Southern Indiana (Evansville, Bloomington, Columbus: fit in, real estate, sex offenders)

[kawgpz550]

Hello everyone!

We're looking to move out of the Arizona desert. As of right now, Southern Indiana is a very good possibility. I have been looking at areas such as Rockport, Newburgh, Boonville etc. I have searched and read what everyone has had to say about the area, but there's a few things I couldn't find.

Weather: How are the winters? Are they harsh? Is it FREEZING for days, weeks or months at a time? Are the roads icy a lot? Can you tell me about driving conditions in the winter? I know these questions probably seem ridiculous to some, however, please keep in mind that I live in Arizona where it is 120+ degrees in the summer and ice on the roads would bring new meaning to "hell freezing over". I have live all of my driving years here and need to know what I will be in for.

Critters: What kinds of pests/critters are there? Roaches? Snakes? Ticks? Chiggers? Leaches (the slimy ones, not the two legged mooches )?

What else can you tell me? My biggest concern is the cold weather. I know it's humid there, but our bodies are adjusted to HEAT not FREEZING weather . I'm just curious what kind of acclamation we'll have to make...not to mention buying new wardrobes lol.

Thanks in advance for any info!

[domergurl]

In that part of the state, I don't think it gets prolonged cold spells like northern Indiana.

Scroll down for information for weather info from the area:

Evansville, Indiana (IN) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders

There may be snow, but it will probably be more icy than anything else. The key is if the towns or cities are ready for the road conditions in terms of salting/plowing.

[Indyjones]

Originally Posted by kawgpz550

Hello everyone!

We're looking to move out of the Arizona desert. As of right now, Southern Indiana is a very good possibility. I have been looking at areas such as Rockport, Newburgh, Boonville etc. I have searched and read what everyone has had to say about the area, but there's a few things I couldn't find.

Weather: How are the winters? Are they harsh? Is it FREEZING for days, weeks or months at a time? Are the roads icy a lot? Can you tell me about driving conditions in the winter? I know these questions probably seem ridiculous to some, however, please keep in mind that I live in Arizona where it is 120+ degrees in the summer and ice on the roads would bring new meaning to "hell freezing over". I have live all of my driving years here and need to know what I will be in for.

Critters: What kinds of pests/critters are there? Roaches? Snakes? Ticks? Chiggers? Leaches (the slimy ones, not the two legged mooches )?

What else can you tell me? My biggest concern is the cold weather. I know it's humid there, but our bodies are adjusted to HEAT not FREEZING weather . I'm just curious what kind of acclamation we'll have to make...not to mention buying new wardrobes lol.

Thanks in advance for any info!

I live in Bloomington, but do business in Evansville so I have a pretty good feel for the place.
If you are used to Arizona, Evansville will be cold. You will winter coats from December to March. It does ice up on the roads, more than snow. Although a few years back they got around 2 feet and it shut the place down just before Christmas.
They also have tornado's like the rest of the state. They had a big one a few years back. As far as critters, no scorpions or rattlers like Arizona, but we do have mosquito's, ticks, but they are more of a nuisance than problem.
Newburgh is the most upscale area down there, and is very nice in my opinion.

[kawgpz550]

I appreciate the information! Thank you!

So, December to March winter coats are necessary...is it icy for those 4 months? Or just a little here and there. I just need to know how extreme. I personally wouldn't care so much, but we are trying to get my mom and dad to move with us as well and they're not too keen on freezing weather lol.

I never really thought trying to find a place to relocate would be so difficult. lol

[Indyjones]

Originally Posted by kawgpz550

I appreciate the information! Thank you!

So, December to March winter coats are necessary...is it icy for those 4 months? Or just a little here and there. I just need to know how extreme. I personally wouldn't care so much, but we are trying to get my mom and dad to move with us as well and they're not too keen on freezing weather lol.

I never really thought trying to find a place to relocate would be so difficult. lol

It's not like there is ice on the roads 24/7, but maybe one day a week will see snow, sleet or maybe freezing rain. There are times when it stays on the ground for a week or two if a cold spell, but usually it melts off fairly quickly in Evansville.

[domergurl]

More than likely, if there's ice, the trucks will be out salting the roads to make them driveable. Then you have to deal with that yucky blackish/gray-ish slushy muck for most of the winter.

One thing you'll notice is that weather may be the lead story on many local news shows. A friend from LA visited me and she was amazed at how weather literate we midwesterners are.

[kawgpz550]

Well, it's good to know that there isn't ice 24/7 all winter long. However, it's even better to know that you're all weather literate! That's funny!

So....ok, it's COLD some ice, some snow...but there aren't any blizzards right? It doesn't get THAT bad...right?

As for the tornadoes...I looked on cd's page and it shows it's about 53% above US avg...Coming from people that live there and/or KNOW the areas (I know there was a pretty good one not too long ago) are tornadoes a frequent event? Or pretty rare? I'm not worried...just need to be prepared. I can handle the thought of a tornado before a blizzard.

I really appreciate your time!

A couple more questions for you...

Where I live now, Arizona and Nevada are divided by the Colorado River, just like you're divided with Kentucky by the Ohio River. Is the river good for fishing? Are there any lakes around there? Are there water moccasins/Cottonmouths or other snakes/critters to worry about in the lakes or river? Is there a good swimming lake? What other recreation is there around there?

[Indyjones]

Originally Posted by kawgpz550

Well, it's good to know that there isn't ice 24/7 all winter long. However, it's even better to know that you're all weather literate! That's funny!

So....ok, it's COLD some ice, some snow...but there aren't any blizzards right? It doesn't get THAT bad...right?

As for the tornadoes...I looked on cd's page and it shows it's about 53% above US avg...Coming from people that live there and/or KNOW the areas (I know there was a pretty good one not too long ago) are tornadoes a frequent event? Or pretty rare? I'm not worried...just need to be prepared. I can handle the thought of a tornado before a blizzard.

I really appreciate your time!

A couple more questions for you...

Where I live now, Arizona and Nevada are divided by the Colorado River, just like you're divided with Kentucky by the Ohio River. Is the river good for fishing? Are there any lakes around there? Are there water moccasins/Cottonmouths or other snakes/critters to worry about in the lakes or river? Is there a good swimming lake? What other recreation is there around there?

Let's see. Blizzards, only one the past three years as I discussed above.
Tornado's...a threat every spring and fall. The big one that killed 22 people in Evansville November 2005.
Nice lakes nearby, biggest one is Patoka Lake around 45 minutes away, and second largest lake in Indiana. Don't worry about the snakes, they don't like people, but we do have some water moccasins and copperheads.
Some friends actually boat on the Ohio River, and there are lots of things to do in Evansville area. It gets some name entertainment in Roberts Stadium, no PRo sports (they like the St Louis Cardinals) and the Indy Colts.

[Jay_F]

Here are a few pictures from that 2004 storm taken in Columbus IN (considered S. IN) that totaled about 28", and do not do justice to just how deep the snow was.

[kawgpz550]

Originally Posted by Indyjones

Let's see. Blizzards, only one the past three years as I discussed above.
Tornado's...a threat every spring and fall. The big one that killed 22 people in Evansville November 2005.
Nice lakes nearby, biggest one is Patoka Lake around 45 minutes away, and second largest lake in Indiana. Don't worry about the snakes, they don't like people, but we do have some water moccasins and copperheads.
Some friends actually boat on the Ohio River, and there are lots of things to do in Evansville area. It gets some name entertainment in Roberts Stadium, no PRo sports (they like the St Louis Cardinals) and the Indy Colts.

Oh....my son is going to fit in WONDERFULLY there! My son LOVES the Colts!!!!!!!!!!! He has a Colts hooded sweatshirt that he wears as long as he can through the winter and as far into Spring as he can without suffocating. He hates it when winter is over and he has to put away his favorite shirt lol.

I lived in Arkansas for a little over 3 years (about 20 years ago lol). I remember the tornado warnings. The most vivid in my mind is the time when my husband (before we were married, in fact just started dating...I was 15/16) was taking me home after work...on his MOTORCYCLE...and we didn't know there was a tornado warning. The next day I was bruised head to toe from being pelted with hail while riding home. It was painful at the time, but I wouldn't give up the memory for anything.

Thanks again for all the information. We just might be able to make this work, after all.