Weather during Mid January (St. Louis, Houston: 2009, home, neighborhoods)

[databasegeek]

Is it freezing crazy cold during the middle of January in St. Louis? Like snowing and crazy stuff?

I'm from Houston and never seen snow in my life so I don't know if I will survive if it's crazy cold.

I plan on visiting because I got a good deal on airfare and want to do some photography around St. Louis (any recommendations on that too?)


Thanks!

[STLCardsBlues1989]

There are a lot of great places to Photograph in St. Louis. But it depends on what you want to photograph.

I have seen pics of Lafayette Square in the snow and it's beautiful. Downtown also seems to be a popular subject nowadays.

And you won't literally die, assuming you have heat. But you'll probably need a heavy duty coat. And snow in January is not unusual.

But it won't kill you.

[databasegeek]

Thanks. I been thinking about the botanical gardens and of course the arch.

[northbayeric]

Just want to corroborate what STL CardsBlues wrote. It can get pretty darn cold in St. Louis at times, with temperatures dropping down to near zero and very cold wind chill factors. However, it very rarely remains cold. The weather actually dipsy-doodles all over the place; and the old joke "Don't like the weather in St. Louis? Just wait 20 minutes!" really rings true in mid-January.

Have a coat, gloves and a hat that covers your ears. Anything more than about 4 inches of snow at a time is fairly unusual. The temperature often zooms back up into the 50s or even the low 60s after a snowstorm, leaving a slushy mess. Sometimes the reverse temperature pattern takes place. You go to work in the morning and it's in the mid 40s, but by the time you get off work, the temperature has plummeted down into the teens with some gusty winds.

As long as it stays in the mid 20s or warmer, it's not that bad--just takes a bit of getting used to. St. Louis isn't anything like Bismarck or Minneapolis. The biggest weather threat to St. Louis isn't the cold so much as it's the freezing rain and sleet. Then you just have to stay home and hunker down for a couple of days.

[ShadowCaver]

Will you be driving, staying out in the burbs, or actually downtown? How long will ya have chance to be here for?

Arch, brewery, rivers, Landing, Stadium, Old Courthouse, Old Cathedral, Forest Park, Water Tower, etc etc. PLUS check out post #12 in this thread: http://www.city-data.com/forum/st-lo...t-louis-2.html for many suggestions of StL area items. There are many other places within an hour or so drive too that are awesome in the winter also.

As to weather, check out the following: National Weather Service Climate - select: "Preliminary Monthly Climate Data (CF6)"
StL for location
then month of interest [January of past years in this case]
and then "Go"

Average high in 2009 was 38°F, ave low 20°F, with max high of 61° and low of 0°, and about 7" total for the month of snow/ice - which in this case was that nasty infamous freezing rain/ice, the "crazy stuff" .

When you do arrive, might also pay mind to http://www.kmov.com/weather/weathers...ersafety2.html

At the end of the day, don't panic, fret, or be overly worried. Just be prepared, calm, and float with the situation... and enjoy some gooey butter cake, Maull's BBQ, local brews, and Imo's pizza.

[Jeenkies]

If you're coming to STL in the winter, you might leave here and still not ever have seen snow.
It's pretty much a crapshoot what kind of weather you'll see. We get snow here sporadically and USUALLY about four inches at a pop, but like everything else here weatherwise 'your mileage may vary' because it could be eight, a few times a year. January is usually about the cold. But it's up and down. Could be 40 degrees, could be in the 20's. Nightime the temp always dips no matter what the high is. Bring a heavy coat, a hat, and some mittens. Even when it's 'cold' what feels colder is when the wind whips up and goes through you. If you're spending anytime outdoors, gear up.

Snow comes, dumps, sticks around a little while then it warms and melts. We don't accumulate it like places farther north. Careful driving after sundown when it's been melting, it refreezes on the roads that aren't well salted. However, the odds of you hitting exactly during that time are slim compared to the odds of showing up just when it's 'cold'.

We do get the occasional sleet/ice storm. Doesn't happen every year everywhere, but somewhere gets some of it. Again, the odds are slim that you'll hit exactly at that time. Just know that it could happen. Yep, you hunker down until the roads are dealt with. Weather rarely stops flights going in and out during that time of year, but it can happen. www.nws.noaa.gov and yes, www.kmov.com as well as MoDOT Traveler Information Map in the event of weather.

If you like unusual architecture and you can't bear to be outside, try The City Museum. It's an eclectic mish mosh of fascinating architectural structures, masquerading as a children's museum/activity center. LOL It's different. You're not going to see anything else like it, anywhere.I surmise that if I were into photography, it would be a fun place to spend a few hours.

[Fishtacos]

Weather is cold in January.

Snow is once in a while, not too often.

Keep head, hands, feet warm.

Lots of photography options all over the metro.

[databasegeek]

Originally Posted by ShadowCaver

Will you be driving, staying out in the burbs, or actually downtown? How long will ya have chance to be here for?

Arch, brewery, rivers, Landing, Stadium, Old Courthouse, Old Cathedral, Forest Park, Water Tower, etc etc. PLUS check out post #12 in this thread: http://www.city-data.com/forum/st-lo...t-louis-2.html for many suggestions of StL area items. There are many other places within an hour or so drive too that are awesome in the winter also.

As to weather, check out the following: National Weather Service Climate - select: "Preliminary Monthly Climate Data (CF6)"
StL for location
then month of interest [January of past years in this case]
and then "Go"

Average high in 2009 was 38°F, ave low 20°F, with max high of 61° and low of 0°, and about 7" total for the month of snow/ice - which in this case was that nasty infamous freezing rain/ice, the "crazy stuff" .

When you do arrive, might also pay mind to Weather Safety Guide | KMOV.com | St. Louis, MO

At the end of the day, don't panic, fret, or be overly worried. Just be prepared, calm, and float with the situation... and enjoy some gooey butter cake, Maull's BBQ, local brews, and Imo's pizza.

I will fly to St. Louis but I will have a rental. I will be staying friday-sunday. Thanks for the suggested areas. Is it safe to drive in snowy conditions in St Louis?

Again thanks everyone for the suggestions and links I've been reading them. I heard about Imo's and St. Louis pizza. There is another place, Cecil, I heard it's good.

Originally Posted by Jeenkies

If you're coming to STL in the winter, you might leave here and still not ever have seen snow.
It's pretty much a crapshoot what kind of weather you'll see. We get snow here sporadically and USUALLY about four inches at a pop, but like everything else here weatherwise 'your mileage may vary' because it could be eight, a few times a year. January is usually about the cold. But it's up and down. Could be 40 degrees, could be in the 20's. Nightime the temp always dips no matter what the high is. Bring a heavy coat, a hat, and some mittens. Even when it's 'cold' what feels colder is when the wind whips up and goes through you. If you're spending anytime outdoors, gear up.

Snow comes, dumps, sticks around a little while then it warms and melts. We don't accumulate it like places farther north. Careful driving after sundown when it's been melting, it refreezes on the roads that aren't well salted. However, the odds of you hitting exactly during that time are slim compared to the odds of showing up just when it's 'cold'.

We do get the occasional sleet/ice storm. Doesn't happen every year everywhere, but somewhere gets some of it. Again, the odds are slim that you'll hit exactly at that time. Just know that it could happen. Yep, you hunker down until the roads are dealt with. Weather rarely stops flights going in and out during that time of year, but it can happen. www.nws.noaa.gov and yes, www.kmov.com as well as MoDOT Traveler Information Map in the event of weather.

If you like unusual architecture and you can't bear to be outside, try The City Museum. It's an eclectic mish mosh of fascinating architectural structures, masquerading as a children's museum/activity center. LOL It's different. You're not going to see anything else like it, anywhere.I surmise that if I were into photography, it would be a fun place to spend a few hours.

Thanks for the driving tips!

I like architecture, art, culture and people. I think I will go to St. Louis often to get to know it like I use to live in it (I never did).

Are there any places I should avoid, like ghetto places. I don't want to walk into the wrong neighborhood on accident lol.

Thanks for the links, checking them out now.

[latetotheparty]

the closest analogy i can think of for driving in snow is driving in sand.... don't know if the beaches around freeport / surfside still allow cars on them, but they did when i was there.... MANY years ago.....

and what everyone else said.... nice heavy coat, a hat that covers your ears, gloves and warm socks ..... you'll be fine.......

i had seen snow THREE times in my life before i moved here (native to houston)...... and it was not difficult to get used to getting around in .... just use common sense........

but chances are, you won't even see any......

[BoomBoxing]

Originally Posted by databasegeek

I will fly to St. Louis but I will have a rental. I will be staying friday-sunday. Thanks for the suggested areas. Is it safe to drive in snowy conditions in St Louis?

Again thanks everyone for the suggestions and links I've been reading them. I heard about Imo's and St. Louis pizza. There is another place, Cecil, I heard it's good.



Thanks for the driving tips!

I like architecture, art, culture and people. I think I will go to St. Louis often to get to know it like I use to live in it (I never did).

Are there any places I should avoid, like ghetto places. I don't want to walk into the wrong neighborhood on accident lol.

Thanks for the links, checking them out now.

It's pretty hard to wander into the bad neighborhoods by accident, or at least you will realize it very quickly. North City and a few parts of North County are generally to be avoided, but there aren't many attractions those areas so I doubt you will find your way there. St. Louis style pizza like Imos is something that the natives love but I have met very few outsiders who enjoy it. It's one of those quirky things. I obviously love it . It probably won't be snowing when you get here as it doesn't snow all that much, and the roads are fine a day or so after it has snowed. I would say this past winter there were maybe 2 days where you really shouldn't drive.