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Hey folks, my family is relocating to the triangle area in a few weeks from freezing cold Massachusetts. One of the larger reasons we looked to move to NC is due to the weather. I'm pretty much sick of being stuck indoors with two young ones from Nov to April with such cold temps. It's not the snow I mind, it's the fact you cant even go build a snowman due to -20 degree temps stretching for weeks at a time. And having a mobile baby and 5 yr old stuck indoors with no end in sight drives the whole family batty
I've heard the average temp in the winter is 40. Is this true? When does the winter season tend to start? The temps start to get chilly? When does it start to warm up again towards to 60s? Will I need to pack my thermal undies?
40-50 is probably about right. It gets colder than that at night, often warmer than that during the day. Winter doesn't really start until end of November. It should start "cooling off" a bit here in the next few weeks with temps in the 60's-70's during the day and cooler at night. It starts warming back up again in mid-late March. The weather can be really weird here and somewhat unpredictable. It can be 40 one day and 70 the next. Most natives I know are addicted to the weather channel .
I've heard the average temp in the winter is 40. Is this true? When does the winter season tend to start? The temps start to get chilly? When does it start to warm up again towards to 60s? Will I need to pack my thermal undies?
Rhaven, we relocated from sunny southern California one year ago. So, we've only had one winter experience. However, we managed very well.
I counted only two days that had snow. One that melted later in the day, the other within a few hours. And the snow only left a light blanket, not the ice and drifts I was expecting. Very easy to drive and manage (although, people kept warning me about the ice storms from several years back, so I was expecting the worst). Certainly, every year has it's own issues.
As for weather, I'm a shorts and tank top sort of guy, when I can take that opportunity. There was some points during December and January when I thought running around outside was too much to be lightly dressed. But, we ran into temperatures in the twenties, for sure. I think there were a few days in the teens. However, it was definitely cold at times, and a few months beginning in late November where our gas bills were higher than I've ever seen (mind you, we're from sunny California, so high could be average around here).
Definitely, the first quarter of the year, we were using the heater a lot. But the cold did not paralyze me a bit. Now that I have a little perspective, I like the colder months. There's less bugs and it's easier to sleep. And snuggling is much more enjoyable as well.
From what I've heard, however, that being down here weather-wise, since you are from the north, you should be able to manage well. It should be easier. But, without a doubt, there will be cold days. It really depends on your threshold for cold. I'm sure it can't be as harsh as it is up where you are now.
Oh my gosh do I NOT miss the ice cold and snow piled 3 feet high....we're from NJ.
I just LOVE the weather here. Honestly, for me, it really wasn't COLD (with the exception of a couple days long cold spells...which happens everywhere) until the month of February. To me, in NC.....that is winter....February.
We've only been through one winter (2 summers) but am loving it. Plus the summers are really no different than back in NJ...it gets just as hot there. I was a bit prepared for some SC summer weather (my father lives in Myrtle Beach) but nope...it was milder than SC. Though in August, I must say that the kids didn't want to be outside much unless I had the sprinkler on (which we didn't due to the water restrictions this year) or we were at the pool.
Thank you all for your input. I really appreciate it. I can handle days of cold temps. I'm a born and bred new Englander. However, it's the weeks upon weeks of frigid cold not even couting the windchill factor that kill me. And the fact you're bundling up from October to April in 3 layes of clothing
Where I live now we have absolutely no AC, so even if the summer was hotter, it will be easier to handle down there. NC has central ac like we have heaters here lol. But you have all revalidated our choice of moving down. My husband is on a plane as I write, going to find us a place to live 3 weeks from now, and I just can not wait to join you all!
The winters are not bad, it's the summers that are horrible. If I had to choose, it'd be the A/C over the furnace any day. The winters are not too bad, maybe in the 40s or so and rarely in the 30s. It snows once every couple years and the snow never sticks.
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And having a mobile baby and 5 yr old stuck indoors with no end in sight drives the whole family batty 
