winters in New Hampshire? (Manchester, Nashua: 2011, mold, garage)

[steveusaf]

Originally Posted by BF66389

My wife pointed out "below 20 it never really feels colder...you just would die faster"; which we found somewhat funny.

Also know that "good winter clothes" is not a big heavy jacket...its thermal underwear, a synthetic shirt layer, a fleece layer, then a shell layer. That way if you start doing something very active- you can shed a layer or two to stay warm...but not too hot. MUCH more pleasant. I like the snow here.

Put a "-" in front of that 20 and I'd agree. Here in ND, I can't tell the difference between -20 and -40. When it got above zero for a few days, it actually felt a lot warmer, even though it was only 5 degrees. This place will make you crazy...

I would almost have given my first born for a few days at +20 in January. Worst winter in 12 years. When I come back to NH for good, I'll never complain about the cold again.

[itsajourney]

NewNHguy--BEAUTIFUL PICTURES!!!! I miss the mountains terribly......

LOL--another dusting of snow huh????

[NewNHguy]

then you'll like these....

Spring on Mt. Wash.




Just before summer really sets in on big Pea porridge pond





enjoy.

[itsajourney]

NewNHGuy--AHHHHHH...you are right....I do love them...ok, that's it--I think I am just going to have to take off and head up your direction. I would so love to see all of this again. Though, I must admit, it will be sad to see that Old Man of the Mountains is gone/deformed--whatever kind of shape he is in now.

I am totally serious--I could very well be on the road by Wednesday or Thursday. Will wait for all of the activity from the 4th to slow down somewhat.

I have not been up to New England for probably 10 years. I won't have a specific destination--as I am more of a wanderer. Any suggestions on what/where to head to. Any festivals or other events going on within the next few weeks?

[Radical347]

They're pretty bad. No scratch that -- that's sugar coating it. They're hideous. I am from the midwest (NE) and thought it wouldn't be that much different -- not so. In NE, it gets very very cold many days but you also have your fair share of 50-60 degree days, sometimes 70. In NH, it gets very very cold around Dec. or Jan. and stays cold until about April. I went to school in Hanover (the biggest mistake of my life, among other things but due in no small part to the weather.) The winter of 03 was particularly bad. From January to mid-March I don't believe the temperature ever lifted above 32 once, even in the daytime! And then there were about two weeks in a row when it never got above 20. Hanover is a bit northern and more inland than the bigger/more famous towns in NH (Manchester, Nashua, Portsmouth) but the weather does not vary *that* much. When it's so cold that you walk outside and your contacts start freezing to your eyes, the last thing that you care about is how pretty the snow is. (And there wasn't even a whole lot of snow, just cold! & It probably didn't help that I don't get off on scenery and trees and middle-of-nowhereness in general to begin with either.) At that time that was considered one of the worst winters, but from what I hear they've had a few like it since and it's only been 6 years.

When I used to hear people talk about hell frozen over, I didn't realize they were talking about New Hampshire.

After that I ran off to California and never looked back.

[fishnfool]

yeah if you have the mindset above it will be miserable.

[lisa g]

Believe it or not, I have not considered the past 2 winters here in NH as uncomfortably cold as the winters I spent in the high desert area of SoCal. The evaporative cooling makes the cold winds there *feel* a lot colder than lower temps feel here where it is more humid. NH winter temps are more bearable to me than desert climate winter temps.

[GraniteStater]

Winters in NH are not bad. Snow driving takes much practice and refinement- especially on gravel and dirt roads. Winter temperatures are tolerable, but Coos County gets the coldest by far. Only 30,000+ residents in that county compared to the 1.2+ million NH residents.

[Radical347]

Originally Posted by fishnfool

yeah if you have the mindset above it will be miserable.

I didn't come with that mindset. I came with a very open mind and left with the above.

[goat1of2]

Originally Posted by Radical347

I didn't come with that mindset. I came with a very open mind and left with the above.

That's okay. Everyone's metabolism is different. People with heart conditions or other circulatory problems can suffer more from the cold. People with arthritis can find it unbearable. Sometimes a perfectly HEALTHY person just doesn't *like* it! It's not something you can predict--gotta try it out first. Having a well-insulated home and proper long-johns/boots can make a big difference too. That said, preparing for winter is a lot like preparing for battle. Some folks just find it exhausting.