winters in New Hampshire? (Portsmouth, Washington: renting, house, living in)

[jojoboulette]

Okay, give it to me straight: how bad are they? I'm asking more for my husband than myself. I'm from Ohio, I've walked out to the front door to waist deep snow. Living in CA, I miss the seasons and snow. I haven't had a real Christmas in 20 years... lol.

My husband, however, is kinda scared. Now, he's from France, not like he's never seen a snowflake but is worried that the winters will turn him off to NH/East Coast if we move there.

So... how bad? Can one get used to them? Do the beautiful surroundings and climate the rest of the year make up for it?

No sugar-coating, txs!

[rscalzo]

I'm in the Seacoast area of southern NH and they are no worse than the winters back in NJ. At night it will hit the teens but I have gotten used to it and actually like it.

Of course head way up north and you will see the single digits on the wrong side of the zero at times.

[fishnfool]

If you hate being cold and never leave the house in winter it will be miserable.

If you enjoy activities like skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, snow mobiles, ice skating, building snowmen with the kids, hunting, sledding, ice fishing, etc. etc. etc. it will just be another season with new and exciting activities and opportunites.

I also grew up in Ohio. The winters aren't really any colder in NH (save for northern NH), just a bit more snow (I didn't grow up in Cleveland though...Toledo, so no lake effect).

In Ohio there is really no reason to ever spend more time outside in the winter than walking to and from your car. In NH there are TONS of activities to do that allow you to enjoy the snow.

I'd take winter any day over the weather we've had this month

[Verseau]

Let me put it this way: I've spent winters in New Hampshire and France (Paris), and I would choose a NH winter any day.

Why? Well, NH winters may be colder (with average daytime temps in the 20s and 30s), but they are definitely more beautiful and less depressing. In Paris, winter meant constant grey and dreariness. NH winters get their fair share of bright, sunny days with blue skies. The white snow that carpets the ground for most of the season reflects a lot of sunlight, which for me makes winter in NH a lot less miserable than places that are cold, but not cold enough to get snow. NH also enjoys less severe windchills than places like the Midwest -- and I even found the winter wind in Paris more "biting" than ours.

That's not to say that NH winters aren't tough. Au contraire. While I love the beginning of winter (December and January, with the holidays and everything), by February it really starts to drag on. The coldest temperatures usually last until mid-March and, depending on where you are in the state, the snow might not melt completely until mid-April -- not because it's still below freezing, but because New England just gets a lot of snow in winter. One of the best investments you can make is in a snowblower to clear your driveway! The good thing is that the state is very experienced and generally good at clearing and salting / sanding roads after a snowstorm.

In fact, I know many people who love winter in NH more than any other season. They're usually skiers. But honestly, one of the keys to getting through winter is getting out of the house and doing some kind of winter activity -- skiing, iceskating, sledding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, etc. And NH has a ton of great places to do all of the above.

If you're really worried about the cold and the snow, you might consider a move to the Seacoast (near Portsmouth), which has a slightly more temperate climate.

[NewNHguy]

Winters in the Mt. Washington Valley for me please.

we bought a home in NH to get away from hot...

NJ summers sucked. 200% humdidity, and hot sun.

We get snow, and it is cold, but I do not think that the winter is any diff than NJ winters, short of the AMOUNT of snow. Folks understand how to drive here, and the town does a great job of clearing the roads.

Cold is cold, that's why they make stoves
Activity out in the cold like x-country, or snowshooze, or even renting a toob and sliding down a slope make winters so much better.

[NH2008]

Ditto what everyone else said - great if you like snow, horrible if you don't. Visit first in winter to see if you like it. I'd rather have a sunny, snowy day than this grey drizzle any time.

[Colebrook]

I'm here in the northern part of the state. In the winter the temps have been -40F. Winter is what you make of it. My wife hates it but I embrace it. She stays inside and I play outside. I echo previous posters who say come visit in the winter to get a taste ,see if you like it. To me nothing is better then coming in on a snowy winter day and sitting by a fire with a hot toddy while the snow swirls around outside. How about snowshoeing on some old logging roads and coming across a mother moose and her calf. It is what it is.

[jojoboulette]

Dude,

Originally Posted by fishnfool

In Ohio there is really no reason to ever spend more time outside in the winter than walking to and from your car.

I'm from NE Ohio (east of Cleveland)... the parks are really beautiful in winter. And ice skating is great. So have to disagree with you there... :P

[jojoboulette]

Originally Posted by Verseau

Let me put it this way: I've spent winters in New Hampshire and France (Paris), and I would choose a NH winter any day.**totally agree with you on this one... I lived in Paris for 2 years... I think this is why my DH is so afraid of winter now... Paris cold is DAMP cold, goes straight to the bones.

...I even found the winter wind in Paris more "biting" than ours.**totally, you are right there

Thanks for the tips on snowblowing. Will try to remember that. Has been ages since I've shoveled a driveway. Oh wait, that's what husbands are for... lol

If you're really worried about the cold and the snow, you might consider a move to the Seacoast (near Portsmouth), which has a slightly more temperate climate.**also good to hear as we are considering Portsmouth primarily for now...

Thanks for your response - helpful!

[fishnfool]

I'm from NE Ohio (east of Cleveland)... the parks are really beautiful in winter. And ice skating is great. So have to disagree with you there... :P

Ever been to Toledo? My statement still stands....at least for NW Ohio. I do agree northeast Ohio is nice, but I still would never spend as much time outdoors in the winter there as I do in NH. I think I skied or hiked almost every weekend this winter.