Weather - SouthEast WI (Is It Really THAT Bad?) (Milwaukee: living in, versus)

[EnjoyEP]

So okay...I am talking primarily about SouthEast Wisconsin (eg: Milwaukee, Kenosha, Racine, Port Washington, Menomonee Falls, New Berlin, Muskego, etc.) v. central WI or northern WI.

Obviously one of the huge issues most people have with living in this part of WI (even though it is the "warmest" part of WI) is the weather. Heck, I love the metro Milwaukee area, am really close to relocating back there because I love it so much, etc., but I left 3+ years ago because of...primarily...the weather.

Even residents who otherwise seem to love SE Wisconsin and have lived there for years seem to be very negative about the weather.

So my poll is just to see where others are truly coming from regarding SE Wisconsin's weather. If you live in other parts of Wisconsin - even if not a frequent visitor to SE Wisconsin - or other parts of the Midwest / the U.S. but are familiar with SE Wisconsin's year-round climate, I would love to hear from you here too.

Part of me thinks that Milwaukee metro's weather, while not great, isn't quite as bad as it is made out to be (made out to be Siberia often), but part of me thinks (or is afraid if I do relocate back) that it is a cruel climate (despite haivng grown up and lived in it very happily for quite a number of years).

Where do you fall in? (would love to hear explanations, too or thoughts).

[DaBears]

hi enjoyep...lived in new berlin for 13 years then milwaukee for 2...liked it but hated the weather...moved in 97 for that reason...can remember one fine winter day where it took me 2 hours to get home...i lived & worked on WI ave and it usually took me about 11 minutes to get home...live in NC now & like the weather here....not too too cold in winter, can get hot in summer but not that bad (to me)......had lived in FL for 4 years & loved the hot weather....

[Chelito23]

SE Wisconsin weather is the warmest in the state in the winter...but it can sck this time of year, with those cold ansty lake breezes. It seems like over tha past few months Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha etc have consistently been 15 degrees cooler than Madison (75 degrees versus upper 50s). Northern Wisconsin is just ridiculous in the winter...on the AM news casts they will show numbers that are off the chart cold. Granted SE WI is no treat, but it is several climate USDA zones above north central WI...and with good reason.

[josetjo]

I've been here only two weeks now. I came into town (Sheboygan) April 29and it was around 90 and then cooled off and the wind seems to never stop. I hope it's not like this for much longer. Aside from the weather it's a beautiful part of the world.

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by josetjo

I've been here only two weeks now. I came into town (Sheboygan) April 29and it was around 90 and then cooled off and the wind seems to never stop. I hope it's not like this for much longer. Aside from the weather it's a beautiful part of the world.

Well, the winds will die down soon. I see in Milwaukee it is 90 degrees today, but 60s the rest of the week.

Don't worry josetjo...summer (June - August) will be great...it is just that darn November - mid-April stretch that has me fearful.

[EnjoyEP]

Thus far, the diversity of responses in this poll are amazing - really across-the-board. Many people really seem to despise the weather, however, many others seem to think the 6 months of warm make up for the...umm..other 6 months. One respondant even really likes the weather...very interesting. Would love to hear more responses / opinions, etc.

[KateDaum]

Coming from NH the weather in WI is wonderful. NH gets so much more snow and the temps seem so much colder. And I am comparing it to the Bayfield area. I love summers on Lake Superior, it gets warm but never too humid and the nights are perfect for either sleeping on the porch and even inside we never need the air conditioning on at night. And in WI you don't have the awful blackflies. I hate being outside right now in NH you get eaten alive.

[sunflower53072]

It was 90 degrees one day this week and 36 with a frost warning another. Summers are nice, but fall and spring are not as nice or long as I would like.

[escapetacoma]

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

Don't worry josetjo...summer (June - August) will be great...it is just that darn November - mid-April stretch that has me fearful.

It has been a long time since I've lived someplace with seasons so I'm actually looking forward to it - even the winter. At least there are things to do out in the snow and cold - it was difficult for me to muster the energy to even step out the door when it was chilly (not cold, mind you, just chilly), grey and drizzling/raining for 8 months of the year. Not having a sunny day for 2 months at a stretch is increadibly tiring.

For the moment I'll just enjoy the sun and showers and variety of temps - mid-80's a couple of days ago and mid-50's yesterday.

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by escapetacoma

It has been a long time since I've lived someplace with seasons so I'm actually looking forward to it - even the winter. At least there are things to do out in the snow and cold - it was difficult for me to muster the energy to even step out the door when it was chilly (not cold, mind you, just chilly), grey and drizzling/raining for 8 months of the year. Not having a sunny day for 2 months at a stretch is increadibly tiring.

For the moment I'll just enjoy the sun and showers and variety of temps - mid-80's a couple of days ago and mid-50's yesterday.

Very interesting perspective.

I actually completely agree with you on the chilly-gray-rainy thing versus the cold. I have said all along that by far my least favorite months in Milwaukee are March - April - even early May, the months that tend to be most gray-chilly (not freezing cold)-rainy, etc. I would take a 20 degree day in December in Milwaukee than a 42 degree late April day with heavy clouds and a cold drizzle!