east coast weather - horrible during the school year?

<p>I went to the east coast (maryland d.c) for the first time this summer. The weather SUCKED. it was so humid. I was wondering what the weather is like there for the other three seasons when school is in session. Obviously it would snow and freeze during winter but is it that bad? Also, are fall and spring nice? I image fall and spring to be very beautiful but probably just a bit chilly?</p>

<p>I live in NY so it's pretty different, but generally East Coast weather during the fall and spring is nice. Not too warm or cold, just... nice. It's probably warmer than I'm used to in DC, though. The snow didn't used to be a big deal to me but the past few winters have been bad. I dunno. It's probably much less snowy if you're not in upstate NY or the more northern states.</p>

<p>bumpdfsaaasdfadsfasdfasdf</p>

<p>If you're talking specifically about Maryland and DC, the weather during the school year varies pretty wildly. It starts to cool off by about October and it'll be pretty cold by Christmas time. It doesn't snow a whole lot though--there may be anywhere from 1 to maybe 5 snow storms of anywhere from 1 to 10 inches. I've lived in Maryland (about 30 minutes from the city) for about 7 years, and I've lived through 2 really big snowstorms. The coldest it gets is probably around 18 degrees, but most cold (or what we consider cold) winter days will be in the 30s. The nice thing about going to school here, though, is that spring hits really early. It'll warm up by April and by May it's usually pretty hot. The summer does get pretty humid, but that doesn't really start to hit until mid-June/July. That being said, the East Coast is a pretty big place, and Maryland/DC weather will be siginificantly different from Boston/Philadelphia/New York/North Carolina, etc.</p>

<p>Here's about all you need to know about Boston: It snowed during a baseball game I played in this year...in the middle of April.</p>

<p>We lived north of Boston. It's no major difference from DC/Maryland, only by degrees. If anything, it make you really appreciate the arrival of spring. Fall is nice too with all the turning foliage and mild temperatures.</p>

<p>Doesn't rather depend more on like North-South than East-West?</p>

<p>I think most New England places are nice and temperate, except the snowy parts of New England which could be depressing</p>

<p>OP, if you tell us where you live now (and thus what you're used to), we can tell you more about what to expect.</p>

<p>I live in Los Angeles, CA. its usually always sunny here.
the only place i've visited in the east coast was MD this summer.</p>

<p>The weather in MD is obviously more extreme than LA. The DC area does get muggy in the summer, but there are many areas in the northeast or even western Maryland and Pennsylvania that are more temperate. Winters vary from year to year -- in MD/DC/PA, usually there are a few days of snow, but it melts quickly. But there have been some years when the snow and ice lasts much longer, no way to predict this. As you go up the eat coast to NY and MA the temperatures drop and become more frigid in the winter. Spring and fall are usually very pleasant in the Mid Atlantic states. In the northeast, spring and fall are simply shorter seasons.</p>

<p>Well, I live in NJ and I guess I will sound biased as I have lived on the eastern coast for the whole of my life. </p>

<p>Yes, our winters SUCK. But hey, people here are so hilarious in the snow. Why miss out on some good, fun, even dangerous sledding? ;-)</p>

<p>Lately, the winters haven't ended until mid- March. But then again, more fun sledding!</p>

<p>The springs and falls are absolutely gorgeous...<3.</p>

<p>Don't worry about it, you'll love it just fine :).</p>

<p>Well, when I went to visit Harvard I stayed with a Californian and a Massachussettsian... California girl told me "the snow was great in November, and then it was bearable from December to February. In March I was just sick of it and wanted it to GO AWAY, and then it snowed on April 14th and I was just like...no." (She didn't regret her decision, but she really didn't like the weather). The Massachussetts girl told me that she loved the snow, that it was so much fun to throw snowballs at her friends on the way to the dining halls, etc. etc.</p>

<p>So you may or may not enjoy the snow, but if you really want to go to a school, you'll enjoy going there regardless of the weather. I decided to only apply to a couple of schools that I really loved back there, 'cause I wouldn't want to brave the weather for anything other than a really exceptional place.</p>

<p>if you go to school around the DC area, some days in the winter it'll be like ~31 degrees and you'll think it's raining. Then you'll walk outside and find the ground is covered in half a centimeter of ice. It makes for a very interesting walk across campus.</p>

<p>the kids in my dorm from NY said that doesn't happen where they live, probably because it's colder so they get snow.</p>

<p>evanescenteuphoria, you're in for quite a shock! Are you a Cali native? Take the Santa Ana winds at their worst; add cold, rain and snow, and you will have an idea of east coast weather in the winter. </p>

<p>Cali has you so spoiled. I can say that because I am a NorCal native who whet to college in Detroit back in the day. I only lasted a year though. You can certainly "survive" an east coast winter, but it will definitely be a new experience for you, especially if you have to walk long distances to class or for meals. </p>

<p>I had to learn how to walk up and down stairs that were frozen over from rain and how to breathe in a blizzard. Others got a real kick out of watching the Cali kid slip and fall on my butt.</p>

<p>Getting drunk and playing football in the snow at 2 am was fun though!</p>

<p>Part 2... and don't think east coast snow is pretty like Lake Tahoe snow. Detroit snow was extremely DIRTY. It came out of the sky covered with soot!</p>

<p>The big difference will be, as you've already pointed out, getting accustomed to seasons. You don't really have them in California, whereas our four seasons are very distinct.</p>

<p>I'm a native New Englander and have lived here (Connecticut) my whole life. I'm obviously used to the weather and love it, as is my mother...who's from the Bahamas. If she can like snow, anyone can.</p>

<p>Our summers can get really muggy, something you're probably not used to, but you won't be here in the summer. Fall is gorgeous and not really cold, though you'll probably wear long sleeves every day. Winter is gorgeous, but it does get a little old come March when you just want spring to come. However, remember that you will have spring break to get you away from it.</p>

<p>Spring is a mix of beautiful days with budding leaves and animals popping back out of their hiding spots, and days of rain and mud everywhere you look. Again, you just get used to it, and you learn to see the beauty in the seemingly ugly scenes.</p>

<p>Also keep in mind that your campus will be shoveled for you, you probably won't be driving much, and a lot of campuses have connected buildings and walkways to prevent you from having to walk through snow and rain.</p>

<p>Really, it's not that bad. :) Like I said, there are plenty of people like my mother who come here from the Caribbean (and even warmer climates), and they all adjust perfectly well. There's a little griping at times, sure, but they get over it. ;)</p>

<p>Oh, and just to add to that, the snow is dirty at times because of the sand that gets put on the roads to make it easier to drive on the slush post-plowing. You'll see dirt and sand along the banks, but the top coat on unplowed ground will always be white (or maybe a little yellow). I've never been to Detroit in the winter, but I imagine that's what gsp<em>silicon</em>valley is referring to. You can get some sediment and icky stuff in snow due to pollution, but it's not like it's everywhere. I'd take a little dirty snow over Los Angeles smog any day.</p>

<p>Los Angeles smog isn't that bad, depending on where you are. If you live in the suburbs, you don't notice much. </p>

<p>For some reasons, UCLA seems to be smog free too. I've been to the campus several times and the weather/air is always so nice there. It's sunny with a light cool breeze. :) I think it's because there are less cars there and more trees on campus?</p>

<p>Good lord, Californians are such decadent wussbags. When I hear such whining about having to wear a winter jacket, I just want California to fall into the ocean like it's been promising to do for some time</p>

<p>JohnnyK, it's ok cuz our girls dress the least in our sunny weather ;)</p>