Weather in Duluth vs Minneapolis (health insurance, how much, find a job)

[haselton]

My wife and I have lived in Minnesota most of our lives, primarily in the Twin Cities. We have been looking to move to Colorado, but havent been able to find a job out there. I recently saw a job with my current employer that is open in Duluth and think we might like it there.

Here is the dilemah though...if we are going to move my wife doesn't want to move anywhere that is going to be colder than where we are now. I have read Duluth actually gets a warming effect from the lake during the winter, but she thinks it is usually colder there than here in the cities. I know that City Data has the stats saying Duluth is marginally cooler. But I was wondering what real people think. Is it a difference you can feel, is it about the same, slightly warmer?

Thanks for the help.

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by haselton

My wife and I have lived in Minnesota most of our lives, primarily in the Twin Cities. We have been looking to move to Colorado, but havent been able to find a job out there. I recently saw a job with my current employer that is open in Duluth and think we might like it there.

Here is the dilemah though...if we are going to move my wife doesn't want to move anywhere that is going to be colder than where we are now. I have read Duluth actually gets a warming effect from the lake during the winter, but she thinks it is usually colder there than here in the cities. I know that City Data has the stats saying Duluth is marginally cooler. But I was wondering what real people think. Is it a difference you can feel, is it about the same, slightly warmer?

Thanks for the help.

If your wife thinks it is colder there, you may have a very difficult time convincing her otherwise. Probably matters how much you are wanting to move though.

[newcastle]

It typically is colder in Duluth, noticeably more in the summer than in the winter. It is still colderin the winter. If you are winter people then you probably won't mind as much and you will have plenty of outdoor activities to keep you occupied.

However, if you live outside the city "over the hill" you will find the summer experience in the Duluth area is great. The humidity is much less in the Duluth area than in the Cities.

[acrylic]

It is definitely warmer in the Cities year round. In the winter, it really won't make much of a difference, but in the summer, it's noticable quite a bit. I prefer the summers in the Cities to those of here. Summers in Duluth are disappointing, to say the least. But, its all personal preference, I guess.

[knke0402]

Its way colder

at least 5-8 everyday than Minneapolis, with urban heat effect.

plus its always overcast

[acrylic]

Originally Posted by knke0402

Its way colder

at least 5-8 everyday than Minneapolis, with urban heat effect.

plus its always overcast

Not always overcast. This January had some very very bright sunny days. In the summer though, you're hard pressed to find a day with no clouds. Whenever you want to go outside for a tan, a cloud covers it up. That ALWAYS happens to me. It gets annoying.

[marmac]

I dusted off my old weather book that goes from roughly 1930 thru 1997 ( I said it was old and will share data.

--------------------MPLS------------------Duluth
days below 32------157--------------------185
days above 90------13----------------------2
days with precipitation-115----------------134
snowfall inches-----49.8------------------80.4
average % sunshine possible--58%--------52%
average afternoon humidity---61-----------64
days clear,pc, and clody--95,101,169-----------77,102,187
normal July highs---------84----------------77
normal July lows---------63-----------------55
normal Jan high---------21------------------16
normal Jan low---------3--------------------minus2
normal heating units required--7981----------9818
normal cooling units required---682-----------180

[chicken.or.the.nugget]

well its kind of obvi to original poster that duluth is colder saying that it's north and beside a huge lake(makes it colder in summer).
the extreme lows are probably about the same though because minneapolis doesnt have the warming effect from the lake

[whatnow]

I think Spring is when you will notice the biggest difference. Springs up here are my least favorite time and I go down to the cities more often in April/May/June to visit family and see GREEN and pretty flowers sooner. Other times of the year - of course it is cooler up here, but then again sometimes it's the same. Like someone else said, it's about personal preference. Heck, I'd keep trying to find a job in Colorado for a nice change of scenery. You can come back to MN if you miss it. Best wishes

[jasper1372]

Originally Posted by haselton

My wife and I have lived in Minnesota most of our lives, primarily in the Twin Cities. We have been looking to move to Colorado, but havent been able to find a job out there. I recently saw a job with my current employer that is open in Duluth and think we might like it there.

Here is the dilemah though...if we are going to move my wife doesn't want to move anywhere that is going to be colder than where we are now. I have read Duluth actually gets a warming effect from the lake during the winter, but she thinks it is usually colder there than here in the cities. I know that City Data has the stats saying Duluth is marginally cooler. But I was wondering what real people think. Is it a difference you can feel, is it about the same, slightly warmer?

Thanks for the help.

I've lived near Duluth for almost 25 years after moving here from our of the area.

Duluth is cold and grey much of the time which does get depressing. Sometimes I think a person who was born and raised here can't really give you an objective opinion since this is the only thing they know. Quite honestly I find Duluth's climate horrible...but as you're experiencing, sometimes you have to go where your job takes you.

If you have other options, I'd take them personally, but as someone else said, to each their own. Native Duluthians seem to be very protective and proud of their city which is good.

A few other things which you may want to look into or consider.

The Bad:

The streets are in terrible shape....at least 80% of them.

The city is currently worse than broke due to the economy being bad, a problem with the city retiree health insurance funding system and basically just a large outflow of middle class tax paying citizens and in influx of "dependent" (this is called being kind :-) out of towners.

The weather is probably our worst daily "problem" if you can call it that. There are very few days were conditions are optimum and you can really enjoy yourself.

The Good:

The people around here are nice and for the most part decent middle class working folks who value family.

The north shore can be a beautiful place to spend time....if you can get decent weather (see item above)

Large enough city to have a few decent restaurants, shopping etc..., small enough to lack some of the big city problems and congestion.