<p>Hey parents,
Two of my friends and I will be going to colleges in the South (Georgia/Florida-ish area) in August, and we're nervous about the weather there. We've always lived in the north east, nearly in Canada actually, and I for one get along much better in cold than heat.
I'm hoping that some of you parents, with your infinite wisdom :) and the likelihood that you've had a chance to travel a bit more than high schoolers, would be able to give us advice about the weather in the south, adjusting/being outside in heat and humidity, clothing tips (should we really just pack a pile of tank tops, shorts, and flip flops? is that what everyone wears?) and that kind of thing. We'd really appreciate any help!</p>
<p>Well...DD is in CA in a much warmer climate than here in New England. The reality is that it isn't all that HOT most of the time she is there. Most of the really hot weather is in June, July and August. Plus...the classrooms, and most buildings (in her case that includes the dorms) are airconditioned. It was actually wonderful when she went to school....much easier to pack lightweight clothing than bulky winter clothes. She also didn't need a bulky down comforter...just a light weight quilt. No boots, no winter coats, well...you've got the picture. Yes, she took lightweight clothes, but she doesn't wear shorts year round (it even gets chilly well...40 ish...on some winter nights). She has some hoodies and a lightweight polar fleece too. She says...it's not hard to get used to nice weather. She loves to see the snow when she comes home (we meet her at the airport with her down jacket, boots, hat, scarf, gloves)...but doesn't miss it a bit when she's at school. And she loves being able to sit outside and read in the middle of January!!</p>
<p>it will be hot and sticky in Ga/Fla in August.</p>
<p>bank on it.</p>
<p>but it also cools down in winter...40s and 50s as highs are not uncommon..but the next day it could be 65 or 70 or even 80. Lows can dip into the 20s and 30s. It really depends on the exact locations...which schools are you attending?</p>
<p>I live in NE FL so I know the weather well.</p>
<p>Two of us are going to Eckerd and the other to SCAD's Atlanta campus. Hot and sticky is what really makes me roll my eyes at my college choice, not really sure how to deal with walking around carrying books and everything in humidity. But I guess like thumper1 says, buildings will be air conditioned and such.</p>
<p>well..for you that are heading for Tampa..it will be a change for sure. Scratch the 20s..that doesn't happen there..but it will dip into the 30s and 40s at times at night in winter(late at night).</p>
<p>The person heading to Atlanta should realize that it does periodically snow there...we are not talking florida here but extreme northern Ga.</p>
<p>And it is not hot and sticky in the winter in Tampa/St. Pete...</p>
<p>just think..when you are strolling in shorts catching some sun in January...back home it could be 5 below and the wind howling.</p>
<p>now that makes my eyes roll in a different direction.</p>
<p>good luck in your studies and I'm sure you will adjust.</p>
<p>haha thanks!</p>
<p>Bring bug spray, lots and lots of bug spray! I'm always freaked out by the bugs in Fla.</p>
<p>I hate the heat and the one summer I spent in Florida is still a nightmare for me. Hopefully, you like water because, quite simply, hydrating is key. At least your dorms will be air conditioned - it can be worse going to schools not quite far enough in the south to have AC in all the dorms, but far enough to have serious heat and humidity in August.</p>
<p>I was in Atlanta once over Christmas break and it was freezing the whole time! If you are female I think skirts are cooler than shorts. I hate it when you have hot outside and cold buildings. Even here in NYC I once had to buy a sweatshirt because the airconditioning was so cold in the continuing ed class I was in.</p>
<p>I'm bout to enter college next year and have lived in GA all my life. GA FTW</p>
<p>And yes, It burns like hell has erupted during the summer. Seat belts are considered weapons. </p>
<p>During Christmas break, the highs were like into the low 80's (but kinda unusual).
During the summer, temps can go into the 100s and even 110s. Somedays its hot and dry, other days its hot and sticky. So yea, just plan on it being pretty hot.</p>
<p>Cold here is usually 30 to 50 but usually nothing below 30s. Average day is like 60s and nights is 40s. It only has gotten to like sub 40s couple times this fall/winter. It was actually colder in October and Nov. </p>
<p>I'm expecting the FL region to be hotter though.</p>
<p>You are going in August and it will be hot! And it will stay hot for a couple of months and then be quite pleasant.</p>
<p>So, yes, you will want shorts and flip flops. But, eventually you will need some long pants and jackets.</p>
<p>It's not the heat so much as the humidity. But Atlanta can get quite cold in the winter.</p>
<p>I moved from the northeast to Florida and it was a shock. Hot and sticky is right. Just keep reminding yourself as summer fades away where you grew up, you still have months of summer weather left. And that is nice.</p>
<p>Your future self will thank you to get in the daily habit of putting on sunscreen with zinc oxide in it in the morning and keeping a second bottle in your bag to reapply. Plan on drinking more water than you do now. But these things will quickly become second nature.</p>
<p>Due to the heat and humidity, I often wind up changing my clothes once a day. Stocking up on extra outfits is a good idea. Luckily, summer clothes are cheaper than winter clothes. Having said that, buildings are often kept shockingly cold. I highly recommend a thin hoodie that you can keep in your backpack. </p>
<p>Best of luck to you and your friends!</p>
<p>It will hopefully cool down around mid-to late Oct--say more pleasant temps. But, then again, the humidity could arrive at any time. A/C is key and esp in dorms. It will stay on the cooler side during winter (30s to 50s) with the occ 60s to 70s. There have been occasions of flurries and ice! You will def need shorts into Oct and then again into March. A lightweight jacket is about all you will need to survive the winter. If you are from up north, I would plan on the temps generally being a good 15-20 degrees warmer all thru the year if that helps.</p>
<p>I have lived in the midwest all my life except for the two years (1997-1999) I lived in the Tampa area. </p>
<p>I now have a son attending college in Alabama. He is also an athlete and spends much of his time training in the heat and humidity. When we have shopped for clothing lately, DS says he prefers fabrics like "dry-fit" that Nike uses. He tries to avoid the thicker 100% knit shirts because they retain moisture in humid weather. </p>
<p>You will still need a jacket in the dead of winter on the few occations the temp. drops into the 30's or 40's. </p>
<p>Are you planning on driving to campus in aug. or flying? If you are NOT driving, I would be glad to share some hints on getting your personal belongings to campus. PM me if you would like.</p>
<p>At least you aren't in Louisiana..hot and humid are how we live lol :P</p>
<p>But it really isn't that bad..Goes into 90's here, sometimes over 100 like last summer it was 105 almost every day. In the winter it can be 30 one day and 80 the next. It is pretty wild weather lol.</p>
<p>I grew up in the South, including Georgia (and made the opposite transition for college, South -> Northeast). There's been a lot of good advice here already. A couple more things:</p>
<p>Drink water in the heat! Lots of water! Dehydration can crop up pretty quickly.</p>
<p>If it's 100 degrees outside, and you start to feel cold after having been in the heat a while, get indoors, to air conditioning, ASAP, because you're in the early stages of heat exhaustion and if you stay in the heat you could become seriously ill.</p>
<p>Indoor air conditioning is much more widespread in the South - take advantage of it.</p>
<p>It's a good thing that you will be going down in August, because the A/C will be on. What can be a shock is to go from New England to FL in, say, mid-May. In NE, it's perhaps 60. In FL, it can be in the 80s and humid as hell. The New Englander is gasping for breath, and the Floridians don't think it's worth turning on the A/C yet. :D</p>
<p>Back in the day I lived in an un-airconditioned dorm at LSU-Baton Rouge for a year. We adapted and survived. We also wandered around half-naked most of the time (not a pretty sight or memory)!</p>
<p>thanks everyone
this really is helpful, there's some things here I didn't think about. I'll definitely keep it all in mind (and hopefully avoid heat exhaustion..)</p>