Advice on coping with Pittsburgh Winter for a soon-to-be-transplanted Southerner?

[RoughCollie]

Originally Posted by Irradiatus

To all of you saying "it's really not that cold here", etc... those arguments are irrelevant when it comes to me.

I live in Boston, and I am from Atlanta. I've lived here for 20 years and I have never gotten used to the Frozen North.

My advice is buy the 5 pairs of the warmest long johns (winter underwear) you can find. Then wear them under everything. It is the only thing that helps.

You can buy a balaclava to use under your hat. This is basically a ski mask. It covers your face.

Wear very well-insulated snow boots and gloves. I cannot stress enough how cold your feet and hands will get. At camping stores, including online, they sell hand warmers and foot warmers that you can put inside your gloves and boots.

RC

[Dexx1700]

I have Family In Pittsburg and im looking to move ther from amelia Island

[rubybelle]

Originally Posted by BurghBoundSoutherner

Hi all!

My husband and I will be relocating to Pittsburgh from NC for work in the fall. To be honest, we are dreading moving someplace so cold (although very excited about living in Pittsburgh in general) and have never lived outside the balmy South where it rarely drops below freezing. Part of our dread is knowing that we are completely unprepared for what to expect and what kinds of things to think about--driving in the snow and ice? Winter gear and clothes? In our mind, Pittsburgh is the Frozen Tundra of the North and we'd hate to be attacked by a rabid caribou or die in an avalanche. All joking aside, any advice on surviving and thriving in the winter would be appreciated--we have no idea what we're getting ourselves into.

Frozen tundra eh?
It's really not so bad here. Pittsburgh doesn't get a lot of snow.
This year has been one of the snowiest in my recent memory.
Hey, you are moving here at the most beautiful time of year - Autumn! You're going to be pleasantly surprised when you find that the cold is not so bad here and it's much easier to deal with than the heat and humidity.
Buy a comfy winter coat, a pair of gloves, a hat (which you'll probably never wear) and a scarf. I wouldn't even bother to buy a shovel because the snow doesn't get that deep here nor does it stay very long.
If you can find a house or apartment with a wood burning fireplace you will be GOLDEN!
The only thing that may give you a little trouble will be the lack of sunshine. Oh, it's sunny here occasionally, but not like all day or anything like that in the autumn and winter. It may start out foggy or cloudy, clear to sunny for an hour and then get cloudy again. Or - the sun may not come out for days at a time. I would recommend going to a tanning booth to get some sun (or at least to feel like you are)
The summer is plenty hot and sunny so you will LOVE it! Promise!

[BurghBoundSoutherner]

Seriously, thanks to you all for humoring our Southern Weather Paranoia and giving us some sincere advice. it actually helps--we appreciate it!

[tyrell]

good advice ,sometimes you just get scared because of what people say about pittsburgh winters i dont think it is that bad .I have friends who have been leaving there for more than 10 years.when i talk to them in the winter time non of them have ever told me that it was that bad.

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by RoughCollie

I live in Boston, and I am from Atlanta. I've lived here for 20 years and I have never gotten used to the Frozen North.

To bad you really don't get winter in Boston to know what the "Frozen North" is like.

[RoughCollie]

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

To bad you really don't get winter in Boston to know what the "Frozen North" is like.

If I had to live anywhere colder, I don't know what I'd do!