Breezy off the Severn? (Baltimore, Frederick: apartment, HOA, home)

[bicoastal12]

Thought I could re-adapt to the East Coast after 20 in So Cal, but summer in early, long, and nasty here in southeast VA. I don't see from the weather data that DC metro's any different - actually worse. But I met folks from Annapolis who claim it's breezy and not nearly as humid (or feels as humid) as this swamp.

FYI: I'm single, semi-retired, do taxes seasonally but am considering self-employment as a technical writer. I'm also an apartment lifer, hoping to eek $950 max a month. Doesn't have to be big/fancy, just safe with no mold. 'Also like nature photography, so some city/county parks nearby help. (I'm invested in DEET.)

My area's way too far from DC's sights and activity, and employment isn't diverse: it's military bases, shipyard, and theme parks. Also, everyone is married to someone in the military, and church is the main social activity here, so I feel left out.

Do you think I'd like Annapolis?

[North Beach Person]

Your $950/month pretty much keeps you out of Annapolis. Add a minimum of $500 and you start getting into the parking area of the ballpark.

[andrew_s]

Anything east of the fall line and much of the "pink" section is the exact same climate as non appalachia VA and NC. Hot and humid long summers and mild wet winters.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by andrew_s

Anything east of the fall line and much of the "pink" section is the exact same climate as non appalachia VA and NC. Hot and humid long summers and mild wet winters.

Cool map. I'm so curious about the context.

Why were they distinguishing the 'Fall Line'?

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

Cool map. I'm so curious about the context.

Why were they distinguishing the 'Fall Line'?

Border between the Piedmont/uplands and the Coastal Plain.

[andrew_s]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

Cool map. I'm so curious about the context.

Why were they distinguishing the 'Fall Line'?

North beach said it all, but the fall line is where the climate of Maryland differs greatly with the pink region (Piedmont) being very close if not identical to the eastern side of the fall line. But being an intermediary zone we can see "watered down" western Maryland climate sometimes, although rare. Usually Fredrick is the cut off where they get snow and we mostly get cold rain in Howard.

[westsideboy]

I can always tell when I pass the fall line because of the flora. Those big yellow pines start to mix in with the Oaks. Scrub Pines are the only yellow pines that are common west of the fall line.

[andrew_s]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

I can always tell when I pass the fall line because of the flora. Those big yellow pines start to mix in with the Oaks. Scrub Pines are the only yellow pines that are common west of the fall line.

Yeah the sad thing about living just on the other side of the fall line is that we have zero "georgia" pines, but 5 minutes down 32 and youll start to see them. As sad as it is the flora change is quite awesome through the state. In fact I pointed this out to my wife and she watched from home to the beach and the beach and back and was surprised at how the change is so close to home.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by andrew_s

North beach said it all, but the fall line is where the climate of Maryland differs greatly with the pink region (Piedmont) being very close if not identical to the eastern side of the fall line. But being an intermediary zone we can see "watered down" western Maryland climate sometimes, although rare. Usually Fredrick is the cut off where they get snow and we mostly get cold rain in Howard.

That's interesting...that it snows in Frederick, and rains in HoCo.

If a person was to roughly put 'The Fall Line' overlapping a highway...would a person say it's I-29? US-95? I-295?

Or most likely, just a mix of all three...none really being noted?

[westsideboy]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

That's interesting...that it snows in Frederick, and rains in HoCo.

If a person was to roughly put 'The Fall Line' overlapping a highway...would a person say it's I-29? US-95? I-295?

Or most likely, just a mix of all three...none really being noted?

Frederick is in a very deep valley. Lots of heat inversion goes on there. Cooler in the mornings than surrounding areas, hot during the day. I think there is a phenomenon called the "DC" split or something, where storms tend to split going over the Catoctins in Maryland, one stream will go north, one south, Often keeping the worst weather from the mid section of Maryland and DC. I saw it happen often when I lived in Frederick with thunderstorms. I lived there about 5 years and the worst we had was about 5-6 inches of sleet....that turned to 2-3 inches of ice, that we had to hack out of our parking lots with hand picks. No HOA to be seen for days. When they did show, they pushed the ice around and blocked our emergency exit door. Glad to see we were paying for good service.

I guess I-95 is close to the fall line in Maryland. The best way to see it is Rt. 32 like AndrewS mentioned, or I-97 South of Baltimore. Both roads give you that nearly instant transition in flora and geography.