CDA and unusual 2008 winter (Post Falls, Harrison: real estate, how much, employment)

[amykis5]

My family and I are making a big move to CDA in the next couple months from California ( yes, another Cali!!!) We have only visited in the fall, spring, and summer months to check things out. I have heard that this past winter was unheard of in regards to snow. Beside the freaky "extra" snow this year, are the normal winters somewhat low key? I did speak to a gentlemen in the area and he said winters are a "no big deal". Was this man full of it???!!!!!!! I know it can be grey, but I am used to this in Central California due to the thick blanket of smog year round.I currently live in the dirtiest air basin in the nation!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CDA sounds perfect right now!!!!
Thanks for any and all input~~~~

[Trace_Rinaldi]

My buddy moved to Post Falls a few years ago from San Diego. He said this winter WAS unreal, and compared the previous winters as being a walk in the park.
I believe this was probably a 50 or 100 year event though.. Not at all what you will see on a regular basis.
Good luck from another Commiefornian headed in the same direction;-)

[kwalk65]

We moved to CDA Idaho from California 4 years ago --- we left the following year. Trust me, those winters with or without snow are long. A native up there told me about the "long gray days of Idaho" I had no clue how long they really would be!!! I couldn't believe how many days pass where you never see the sun. We headed out the next year to North Carolina and never looked back. CDA is beautifully charming and all but finding good employment and dealing with long winter days was more than this California girl to take (born and raised in Calif. for 38 years). I think sometimes those of us from other states where real estate has skyrocketed tend to look at other places for the prices of housing alone and how much cheaper it is --- I learned the hard way that there is much more to consider than that.

[Sage of Sagle]

kwalk65,

You know, you actually hit the nail on the head with your closing comment about the motivation for moving being the housing savings....

Normal winters will have 50-70" of snowfall. But keep in mind that from some time after Thanksgiving until some time in late Feb to early March, it will NEVER GO OVER 32 degrees. So the "ground snowpack" just continues to build up, although each time we get a sun break in compacts the snowpack. So at our place in Sagle, winter 06/07 saw about 12-20" constant ground snowpack, winter 07/08 saw 30-50" constant ground snowpack (approx. 130" snowfall). So yeah, it was a HUGE winter. Less severe snowstorms than 1996 which saw dangerously high snowfall per storm, but this winter it just never quit. 3-4" each day, for what felt like weeks on end. I believe our final tally passed 1996 and was the largest since 1913.

What most people struggle with here is the cold and the gray skies. Personally I love when it's 10-15 at night (not so low that pipes freeze up or car doors freeze shut) and 20-25 in the days, because you never feel cold. I work clearing snow in a T-shirt and snow pants/boots. As long as I'm sweating, I'm happy. When I stop, I go inside where it's warm, and put on a dry T-shirt.

Yeah, the gray skies aren't very pretty. But we put in sun bulbs at our house, and I swear it helps. Plus we go to the health club and swim in the huge indoor heated pool, spend long nights (nightfall hits at about 4PM in the winter) playing board games, cards, movie nights, etc.

I was a SoCal native, and hated the smog but loved the sun. But I love it here more, gray skies and all. And June/July so far has been just about 90% blue skies...summer/fall is GORGEOUS here...

[Trace_Rinaldi]

I was born in Calif 38 years ago myself, Whittier to be exact. I dont know what it is but I actually like cloudy cold weather. Compared to hi heat there is no comparison for me. I guess its just the way Im built, but I LOVE it when it rains and stays cloudy for days on end. I guess its a case of different strokes for different folks. My wife loves cloudy weather too. We actually complain when the sun comes out in the winter months! Just think your odds for skin cancer go down dramatically too!HA!
Hows that for seeing the bright side er uh the cloudy side of things?

[amykis5]

I am so glad to hear from someone in my somewhat neck of the woods!! How soon until you are able to make the move? We hope by this fall or sooner. Have you visited CDA in the dead of winter? I lived in Salt Lake City of about 4 years and the winters did not bother me, so maybe perhaps SLC was much milder. I don't know.Anyway I hope it's not tooooo cold and snowy when I get there!!

[Asthedeer]

If you stay in CDA the winter will not be too bad, they keep the roads cleared well etc. If you go north much or out to the country beware!

As far as grey days I thought all places were kinda grey in the winter unless you live in southern states. The sunny days come and go, I don't think it is as bad as some say, but I have grown up here so what do I know lol.

[kwalk65]

Originally Posted by Trace_Rinaldi

I was born in Calif 38 years ago myself, Whittier to be exact. I dont know what it is but I actually like cloudy cold weather. Compared to hi heat there is no comparison for me. I guess its just the way Im built, but I LOVE it when it rains and stays cloudy for days on end. I guess its a case of different strokes for different folks. My wife loves cloudy weather too. We actually complain when the sun comes out in the winter months! Just think your odds for skin cancer go down dramatically too!HA!
Hows that for seeing the bright side er uh the cloudy side of things?

That is definately a brighter way to look at it! Good for you for enjoying those cloudy days.

To the OP I didn't mean to put a damper on the weather I just think that CDA is so very different than California weather (I was born and raised in Santa Cruz, CA) and days of not seeing sun can/might affect you. The summers in CDA were nice with very few days we had over 90's and cooler nights. We had a great time that 1 summer at the CDA lake and park but that just didn't make up for the winter that seemed to be endless.

[Trace_Rinaldi]

Originally Posted by amykis5

I am so glad to hear from someone in my somewhat neck of the woods!! How soon until you are able to make the move? We hope by this fall or sooner. Have you visited CDA in the dead of winter? I lived in Salt Lake City of about 4 years and the winters did not bother me, so maybe perhaps SLC was much milder. I don't know.Anyway I hope it's not tooooo cold and snowy when I get there!!

Amy, I hope we will be moved in by the end of the year. I have been there in the winter but at the time there wasnt much snow on the ground. I think you will be fine, if you have gone through winters in SLC no problem, I dont think this will be all that much different for you.
It may be a bit gloomier, and cloudy longer, but compared to SLC, North Idaho looks like paradise!

BTW Amy if you want to be able to see what its like on CDA lake anytime of the day you will LOVE this webcam. You can move it around, zoom in on things and even take pics. Its a great way to sort of feel connected albeit from long distance;-) Its in Harrison which is south east of the lake.
LiveApplet (Large)
This one gives you detailed live weather.
Weather Display Live

[Haakon]

Originally Posted by OnOurWay2MO

As far as grey days I thought all places were kinda grey in the winter unless you live in southern states. The sunny days come and go, I don't think it is as bad as some say, but I have grown up here so what do I know lol.

Nope, the NW part of the country really has some exceptionally long, gray winters compared to many other parts of the country. Take Minneapolis for example, far from a southern state, has more than twice as many clear/sunny days in the winter than Spokane/northern Idaho. Of course then you have to deal with even colder temps, but cold and sunny is far better than no sun!

Like Sage said, there is more to consider when moving than housing costs. Some people really can't take the long periods of gray. Others can't handle bitter cold (I love it) or snow, some love mountains, others the plains.

It's a good thing everyone doesn't like the same environment or that place would be awfully crowded.