<p>One reason I chose to apply to Duke was that I liked the idea of an Ivy-quality education in a more moderate climate. This is NOT the main reason I applied, nor will the Durham weather eventually make or break my decision to attend Duke (if accepted).</p>
<p>But really, how is the weather at Duke? Ever snowy? Often freezing? More sunny days than rainy? I have never been to North Carolina; I've been to the Northeast and I'm from the California coast. Someone please help me here... haha</p>
<p>You get a mixture of everything here. Snow is occasional, freezing temperatures occur semi-often, definitely more sunshine than rain. Very high humidity during the summer. For the most part though, everything is in moderation. Our weather is very mild.</p>
<p>Weather was a major consideration in my decision to attend Duke. I think it’s a very good consideration, since up north, it’s pretty much cold throughout the academic year. Trekking through snow and ice to class wasn’t my idea of fun. When the weather gets nice during the summer, you’ll be off on your internship. Plus, I love the outdoors, and having good weather is more conducive to outdoor activities. </p>
<p>Durham does get cold (snow and below freezing) during the winter, and hot (~100 last summer). However, you won’t be here during those times.</p>
<p>Yeah it actually rains a lot less than I thought it would.
Finals week this year was terrible (17-22 degree highs each day for 10-15 days)</p>
<p>Overall, don’t come here expecting warm weather because you will most definitely be disappointing. However, it is warmer than all of the NE by 10-20 degrees in fall-spring and ~10 in winter which means winter here is very mild by comparison (we essentially just got a dusting of snow this year, nothing bad or hazardous).</p>
<p>I like the weather here, but it is not good enough that I would ever list it as a pro (ie for harvard I would say cold as a con, for UMiami I would say warm as a pro, here it is in between the two, not good enough for pro but certainly better than a con)</p>
<p>This past school year, it snowed once while classes were in session (and once over winter break, but it was mostly gone by the time everyone got back). It did get pretty cold though. It has already warmed up considerably though, this past weekend was gorgeous and everyone was out on the quads. If you want more detailed weather stats, look around here: [27708</a> Weather Forecast and Conditions](<a href=“http://www.weather.com/weather/today/Durham+NC+27708]27708”>http://www.weather.com/weather/today/Durham+NC+27708)</p>
<p>NC weather is crazy. I remember I was wearing capris and sandals in Feb. then boots a couple of days later. It was in the low 50s one day then in the mid 70s the next, but its usually a mild 60 is pretty good weather for March. It did snow more than usual this past winter.</p>
<p>It’s quite hot around when you move in. I remember sweating just walking to classes. It cooled down to a pretty pleasant temperature soon after, though. Up until beginning of December, the weather was chilly, but overall mild. As others said, we got a little snow in December, but even then, the winter seemed very mild especially compared to where I’m from (Illinois). January/Feb was about the same, chilly but never too terrible. I mean sometimes it got cold, but it wasn’t ever “pull out your snow jacket/ear muffs/scarves” cold. And Feb was odd. We had some beautiful days where everyone was wearing shorts. March has been warmer–got rid of my jacket, but most days weren’t quite warm enough to wear shorts. Around now has been pretty good lately–lots of people in shorts. From what I remember from my visit last April, April was kind of hot, but tolerably so. I’ve heard summers are very very hot and humid. </p>
<p>Oh we also get some random rain. It rains pretty heavily, so I’ve found my rain boots and bubble umbrella very useful. </p>
<p>Hope that helped! And no worries, much of my decision actually took the weather into account. I remember when I filled out the thing for Cornell that asked why I didn’t choose it, I seriously wrote “the weather”. I mean, bad weather and harsh winters are depressing, haha.</p>
<p>17-22 degrees?! I’d kill to have that in January. I’ve had 44 below zero here in North Dakota. And that’s without the wind chill.</p>
<p>To me, personally, anything is better than Wisconsin weather. I mean, hell we just had a snow day today…2 days before spring break. Durham weather would be a nice relief.</p>
<p>^ Haha, I live in Wisconsin, too. However, this is the first time our school district called off school due to snow, although there has been many close calls. </p>
<p>I’m enjoying the fact that I can wallow in my laziness and anxiety without consequences today :)</p>
<p>^another WI resident here. If the class of 2015 is anything like 2013, the three of us could make up over 20% of the admitted students from Wisconsin! Pretty cool, right?</p>
<p>and I agree completely with BigKev; I don’t think there’s any type of N. Carolina winter weather that could be worse than what this lovely state throws at us each year.<br>
20+ inches of snow in one night…on “spring” break :/</p>
<p>There’s a few months of cold, namely late November, December, and January. Yes, it snows (but infrequently, and I’d hardly call it snow… I live in Maryland, also a moderate climate, and we get a lot more snow!), and it almost always melts within a few days, if not the same day. It rains a bit, so it’s important to have access to an umbrella or at least a hood. And don’t be like my Floridian classmates who seem to think that flip flops are ample rainwear!</p>
<p>Today it was 80-something degrees and gorgeous. The spring weather here is phenomenal; we had an 80-degree day last month in February, and it’s been fluctuating between the 60s and the 80s ever since. It’s crazy! I’ve never been in such a warm state before (for a prolonged time), and I absolutely LOVE it.</p>
<p>My only complaint so far is the humidity of late August, when you first move in. I’ve never sweat so much in my life. But as long as you have access to an air-conditioned classroom or building, it feels great, especially in the evenings when it’s warm and breezy.</p>
<p>Woo Wisconsin applicants lol.</p>
<p>Yeah I’m not so much getting snow as sleet where I am :P</p>
<p>Thanks everybody!! It sounds mild enough for me :)</p>
<p>I have a somewhat senseless urge to try living in the Northeast (I applied to Cornell) just for the experience. I mean, how else will I ever learn to survive snow…? But I can’t decide now. I mean, 4 years is an awfully long time to be stuck somewhere freezing.</p>
<p>I realized this today… when I almost cried because it was 54 in the morning. I guess I’m more of a weather woose than I thought haha</p>