So I’m currently a junior in high school, and this year I have been getting sick quite frequently due to the cold-- and I come from Oregon, so it really isn’t that cold to begin with. Since I will have to start applying to school very soon, I was wondering if there are any schools on the east coast that don’t get too cold during the winter–meaning that the weather doesn’t remain below freezing for weeks at a time.
Thanks for your help~
@Hyejin you would want to ask about geographic areas instead of “schools” in particular.
I go to school in Boston (I’m from the west coast area as well) and it can get pretty cold here. This winter wasn’t terribly bad but last year we had the snowiest winter on record, and it was cold.
This is very basic thermodynamics, but in general, coastal cities tend to be not as cold due to moderation from the ocean, as well as urban heat. If you go to school further inland (say upstate NY), prepare for cold.
Northeast, Southeast, or both?
Cold weather doesn’t cause sickness
“If you go to school farther inland than Boston, prepare for cold.” (1)
Not really. The prevailing winds are from the west and pass over the Great Lakes. The following compares Boston to the higher latitude Buffalo:
Average January Low Temperature
Boston: 18.9°
Buffalo: 18.3°
@merc81 I got the following from NOAA’s database:
Boston: avg high 35.8, avg low 22.2
Buffalo: avg high 31.2, avg. low 18.5
Both represent 1981-2010 normals, but I’m not sure exactly where in Boston or Buffalo the recording stations are (the Wikipedia article says they are at the respective airports).
However you have to account for wind, lake-effect snow, etc. and I am not a meteorologist.
@MITer94: My source was Sperling’s. Could I ask for clarification, was your source NOAA or Wikipedia?
@merc81 Wikipedia articles on Boston and Buffalo, but they link to NOAA Online Weather Data where you can search climate data.
This.
Why don’t you look in Pennsylvania, DC, Virginia or North Carolina?
The East Coast is a big coast. In fact, it takes up an entire subcontinent. The Northeast is cold during winter, as you might expect. Once you get to DC, things warm up a little bit, but they’re still cold during winter (albeit more temperate in general). And of course if you go further down towards the South, you experience warmer temperatures.
I think a big “duh” is in order here. 
As for good schools in the warmer areas, Duke and UNC are both excellent schools located in North Carolina, which is very temperate (though it does have winters). Auburn in Alabama is also warmer, and so is Tulane in Louisiana.
Colds and flu are more common in highly populated areas. Stay rural to limit illness especially the flu.
If you want warm weather, OP, I suggest looking at a weather map. Then, find colleges in those locations. Easy-peasy.
I was thinking the same thing, but then I googled and found this:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/body/scientists-finally-prove-cold-weather-makes-sick/
And from NaturalNews: “Science had it wrong – cold weather can make you sick.”
^^Yes. Getting chilled makes your immune system less effective. Plus, some viruses (influenza, for example) survive longer outside the body in cold, dry air, which is why influenza tends to peak in the winter.
However, viewers tend to “like” the cold cannot contribute to sickness dogma.
Look, as a West Coast kid, you WILL experience weather shock in the east. It’s just that simple. I’ve lived in Colorado for 30 years, I ski, and I couldn’t believe how cold I was in Connecticut or NYC when in fact it was warmer there than in CO. Humidity makes a difference, so does sun/lack of it. So does the proximity to water.
There are variations of weather – DC winters are often shorter/milder than those in Boston or Vermont – so pay attention to those when looking at schools. But you shouldn’t let weather affect your choice of school in a significant way, unless you have an aversion of some sort. My southern and northern California relatives (I’m originally from there) have gone to college in New Jersey, New York and St. Louis – and all survived. Yes, they got colds. Yes, they had a learning and getting-used-to-it curve. It’s part of the adventure of living in a very different place from your birthplace. I think it broadens the horizons, and would actually recommend the experience.
Or you could look at schools in Texas, Florida, California, etc, if weather is a big factor for you.