<p>I have a young friend here in NJ who is trying to figure out where to apply for graduate school (women's studies) and she is afraid of going to school in Indiana and Ohio because she thinks the weather would be too cold.</p>
<p>I don't think she should limit herself to NJ, Maryland, and Georgia!</p>
<p>Could anybody offer a few encouraging words about Bloomington winters in general and/or the campus and town in particular that I could pass along to her?</p>
<p>Bloomington is actually farther south than most of New Jersey. : )</p>
<p>We live in the Chicago area and Bloomington has shorter and milder winters than we do. We lived in the DC suburbs for a few years and I would say Bloomington’s winter weather is pretty comparable, although Indiana folks don’t close schools for an inch of snow. (been there, done that!)</p>
<p>Bloomington is farther south than all of the densely populated areas of New Jersey, including Trenton. If she can survive New Jersey winters, then she won’t have any problems in Bloomington.</p>
<p>I’m from Boston and the winters are definitely milder than at home. Far less snow and a lot less cold.</p>
<p>I’m from NJ, and winters are definitely not worse than at home. If anything, they are nicer. Definitely milder and it seemed shorter as well!</p>
<p>Woman’s studies? Are you serious? What does she plan on doing with that? Walk around with a picket sign all day? Seriously a joke. My buddy always says if women can major in women’s studies, history should be called men’s studies. It sounds like your friend is pretty clueless.</p>
<p>When it’s cold, it’s cold as hell. I know, I used to live in NJ. Indiana Winter is definitely colder than NJ’s winter. I mean real cold. COLD AS HELL</p>
<p>What is the weather like early January? I’ll be leaving Australia (to study at IU) at the height of summer so I want to be prepared!</p>
<p>The weather in both areas is pretty comparable as shown below.</p>
<p>Bloomington seasonal averages: [Average</a> High/Low Temperatures for KBMG : Weather Underground](<a href=“http://www.wunderground.com/NORMS/DisplayNORMS.asp?AirportCode=KBMG&StateCode=IN&SafeCityName=Bloomington&Units=none&IATA=BMG&normals=on]Average”>http://www.wunderground.com/NORMS/DisplayNORMS.asp?AirportCode=KBMG&StateCode=IN&SafeCityName=Bloomington&Units=none&IATA=BMG&normals=on)</p>
<p>(Not sure why Bloomington snowfall graph is empty. They do get some snow, although not a lot, relatively speaking.)</p>
<p>Newark, NJ seasonal averages: [Average</a> High/Low Temperatures for KEWR : Weather Underground](<a href=“http://www.wunderground.com/NORMS/DisplayNORMS.asp?AirportCode=KEWR&StateCode=NJ&SafeCityName=Newark&Units=none&IATA=EWR&normals=on]Average”>http://www.wunderground.com/NORMS/DisplayNORMS.asp?AirportCode=KEWR&StateCode=NJ&SafeCityName=Newark&Units=none&IATA=EWR&normals=on)</p>
<p>Random question: does it normally stay this hot for this long…? and more importantly ** does it ever rain here?? **</p>
<p>This August was the driest ever recorded for parts of southern Indiana. So it is very unusual for it to have been this dry in Bloomington. At least the nights are cool now.</p>
<p>Officially, southern Indiana is in a “moderate drought” situation.
[Regional</a> Drought Monitor: Midwest](<a href=“http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/DM_midwest.htm]Regional”>http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/DM_midwest.htm)</p>
<p>Bring on the heat =[ </p>
<p>98 tomorrow.</p>