Tired of Florida (good schools, living in, costs)

[nomoreflheat]

Think I'm changing my mind about the amazingly gorgeous Iowa because of the harsh winters I keep hearing about lol! North carolina may be next on the research list...

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by nomoreflheat

Think I'm changing my mind about the amazingly gorgeous Iowa because of the harsh winters I keep hearing about lol! North carolina may be next on the research list...

Smart move.

North Carolina is still going to give you 4 seasons but not such extremes in winter and summer.

[Osito]

A few of the things you mentioned are also problems in Iowa, but like others said, the humidity eventually ends. The opposite time of the year is replaced by bitter cold, and if you can handle that, you'll be fine. Depending on where you live, there's also not always a decent way to make a living either. My mom made minimum wage working in an office in a small town up there and her boyfriend was a truck driver.

[fezzador]

Originally Posted by nomoreflheat

Think I'm changing my mind about the amazingly gorgeous Iowa because of the harsh winters I keep hearing about lol! North carolina may be next on the research list...

Iowa winters aren't THAT bad. If you want harsh, the Dakotas, much of Wyoming and Montana, and northern Minnesota can give you all you want. The first appreciable snowfall in Iowa usually happens in late November or early December (though it's certainly capable of falling well before that), and starts disappearing around the tail end of February through mid March. The snow's usually long gone by the first of April. Even in the dead of winter, the daily highs usually hover from the upper teens to the lower thirties. Rarely do you get more than a small handful of sub-zero temp days each winter. Of course, coming from Florida, that probably is more cold and snow than you're used to.

If you're looking into NC, try the greater Asheville area. It's snuggled in the Blue Ridge mountains, is approximately an hour or so from Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge TN, and is a bit drier than much of the rest of the South. There are some very scenic parts of Iowa (especially the northeastern part of the state near Dubuque), but I'm not sure that it can really compare to the Blue Ridge Mtns. Each state has some pretty cool areas, and I have little doubt you'll be happy in either place.

[Juice Malone]

Originally Posted by fezzador

Iowa winters aren't THAT bad. If you want harsh, the Dakotas, much of Wyoming and Montana, and northern Minnesota can give you all you want. The first appreciable snowfall in Iowa usually happens in late November or early December (though it's certainly capable of falling well before that), and starts disappearing around the tail end of February through mid March. The snow's usually long gone by the first of April. Even in the dead of winter, the daily highs usually hover from the upper teens to the lower thirties. Rarely do you get more than a small handful of sub-zero temp days each winter. Of course, coming from Florida, that probably is more cold and snow than you're used to.

If you're looking into NC, try the greater Asheville area. It's snuggled in the Blue Ridge mountains, is approximately an hour or so from Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge TN, and is a bit drier than much of the rest of the South. There are some very scenic parts of Iowa (especially the northeastern part of the state near Dubuque), but I'm not sure that it can really compare to the Blue Ridge Mtns. Each state has some pretty cool areas, and I have little doubt you'll be happy in either place.

Iowa winters are harsher than the majority of The US. Saying somewhere else is worse doesn't change this. Sub zero temps are one thing, but how many places in the lower 48 experience sub zero wind chills as often? I've been here since November and there have probably been 10 days-14 days with wind chill in that ball park. It's not even January yet. I've also had a person from Juneau, AK and another from Grand Forks, ND say they think Iowa has a more uncomfortable climate overall than where they are from. Native Iowans I speak complain about the weather. For a person coming from the south east or south west coasts where the climate is moderated, temperatures do not vary that much and you don't have seasons it is quite an adjustment period.

Saying something usually happens in regards to climate in the midwest is strange also. Iowans talk about weather ALOT. I've heard so many conflicting reports of what is and is not normal. I just stop listening and take it day by day.

This thread reminds me of my Mom. She insists that she is going to visit this winter and is watching temps and forecasts like a hawk. Talking about what Iowa typically experiences. I'm trying to tell her that winter is not the best time to come. She wonders why because it is warming up to 30s. I try to explain that her forecast could easily be wrong and even if it is right it is not accounting for the 15-20mph winds that may be blowing which makes it feel like single digits.

[capitalcityguy]

Originally Posted by Juice Malone

Iowa winters are harsher than the majority of The US. Saying somewhere else is worse doesn't change this.

I think many object to the word "harsh". It is much too strong a term to accurately describe our winters.

e.g... If Iowa is "harsh" in winter, what is the entire country of Canada? Unlivable?

[Osito]

Originally Posted by fezzador

Iowa winters aren't THAT bad. If you want harsh, the Dakotas, much of Wyoming and Montana, and northern Minnesota can give you all you want. The first appreciable snowfall in Iowa usually happens in late November or early December (though it's certainly capable of falling well before that), and starts disappearing around the tail end of February through mid March. The snow's usually long gone by the first of April. Even in the dead of winter, the daily highs usually hover from the upper teens to the lower thirties. Rarely do you get more than a small handful of sub-zero temp days each winter. Of course, coming from Florida, that probably is more cold and snow than you're used to.

If you're looking into NC, try the greater Asheville area. It's snuggled in the Blue Ridge mountains, is approximately an hour or so from Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge TN, and is a bit drier than much of the rest of the South. There are some very scenic parts of Iowa (especially the northeastern part of the state near Dubuque), but I'm not sure that it can really compare to the Blue Ridge Mtns. Each state has some pretty cool areas, and I have little doubt you'll be happy in either place.

I lived up there for a winter when others said it was an unusual winter, El Nino year or something like that. We ended up getting sent home from school every day for like two weeks after lunch because of the blizzards and wind chill.

I also wanted to add, the fall leaves are BEAUTIFUL!

[Serious Conversation]

Originally Posted by fezzador

If you're looking into NC, try the greater Asheville area. It's snuggled in the Blue Ridge mountains, is approximately an hour or so from Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge TN, and is a bit drier than much of the rest of the South. There are some very scenic parts of Iowa (especially the northeastern part of the state near Dubuque), but I'm not sure that it can really compare to the Blue Ridge Mtns. Each state has some pretty cool areas, and I have little doubt you'll be happy in either place.

As someone from TN who lived in Des Moines, none of Iowa compares to the Smokies or Blue Ridge in WNC for scenery or weather, but there are few decent jobs in east TN and WNC. Iowa is a job market paradise compared to these places, but coming from south FL, it may not seem quite as harsh.

[fezzador]

Originally Posted by Juice Malone

Iowa winters are harsher than the majority of The US. Saying somewhere else is worse doesn't change this. Sub zero temps are one thing, but how many places in the lower 48 experience sub zero wind chills as often? I've been here since November and there have probably been 10 days-14 days with wind chill in that ball park. It's not even January yet. I've also had a person from Juneau, AK and another from Grand Forks, ND say they think Iowa has a more uncomfortable climate overall than where they are from. Native Iowans I speak complain about the weather. For a person coming from the south east or south west coasts where the climate is moderated, temperatures do not vary that much and you don't have seasons it is quite an adjustment period.

Saying something usually happens in regards to climate in the midwest is strange also. Iowans talk about weather ALOT. I've heard so many conflicting reports of what is and is not normal. I just stop listening and take it day by day.

This thread reminds me of my Mom. She insists that she is going to visit this winter and is watching temps and forecasts like a hawk. Talking about what Iowa typically experiences. I'm trying to tell her that winter is not the best time to come. She wonders why because it is warming up to 30s. I try to explain that her forecast could easily be wrong and even if it is right it is not accounting for the 15-20mph winds that may be blowing which makes it feel like single digits.

I won't disagree that Iowa has some extreme weather, but if you've only been there since November, that's hardly an accurate gauge to determine what winters in Iowa really are like. My parents have been in southwestern Minnesota for about seven years and they're saying this is shaping up to be the roughest winter they've had there. If that's any indication, then you're probably about to experience a more intense winter than usual. I lived in central Iowa for fifteen-plus years, northeastern South Dakota for about five, Minnesota for three, and Alaska for three, and in my experience, coastal Alaska and Iowa have milder winters (Anchorage winters are usually longer, but they're normally not quite as intense) than SD or MN. Your buddy from Juneau is right, it's almost more like Seattle or Vancouver there than most of the rest of the state. Grand Forks I don't buy for a minute, unless your other pal was talking about the summers as they are a bit drier than their easterly neighbors.

[atler8]

Fezz is correct ^^^