Darn! I thot movin to TN would get me away from the FL heat (Memphis: move to, beach)

[hiknapster]

Okay. Well, then you are not use to LOTS of snow, like I am. I'm originally from New England.

Lots of people go up to the Gatlinburg area when it snows to play in the Smoky Mountain National Park. Once again, it's not a lot but enough. They even have a bit of skiing at Ober Gatlinburg.

[headn4thehills]

Ya, New England is COLD! My brother and his fam live in Maine and I love to visit. Use to want to live there but have since changed my mind. I guess since I've gotten older the novelty of mass quantities of snow for what seems an eternity has worn off. I would just like to enjoy the change of seasons in a lovely, unobstrusive way.

[hiknapster]

I hear ya!

To me, having nine inches of snow in one shot is barely a dusting, around here that is a blizzard!

You'll probably love the weather here. I do!

[headn4thehills]

Thanks to all for the input. I probably seem like a sissy girl - ya know, wanting the perfect climate to live in. OK maybe I am a little but I have learned that extreme weather conditions can build strong character - just look at all the strong characters who hail from the northeast.

Actually, more than anything else - I really want to live near the mountains. I have been camping in the Smokies and I know I will feel at home in TN.

[hiknapster]

Me? I'm the shy retiring type!

Strong character? Well, I'm definitely a character!

The best thing about East Tennessee, and there are a lot of good things, is the weather. The next best thing is the people!

[headn4thehills]

So far, I would quite agree.
It's been a pleasure.

[LauraC]

I don't like summer. Never did. It totally zaps my energy. My fave temps are 50's.

That being said, while I find it to be humid here in Oak Ridge (and I've only been here 17 days), I don't think it's the awful humidity I was expecting. It's certainly not like Florida! It's actually pretty much like MD. The difference is because I recently retired, I'm outside more now.

I am using SPF 50 sunblock though. UV ray warnings have been just about every day since I arrived.

[SunKrist]

Just based on my trips last year in September and November, you should definitely see a difference. I don't know much about Gainsville, but the leaves on the trees here in St. Pete don't turn beautiful autumn colors. They just fall off and die, and that usually happens in January. They do turn colors in East, TN though! It was so gorgeous, especially near the mountains, further east.

Plus, the humidity is way, way lower. When I came back from my trips last year the first thing I noticed was how uncomfortably damp it was here. Humidity can make 75 degree weather unbearable, and the lack thereof can make 82 degree weather beautiful.

[Doogie]

There are a number of differences between the heat in TN and the heat in FL - yes it can get just as hot, but... First, it doesn't last as long. Second, the humidity is lower for most of the time it is warm. Third, the dewpoint temperatures are lower (http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climaps/tmp22a07.pdf (function of humidity) which leads to four, the temperature at night drops more in TN than in FL (http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climaps/tmp02b08.pdf). One of the worst things in LA, and I'm sure in Gainesville, is stepping outside in the morning in August with the temperature around 80 and the humidity near 90%, it's like getting mugged and punched in the gut. You have to towel off after going to get the morning paper. The temperature at night in the summer in East TN is probably much closer to a bearable 70 (someone in TN verify?)

[Bones]

56° @ 8am on the plateau...