell me what you're longest season is? Where I live....winter is our longest! LQQKING for better weather and a nice place to live. Any info would be appreciated, thank you.

summer is definitly the longest season.
and winter can be cold sometimes but it almost never snows.
and there is rarely ever ice