Winters in Northern New Jersey? (Princeton: living in, vs., statistics)

[darkone]

I have seen all of the statistics in terms of temps. and snowfall, but how do you people feel about winters in your area? No one really complains about winter weather in NJ, yet they complain about everything else.

They can't be as painful or gloomy as in Central or Northern New England or the midwest right? Probably this is why?

For those from the Boston area or other parts of Southern New England or who have lived in those places, how would you categorize winters in the NY/NJ area ( please compare in terms of duration, amount of sunny days, percentage of precip. that falls as rain vs. snow, temperatures and general tolerability etc.)

For those who have lived or now live in the south (NC, Atlanta, etc.), of course the winters are longer and colder in Northern NJ, with some snow, but are the winters really a significant factor in choosing between NJ and say NC or Atlanta? If you could afford to live in NJ and liked everything about it, then would you consider winters there a detriment?

Thanks for your help.

[Busch Boy]

I think winters here are pretty mild. This year was very mild. Cold temperatures didn't start until November and they ended early this month. In my area, it snowed about 2 or 3 times and it wasn't even that much. I actually wished it snowed alot more here; being that I LOVE snow!

[findinghope]

i get asked all the time if i would move back to nj from nc--if i could afford it. every time i think of it i become torn. maybe i dont remember it as correctly as it actually was --even after only 1 year, but i know for a fact that i hated the winter in nj. i know it only lasted a short while but it always depressed me. i always wanted to be inside, especially after work.
now, if i had never experienced NC winter, then i would have trudged on with nj, but i know for a fact every winter in NJ, i longed to escape.

[Viralmd]

Look at the responses in the NYC thread where you asked the same question. The winters aren't (in my experience from when I lived in Princeton), aren't really different from those in NYC.

[Judge Smails]

We haven't had a decent snow in about four to five years. It was in the 70 degree area in January. I think NJ is done in regards to snow. Don't expect to see it again.

[wileynj]

We don't get the winter storms like we use to... a few storms per year and latley they don't arrive until February. I think it was the year before last... we hit almost 80 degrees in December! Global warming is upon us in this State. February is the coldest and snowiest month...the others are very mild.

[Judge Smails]

I still won't forget the conversation I had with my sister. She lives in Virginia. She said it was in the 30's and she had some snow on the ground in January. I told her I was wearing a spring jacket and it was in the 60's. I feel like we are living in Florida, just not a lot of old people.

[mike0421]

Winters in NJ were horrible for me. I couldn't stand them. Every region will have a freak warm day or two in the winter, but the reality is from November to the beginning of April, you are looking at misery. To me, misery is defined by the thermometer not exceeding 45 degrees, or, days upon days of steel gray skies. You have 120 days out of 360 where you are likely to get one, if not both of these conditions at any given time. That's 1/3rd of your life. Now, if you like this, NJ winters will suit you. But they didn't suit me.

[brookdaleresident]

Agree with Mike. To me, half the year is cold here. The last major storm I remember was Feb 2002, when our furnance died and it was 48 degrees in our house. I will say that the last few years, winters have been getting milder, or least less snowy. There's usually only one or two days were you can't go out.

[AJGIANTS]

Originally Posted by mike0421

Winters in NJ were horrible for me. I couldn't stand them. Every region will have a freak warm day or two in the winter, but the reality is from November to the beginning of April, you are looking at misery. To me, misery is defined by the thermometer not exceeding 45 degrees, or, days upon days of steel gray skies. You have 120 days out of 360 where you are likely to get one, if not both of these conditions at any given time. That's 1/3rd of your life. Now, if you like this, NJ winters will suit you. But they didn't suit me.

Thats about it. Cold Grey damp - UGLY! - Jersey Winters.