Pittsburgh weather (Indiana, California, Houston: transplants, how much, casinos) - Pennsylvania (PA) - City-Data Forum

sealerpal · 03-16-2007, 06:08 PM

I've been reading alot of posts here about Pittsburgh and it's struggles. In Particular, making the city attractive to fresh transplants and businesses.

Lots of posts here have talked about how much Pittsburgh has cleaned itself up over the years, community re-development, different ideas like casinos, new stadiums and so on. Yet it seems like people are doing all this good and still nobody wants to come here. Is it the low-paying jobs? If so, the fact that our region's cost of living is so incredibly low should offset that problem. Then what is is?

Well perhaps it's the weather. I know we can't do anything about it, but is it so crazy to think that's what's keeping people from moving to Pittsburgh? Locals like to compare our weather to Seattle. I don't think that's right. Sure, Seattle gets alot of rain, but they don't get the drastic temp swings and pressure gradients that we get here. Let's face it, the weather here really gets to your bones. We have a brief period in the summer when it's comfortable, but aside from that the weather here is wild, constantly changing from one extreme to the next, and completely unpredictable. For almost anyone from another region this climate would be a horrendous shock to the system.

Perhaps when people seriously consider Pittsburgh, they take a look at a year's worth of weather data and say "forget that". Mabey if we tried to somehow market our wacky weather in a positive light, it would improve things. Just a thought.

phase4 · 03-16-2007, 06:16 PM

Wacky wx in a positive light. Hmmmmmmm, let me think on that.

sealerpal · 03-16-2007, 06:23 PM

How 'bout this: "Pittsburgh: The Family-Oriented City with XXX Weather" LOL!

phase4 · 03-16-2007, 08:10 PM

How about 'Pittsburgh - Enjoy our Skies and Leave your Sun Block at Home!'

: )

PghREA · 03-17-2007, 06:11 AM

Did you ever notice that when , and this is rare, we one of those sunny, cloudless, blue sky days, no one wants to work and people are really happy!

sealerpal · 03-17-2007, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PghREA

Did you ever notice that when , and this is rare, we one of those sunny, cloudless, blue sky days, no one wants to work and people are really happy!

If you are talking about sunshine from one side of the horizon to the other, then
yes, I know what you mean. Although a sky like that only happens a handful of times here there's actually a downside to it.

In the summer, I prefer a few high puffy clouds. A totally blue sky mixed with the hot summer sun means no shaded areas to relieve you of the heat.

Also in winter and spring, A completely clear sky for 24 hours will cause it to get
really cold at night. It can be 60 degrees during the day, but if it remains clear overnight, then radiational cooling will take effect and the temps can plummet into the teens.

All this talk about fair weather and we're getting buried with snow on March 17th while 80% of the country is enjoying Spring.

getmeoutofnj · 03-19-2007, 08:56 AM

I have noticed that people in Pittsburgh think that only they have this "crazy weather". Havent you noticed most of the country having crazy weather for at least the last several years?
Remember freezing weather in California while Pa was enjoying unseasonably warm weather? Do you know how many states went from 60s to ice storm in a couple days?
I dont really think this is unique to pgh though. Ive met lots of people from other states who think their state has the most "crazy weather" too.

ontheroad · 03-19-2007, 09:03 AM

I concur. I was totally taken off guard by the weather in Northern New Mexico this winter. We had six (6) snowstorms, and although we didn't rate media coverage the way Colorado did, we had nearly as much snow, roads and airport closed. Conversely, Pittsburgh and the East were not hit during this same timeframe.

Of course now that I am 85 miles away from Pittsburgh and enroute to my daughter's house, it is supposedly snowing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by getmeoutofnj

I have noticed that people in Pittsburgh think that only they have this "crazy weather". Havent you noticed most of the country having crazy weather for at least the last several years?
Remember freezing weather in California while Pa was enjoying unseasonably warm weather? Do you know how many states went from 60s to ice storm in a couple days?
I dont really think this is unique to pgh though. Ive met lots of people from other states who think their state has the most "crazy weather" too.

sealerpal · 03-19-2007, 10:09 AM

A couple of years ago I was down in Houston and it snowed almost a foot...IN HOUSTON!

SlurmsMcKenzie · 03-19-2007, 06:17 PM

I think upper Midwest (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, etc...) weather is at least as crazy. They see strong storms, tornados, etc.. when it is warm and more snow, colder temps, and strong winds in the winter. Also, it always seemed muggier there in the summer (more mosquitos, too).

I think Seattle gets a bad rap. While it is usually cloudy/foggy in the morning, I found it to be at least somewhat sunny more often than not on summer afternoons.

I think Pittsburgh weather is ok but you are right, it is usually bitterly cold. I am in central Pa now and we always seem to be at least a good 5 degrees warmer than Pittsburgh on any given day.