Gotta Love this Weather (Austin, Plains: rentals, new house, buy)

[Moonlady]

Oh, to answer the other parts of your question, we start getting cold fronts in Sept/Oct but they are usually mild and just bring relief from the summer heat, they don't really get cold. Nov and Dec are sporadic. Jan and Feb are the worst months as far as how cold it can get, but remember, it can be in the 90's in Feb too, so it's not a constant cold like up north. It cools down, warms up and then repeats. Ice storms aren't very frequent, but we've had one now 2 years in a row. it's what happens when the rain from a front freezes on the roads. It can get quite ugly and most folks realize it's smarter to stay home. The worst one recently lasted about 2.5 days.

[statefan]

Our AC is still on. I I slept with the windows open, I would not be able to breath or see the next day. Plus, they are laying a new water pipe not even 100 feet away, so all the dust and noise would make it even more unbearable! I have more allergies since moving to Texas than ever!

But I do really love the good ole days of temps in the low 50s, going to a high school football game, coming home, throwing an extra blanket on the bed and sleeping in next to near heaven for the night!

[twange]

Originally Posted by statefan

Our AC is still on. I I slept with the windows open, I would not be able to breath or see the next day. Plus, they are laying a new water pipe not even 100 feet away, so all the dust and noise would make it even more unbearable! I have more allergies since moving to Texas than ever!

But I do really love the good ole days of temps in the low 50s, going to a high school football game, coming home, throwing an extra blanket on the bed and sleeping in next to near heaven for the night!

Yea, my eyes would probably be swollen shut...

I love those fall nights you're referring to as well...crisp, with the smell of fallen leaves and campfire...

[MacFanatic]

Originally Posted by PeacePlease

In Austin, we get nice fall, winter and spring. Spring here is amazing. But the summers can be cruel.

We're currently living at the Jersey Shore, where the summers can be hot (90's is not uncommon) and frequently humid. The charts I have seen show the "average high" for Austin during the summer to be mid-90's. Is that what you consider "cruel"? Sounds pretty much like Jersey...

kathy

[jclAustin]

Originally Posted by MacFanatic

We're currently living at the Jersey Shore, where the summers can be hot (90's is not uncommon) and frequently humid. The charts I have seen show the "average high" for Austin during the summer to be mid-90's. Is that what you consider "cruel"? Sounds pretty much like Jersey...

kathy

Last summer 90 degree weather started in April and lasted until late October or early November. I think there were 20 consecutive days over 100. The summer before that in October it reached 108. What the temperatures don't tell is the humidity. As the temps drop at night (down to 78-80), the humidity rises, so it still can be quite uncomfortable. It's all relative to what you are used to though; there's plenty of people bicycling along 360 at mid day in the summer.

[jwb123]

Ok I have the AC up high (like 82) and lots of windows open. It's been that way since last night and we just came home to the freshest smelling house... I love this.

[PeacePlease]

Originally Posted by MacFanatic

We're currently living at the Jersey Shore, where the summers can be hot (90's is not uncommon) and frequently humid. The charts I have seen show the "average high" for Austin during the summer to be mid-90's. Is that what you consider "cruel"? Sounds pretty much like Jersey...

kathy

Yes, it does stay mostly in the mid 90s on average (somedays it breaks 100)... but the humidity is what gets you not the actual temperature. The good news is that it is not every day. We get some days where it is not so bad.

In our backyard, we got trees for shade (another plus for people that buy pre-owned homes). We also expanded our back patio, and placed a tree few feet away.. So our patio is mostly shaded. We are able to use our back patio often during the summer (especially late in the afternoon or early evening). That is the good news. In the shade is not as bad. But the humidity on some days keeps us inside.

I've seen folks that installed an outdoor ceiling fan on their patio. I think this is a great idea and can minimize the problem.

As far as kids playing outside in the mid summer, it is not easy since it gets too hot. They play outside for 20-30 minutes at a time, but not more. Since we created a shady area in the back, it is much easier for them. Like our swing set is under a tree, and that helps a great deal. The neighborhood swimming pool is where my kids like to go on a hot day.

There are all sort of places to entertain kids indoors around Austin which helps too.

Hope this helps.

[Trainwreck20]

Also, since Austin is no where near coastal, the wind can feel like a hair dryer in the middle of the summer. But the above posters are right, it is the constant heat for a long time (it really doesn't even get cool at night).

Mehmed II
Zara Yoqob
De Gaulle
Napoleon
Louis XIV

[PeacePlease]

People tend to take their vacations around Christmas and spring break. Our family takes a yearly vacation in July.. We go somewhere like the PNW, enjoy the weather etc.. come back and before you know it July is over.. Since we started doing this a while back, it has helped out with the summers in Austin. That means summers go by a whole lot faster... Just my opinion.

[PeacePlease]

Another way to think about this is that in many places in the country people stay indoors from around late November till February or March. In Austin, we get great weather from mid October to mid April (or May) where you can be outside doing whatever most of the time (yeah we get few cold days, but they are a few). So if you look at it from the perspective of the entire year, it is not so bad. Now if you factor in a vacation in mid summer, you see how this improves the picture a great deal. Hope this helps.