<p>How cold does it actually get at Cornell? Are the winters unbearable?</p>
<p>I am from Texas and everyone keeps asking me that. No, it's not that bad at all.</p>
<p>Everyone here gets used it. Several days of single digit temperatures end up feeling like cold 30s. And besides, walking to classes always keeps you warm.</p>
<p>There has been a couple of days here below zero F this year. One day where it was -30F with wind chill.</p>
<p>I live in upstate NY and honestly, if you open your eyes to it, the visuals that transform the landscape are remarkable. My h.s. son just won a photography prize citywide today from the Buffalo News for a computer-generated image he made based on 3 photos in winter of Niagara Falls after an ice storm.
The real key to getting used to it is learning to dress in layers, putting something on your HEAD since 90 percent of all escaping body heat goes right out the chimney.
Heavy-duty winters make you aware of the passing of time, the geology around you, changes in the forests. Once I had to work all winter in Texas and while I loved l,000 things about Texas, I so missed the changing of the seasons that I moved back up North and have lived here ever since.
Don't worry. Really, consider it an adventure; dress for it; it makes for great stories to impress the home folks. I've never found it "unbearable" (Op's concern) and in fact look forward to winter each year as a time to do more indoor projects, read more, cook differently, etc. When the weather is extremely cold (highs in the teens, Fahrenheit) then sky is a magnificent bright blue, and when it warms up closer to the 30 degree neighborhood, it's grayer because there's cloud cover.
THe only thing I mind sometimes is "wind chill factor" on those few very-coldest-days when it's also windy; so I find the key there is covering one's face with a ski-mask or scarf while walking along.
It also makes for easy "ice-breakers" socially as you can always say something outrageous about the weather; it's an unending source of opening lines.</p>
<p>It makes those 30 degree days seem a lot warmer!</p>
<p>so what about the summers? are they really humid?
i live in southern california. it would be a huge change..</p>
<p>Indeed. You can always talk about the weather.</p>
<p>you get used to it. </p>
<p>most importantly, just buy a stupid coat, hat, and gloves. These make a world of difference. It boggles my mind to see people whine and complain about the weather all the while wearing a thin fleece spring coat (but if it's from NorthFace, it must be warm!).</p>
<p>it's snowing again!!!!</p>
<p>being located at the bottom of a finger lake makes a BIG difference in the weather in Ithaca. The winters in Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse thend to be much colder and have a lot more snow. Winter in Ithaca is actually very similar to Boston or the other heavily populated parts of NE. </p>
<p>It does get cold and it does snow but it's not that bad ... especially if you have fun with. Do students still steal food trays to go sledding on lib slope (which is a balst)? Play touch football in the middle of the snow storms. Find a mate so you can warm each other up. And, of course, go to Cornell hockey games!</p>
<p>Take skiing or snowboarding as a PE class as a freshman. You'll learn to love the snow.</p>
<p>It gets very cold and very snowy, but all the buildings are kept very warm and if you dress sensibly (why some people think it's at fashionable to wear leggings alone- LEGGINGS!!- in 10 degree weather is beyond me) you'll be fine. Just have a nice good winter coat and hat.</p>
<p>Some of the most fun times in college have been in the snow. You just go out and sled and make snowmen and have snowball fights n such...it's so fun! What's funny is that I've done it really really late every time (like in the am lol). </p>
<p>It's really only crappy when it's windy. Otherwise cold isn't too bad. Plus hot drinking hot cocoa after coming in from the cold is GREAT!</p>
<p>My friend from Texas appreciates the nice weather so much more now. Whenever it's nice out she becomes soooo happy. You can't fully appreciate a sunny day until you've lived through a winter :) . As nice as Winter can be, it's a great feeling when it's nice out again. You appreciate it so much more!</p>
<p>Absolutely agree with paying2tuitions. There is nothing so awesome as the way snow will completely change your surroundings. Fat snow flakes; biting, stinging snow pellets; dry snow; heavy, wet snow; crunchy icy snow; blowing, drifting snow. It's all so cool! Did you know snow looks purple at night? Did you know that a snowstorm can create the quietest quiet you have ever heard? Snow is awesome. Oh, and you have to go to the gorge during the fall when all the leaves are changing and falling. Oh rats, now I have made myself homesick.</p>
<p>great, I have so much summer clothing and gear since I'm from Southern California... I don't know what to do with all that then!</p>
<p>during fall/springtime, does it ever get moderately/comfortably warm?</p>
<p>in the fall it doesn't get cold until the last 3 or so weeks of the semester. The rest is beautiful.</p>
<p>In the spring, it's been in the 50's and even 60's for the past 2 weeks, we're in a bit of a cold whim for this weekend, but that should end soon.</p>
<p>oh it was wam for a good while so u'll be able to use ur summer gear. Gomestar u expresses my sentiments exactly, ppl will spend like $100-200 on Northface(which seems to be the college must have brand) and they look like they're wearing raincoats. they'll be shivering at the busstops and ur like "get a real jacket for goodness sakes!"</p>
<p>i got a knee length northface parka...i think its going to keep out ALL the cold and wind!</p>
<p>ohh mann..i have so many summer clothes that i plan to wear in college cus i never got a chance to wear them in nyc...</p>