When does it get cold in Pittsburgh? (Reading, Washington: 2014, home)

[norcider]

Right after you turn off the central AC.

[marialestate]

Originally Posted by bluecarebear

It isn't so much the cold, as has been said on other threads, the overcast skies are the worst. Completely clear days without a cloud in the sky are extremely rare. It isn't uncommon to go days without seeing the sun in Pittsburgh. I would much rather live in a city with temps around 0 and clear skies than this mostly cloudy dreariness.

Really? We visited Pittsburgh last february and had beautiful blue skies for a week straight, so it was the only week during the whole winter?

[AnneWest]

I've got a raincoat with a removable fleece lining. I hate wearing anything heavier when I'm behind the wheel, it just gets too bulky and cumbersome and I'm usually just traveling from the house or garage to the car. This past winter...the cold was just relentlessly unending and for the first time in years, I regretted not having anything heavier. I had 4 layers on sometimes, with scarves on my head, around my neck, and spread over the area where my buttons and zippers were leaking body warmth. If you looked in the dictionary for the phrase 'bundled up' that's my picture there.

For you cold newbies, layer layer layer - buy a winter coat, but have all the accessories on hand in case of need. I'll never forget a new neighbor from Pakistan via LA, who was out there loving his first snow while he shoveled his driveway in a sweater...and ended up in the hospital with pneumonia.

[quackxp]

Sometime in September you may start switching from shorts to long pants and sleeves. October is what I would call fall no matter what the "official date". November will be a slow transition from fall to cold-fall/winterish, with maybe some snow. The snowfall will be here for December. Fully blown regularly below freezing and significant snow accumulation usually comes in January-Feb. March may be less freezing but still snow. April will be soaked and chilly. May will be wet and warm. June - August is solid summer.

For fall/winter gear I have a Columbia 3-in-1 jacket w/fleece gloves and hat. I wear Timberland Oxfords (waterproof). I keep a pair of hiking boots, ski pants, ski gloves, fleece sweater, and balaclava in my car just in case.

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by marialestate

Really? We visited Pittsburgh last february and had beautiful blue skies for a week straight, so it was the only week during the whole winter?

Pittsburgh is cloudy more often than not during the winter, but anybody who claims that they don't see the sun for weeks never goes outside during the day. During the last meteorological winter (December-February), Pittsburgh had 34 sunny or partly cloudy days out of 90 days total. The longest period of cloudy skies was nine consecutive days from December 1-9, and there were two periods with five consecutive days of cloudy skies from December 20-24, and December 29-January 2. Otherwise, there were no more than four consecutive days of cloudy skies at a time last winter.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by Gnutella

Pittsburgh is cloudy more often than not during the winter, but anybody who claims that they don't see the sun for weeks never goes outside during the day. During the last meteorological winter (December-February), Pittsburgh had 34 sunny or partly cloudy days out of 90 days total. The longest period of cloudy skies was nine consecutive days from December 1-9, and there were two periods with five consecutive days of cloudy skies from December 20-24, and December 29-January 2. Otherwise, there were no more than four consecutive days of cloudy skies at a time last winter.

Well, if you're working full time, that bold is entirely possible. You can go to work in the dark, or semi-dark, on a "partly cloudy" day and come home in the dark, or in semi-dark. Then if the weekend's cloudy, bingo! Two weeks gone w/o seeing the sun.

[Hopes]

I don't mind grey skies, but last winter was way too cold for too long for me.

April is a mixed bag. My daughter was born at the end of April. It was 75 the day I went into the hospital and snowing the day we left. My family had to run to buy winter clothes for bringing the baby home.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by Katiana

Well, if you're working full time, that bold is entirely possible.

Not for me. I have a very nice window in my office.

[marialestate]

Originally Posted by Gnutella

Pittsburgh is cloudy more often than not during the winter, but anybody who claims that they don't see the sun for weeks never goes outside during the day. During the last meteorological winter (December-February), Pittsburgh had 34 sunny or partly cloudy days out of 90 days total. The longest period of cloudy skies was nine consecutive days from December 1-9, and there were two periods with five consecutive days of cloudy skies from December 20-24, and December 29-January 2. Otherwise, there were no more than four consecutive days of cloudy skies at a time last winter.

Wow that is really detailed thank you!

[charisb]

Originally Posted by Katiana

Well, if you're working full time, that bold is entirely possible. You can go to work in the dark, or semi-dark, on a "partly cloudy" day and come home in the dark, or in semi-dark. Then if the weekend's cloudy, bingo! Two weeks gone w/o seeing the sun.

Well, sure. When I lived in Savannah I had on overnight job. One week I picked up Saturday and Sunday shifts so for almost two weeks I left for work in the dark and returned home in the semi-dark. I slept for all of the daylight hours. But I didn't tell people: "Savannah is such a dark city! There is never any sunlight in the winter."