Compare Minneapolis weather to Denver & St. Louis please? (St. Paul: job transfer, neighborhoods)

[Tom63376]

Hello..

I live in Denver right now but may have to take a job transfer to Minneapolis.

I don't care for living at high elevation anyway due to it making me so
tired when I play sports so the change may be welcome.

I have lived in St. Louis before so I know the weather there is mild
in the winter but far too humid for my liking in the summer time.

Can someone tell me about the Summers & Winters compared to
Denver and St. Louis? Are winters "dry cold" or "damp cold"?
Are summers as humid as Ohio or Missouri?

Also are Mosquitoes that bad? I never noticed them in Denver and seldom
it was a problem in St. Louis, not enough to complain about anyway.

Any other info on how Minneapolis differs from Denver or St. Louis will also
help me understand what to expect..

Thanks!!!!!!
Tom

[MplsTodd]

Minneapolis is dryer than St Louis but more humid than Denver

Winters are harsher than either Denver and St Louis, but it is a dry cold, meaning we don't get the deep penetrating cold they have out east. But of course, that's little comfort when the temp out east is 20 degrees and its 5 degrees here. Our winters though are typically pretty sunny, and they do have their charms with fresh snow. March can be the toughest month because everyone really wants spring to arrive.

Summers in Minneapolis are much nicer than St Louis. I've been to St Louis a few times in the summer and it always seems to be 90 - 100 degrees and very sultry. In Minneapolis, we are typically in the 70s and 80s. The humidity varies--sometimes the weather is from the humid gulf, other times its cool, dry Canadian air.

There are a lot of moisquitos in Minnesota, but its not a significant problem in the city, where Moisquito control sprays areas to limit the population. But they can be very thick in the areas up north. They're a problem typically around dusk, but usually not during the day.

Fall in Minnesota is awesome (September and October, plus portions of November if we are lucky).

I like both Denver and St Louis. St Louis is more historic and has great architecture (Central West End, Grand Avenue, Lafayette Square etc...), but also suffers from a lot of poverty and crime. I think Minneapolis city neighborhoods are stronger in character than Denver, due to the amenities of the river, the creek and the lakes, and a high quality and sturdy housing stock. Plus St. Paul also has a lot of history. Both Minneapolis and Denver (and their respective suburbs) have great biking trails.

[Minnehahapolitan]

I don't know much about Denver.
Saint Louis felt more eastern and genteel, even a little more conservative, to me than Minneapolis does. Mpls. is a more western city, and is closer to its natural surroundings than St. Louis. You will find Minneapolis to be more vibrant, but also more controlled and regulated. I have found few cities, particularly St. Louis, that have as many nit-picky laws as Mpls. -- smoking laws, the distance that sidewalk cafes can encroach on the sidewalk, blue laws, et cetera.

[jazzymentality]

Minneapolis ranks one of the highest in the United States for climate...

Rated one of the highest for most undesirable places to live: Climate.

[Tom63376]

Thanks for the quick info...

jazzymentality: Do you have a link to this survey?

I don't mind the dry cold.. It's the wet cold I hate.
When it's 12F here in Denver it is dry cold and I like it.
When it's 40F here in Denver after it rains, it's a damp cold and I hate it..
So cold dry "teens" in winter with sun sounds fine to me..

When your at the lake or boating, the mosquitoes are a problem all the time
or mainly at night??

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by Tom63376

Thanks for the quick info...

jazzymentality: Do you have a link to this survey?

I don't mind the dry cold.. It's the wet cold I hate.
When it's 12F here in Denver it is dry cold and I like it.
When it's 40F here in Denver after it rains, it's a damp cold and I hate it..
So cold dry "teens" in winter with sun sounds fine to me..

When your at the lake or boating, the mosquitoes are a problem all the time
or mainly at night??

Bugs vary on many things, and from year to year. Also, there are different types of mosquitos that peak at different times. Some are more agressive that others. In my opinion, the small skeeters that come out in late may early june are the most annoying.

When you are in your boat, not so much of a problem. They tend to be around standing water and hang in low bushes on shore or in the woods. Most active at dusk and early morning. As temps warm and humidity rises, they get more annoying too.

Lots can be done to work around them.
1. Don't wear blue - they are attracted to that color
2. At the cabin, clear out scruffy brush and little fir trees. They really hang in those area, so clearling some of that keeps fire danger down, and helps with the bugs.
3. Foggers work, but I really try not to use them as I worry about what those chemicals do to people if they kill bugs.
4. Bug zappers - some are better than others, but generally over rated.
5. You can get some clothing that has bug repelant properties. Buzz Off brand is an example. I was skeptical, but have to say it works better than I would have expected.
6. Bug dope or deet. I don't use the stuff myself, but it works. I would go no more than 25% deet if you go this route. Stuff is not good for your skin. Another way to go is keep a long sleeve shirt and hat to wear when the bugs are bad. Spray those when they are on a hanger and you don't get the stuff on you so much.
7. Good old campfire help reduce humidity. Be careful with them though. Right now it is very dry and fire danger is high.

That is a lot of bug talk. Personally, I don't find the bugs to be out of control that often. In the city, they are very rarely more than a minor annoyance.

[jazzymentality]

Originally Posted by Tom63376

Thanks for the quick info...

jazzymentality: Do you have a link to this survey?

I don't mind the dry cold.. It's the wet cold I hate.
When it's 12F here in Denver it is dry cold and I like it.
When it's 40F here in Denver after it rains, it's a damp cold and I hate it..
So cold dry "teens" in winter with sun sounds fine to me..

When your at the lake or boating, the mosquitoes are a problem all the time
or mainly at night??

Who said it was a survey?? It's actually in a book with information about values of places. You can go ahead and search online if you feel more interested about that subject.

[kuan]

We still have a piles of ice and snow in some of the larger parking lots.

[Tom63376]

Well it snowed this morning in Denver so winter isn't over here either...
But in Denver the snow melts in a day so it should be gone tomorrow..

[MplsTodd]

Originally Posted by kuan

We still have a piles of ice and snow in some of the larger parking lots.

But its also 72 degrees today!