Is Coeur D Alene's Winter Really That Cold & Miserable?? (Rathdrum: house, living in)

[amykis5]

WE ARE THINKING ABOUT RE- LOCATING TO COEUR D ALENE BUT TRUELY WORRY ABOUT THE WINTERS!! WE HAVE SEEN THE AREA IN THE SUMMER ( PERFECT) BUT CAN ANY OF YOU LOCALS REALLY FILL ME IN AS TO WHAT TO EXPECT FOR THE WINTERS?? WILL I HAVE A SHOCK COMING FROM THE DESERT CLIMATE?? HOW LONG DO THE WINTERS REALLY LAST? I WAS TOLD SOMETIMES IT CAN LAST UP TO 6 MONTHS!! OUCH! DOES THE SUN EVEN COME OUT IN THE WINTER MONTHS?? VERY IMPORTANT!!!
tHANKS~

[Sage of Sagle]

Amy,

If you do some searching here, you'll find more answers.

The quick answer is yes, winters can be harsh. and you may not see the sun for 8-10 days at a time, or longer. Winter "really" starts in December, and goes until mid-late March. So usually 4 months. But can it go Nov-April? Sure. Summers are short but gorgeous as you know.

If you live right in town, snow isn't a big deal (except for this year where everyone is buried everywhere). But normally if you shovel your front walk and snowblow your driveway, you're fine. If you live outside of town, better have a 4-wheeler with a plow, or a tractor with back blade, or you'll start hating Idaho your first winter here.

DO NOT MOVE HERE until you've stayed here for a week during winter, or you just won't be making an informed decision and you will probably regret the move.

[brokencrayola]

Yes, from a desert climate it will be a shock for obvious reasons. We get our first snow anywhere from late Oct. to mid-Dec. That doesn't mean the snow sticks, it may or may not. It may snow and then rain and melt or like this year, snow and stay! Spring is usually anywhere from early March to mid-April. Then we get rain. we have rain from March or April until early July. Summer is early July until early to mid-Sept. Fall and cooler temps and some rain from late Sept until first snow. We get sun now and then in the winter but not alot, and that includes spring. As far as snow there could be anywhere from no snow on the ground (but cold) to several feet, you never know, but there will be snow in winter.

[PNWhike]

Despite continued and steady exponential growth from California, Northern Idaho's climate has not warmed up any. It's climate is very cold in comparison. December through February is pretty cold and snowy. Too cold for many. It depends on what you like. Good luck.

[Asthedeer]

Originally Posted by amykis5

DOES THE SUN EVEN COME OUT IN THE WINTER MONTHS?? VERY IMPORTANT!!!
tHANKS~

It really is'nt that gloomy here in the winter. It was so sunny on Sunday that I needed some shades lol. I have lived on the Washington coast and it was always much gloomier there.

[Dangerous Dave]

Originally Posted by amykis5

WE ARE THINKING ABOUT RE- LOCATING TO COEUR D ALENE BUT TRUELY WORRY ABOUT THE WINTERS!! WE HAVE SEEN THE AREA IN THE SUMMER ( PERFECT) BUT CAN ANY OF YOU LOCALS REALLY FILL ME IN AS TO WHAT TO EXPECT FOR THE WINTERS?? WILL I HAVE A SHOCK COMING FROM THE DESERT CLIMATE?? HOW LONG DO THE WINTERS REALLY LAST? I WAS TOLD SOMETIMES IT CAN LAST UP TO 6 MONTHS!! OUCH! DOES THE SUN EVEN COME OUT IN THE WINTER MONTHS?? VERY IMPORTANT!!!
tHANKS~

Being from northern Minnesota originally, the winters pretty much anywhere in the NW are mild in comparison. In MN, our winters pretty much ran from mid November to May. I saw snow in June, and we actually had a full on blizzard on May 6th of 1982. Couple that with the fact that the city was on a steep hill, and the roads were iced over a few times a year.

If you live in a larger city (I'm talking Idaho now), the snow isn't going to hold you back much since they take care of the roads well. Also having lived in the desert for ten years, I think the winters are worth the spring and summer. With Idaho, you get four seasons, as in the winter doesn't last most of the year. Humidity is also low.

If you're truly scared of being burried in the snow, but still want the mountains and forests, check out western Oregon. Pretty much everything from I-5 on westward gets very little snow, the rain isn't as bad as it's made out to be, and the summers are nearly bone dry. It rains more in Phoenix in the summer than it does where I live here in Oregon.

[Heidik]

The winters here are heaven compared to the gloomy winters in Seattle area. We see the sun alot here in the winter. The weather can change on a dime. The saying is "wait 5 minutes and the weather will change". A little fog, some snow, then sun, then... But it is not gloomy and gray as the norm.

This year is the worst winter in what reports are saying over 20 years. We have at least 2 ft of snow in many areas and it's snowing again now. I have lived here 6 years and never experienced this harsh of a winter so it is not the norm.

It is a 4 season climate, so you pay the price in the winter and then get beautiful springs, summers and falls. You appreciate the nice weather so much more after putting up with winter.

[WhiteSandsYucca]

Believe me, I'm in love with central Idaho, and considered moving there, but there is three feet of snow on the ground there this time of year. Most everything is boarded up. Nearby, at Grand Teton National Park, the park actually closes in early November. I have a relative living in Spokane, and they are buried in snow right now. You have to remember, you are getting up near Glacier National Park and the Canadian Rockies region up there, and it is very cold and snowy. I agree, Coer De Alene is gorgeous; I've driven through that area in the late summer. However, yes, winter is a different story. Winter is a "different story" in places like Denver and Oklahoma City, places much farther south. So, you can only imagine up there.

If you don't like winter, then I would suggest not moving up there (at least full-time). It is like not liking red dust, and yet, deciding to move to Mars -- or something.

[spokun4]

I was born and raised in the CDA area and have lived here all my life...........41 years and the winters suck here! We live in the Rathdrum area and this year we got over 6 feet of snow. Our mini doberman is still walking on the roof of our house as the snow is piled high enough so he can get up on the roof!
We use to get a lot of winters like this (not quite as much snow, but a lot). The last 10 years or so has not had this much snow..........but we got dumped on this year.
Yes it is gloomy and cloudy from about the middle of October until the end of May. The average days of sunshine in CDA are 174 days. We get most of our sun from about June through the middle of October. We dont have a lot of warm days here. Summer temps start about July through September. Our first frost starts around the first week in September sometimes later. Our last frost is around June first. Rainy season is from the middle of October, November, March, April, May and thru June. Snow usually starts around Thanksgiving through the end of February. My husband and I are actually looking at going somewhere where there is more sun for at least the winter months. The longest stretch of gloom is from the day after Christmas thru the end of April.

[twinprism]

Originally Posted by WhiteSandsYucca

Believe me, I'm in love with central Idaho, and considered moving there, but there is three feet of snow on the ground there this time of year. Most everything is boarded up. Nearby, at Grand Teton National Park, the park actually closes in early November. ....

If you don't like winter, then I would suggest not moving up there (at least full-time). It is like not liking red dust, and yet, deciding to move to Mars -- or something.

Not to take anything away from this message, I just wanted to clarify, Grand Teton National Park is a loooong ways from Coeur D'Alene. Almost 600 miles by road and a much different climate and elevation. One is on on side of the state near Washington, and the other is in Wyoming just off the East side of the state.

Still the poster is right on, winter has potential to be harsh. It hasn't very much lately (until this year), but it can. One things that is great about Idaho is it's four season weather. I wouldn't move here if you hate one of the seasons.