Sunny days vs. cloudy days (Minneapolis, Duluth: college, living, metro)

[igottagetoutofhere]

I'm assuming you are posting this question because it's a factor that really matters to you. I was born in Minneapolis and lived there for 34 years. I left seven years ago and would never move back. I'm not saying it's not a great city - there's a lot to do and see and great culture. But if the sunshine - or lack of sunshine - is something that concerns you, you will most likely be miserable here. I used to count the days between sunshine. I remember the weather announcers stating that "We should see the sun sometime around 1pm today..." - and other similar statements. It's gray and gloomy and if you have an emotional need for sunshine (like I do), it can really get to you.

[robind]

It was more out of curiousty. Living in Seattle I thought the clouds would get to me but it doesn't. The real problem is having no life here. Spending 3 hours a day (and sometimes more) just commuting is tough.

[TimtheGuy]

Originally Posted by robind

It was more out of curiousty. Living in Seattle I thought the clouds would get to me but it doesn't. The real problem is having no life here. Spending 3 hours a day (and sometimes more) just commuting is tough.

I can't understand how anyone could deal with that!! Can you not move closer to work???

[atew]

I've lived here 20 years and born/raised in Wisconsin not far from the metro. The weather has a nice mix of sunny days and storms, some years you will get a month or two of drought, some years a mild winter, and some years a nasty snowy winter. There's usually a couple weeks in January that is 15-20 below and your car won't start. I love the lakes and fall here, but hate the long winters. The cold season starts in October some time and doesn't begin to warm up until April. March is always a wild card. Could be 40-50 one day, and get 3 feet of snow the next week.

[edward71355]

I lived in Denver for one year. Their weather is very erratic, but they do get at least 300 days of sunshine. Its really a mile high desert.

[Steve Bowen]

I moved here from Seattle a year ago after living there for 10 years. I feel like it is FAR sunnier than the climate data would suggest. It is not as sunny as Denver but it's a helluva lot sunnier than Seattle regardless of season.

[Staggerlee666]

I have lived here for over a year. i don't think I have seen the sun come up even once. Most of us develop vitamin D deficiencies, our skin becomes translucent and our vision degrades rapidly. Most people who live here year round are basically blind because of the lack of sunshine. True story.

[Grizzly Addams]

I've lived here my whole life so I can't compare it to anywhere else, but I think Minnesota has the perfect ratio of sunny vs. cloudy days. I personally become depressed if there are too many consecutive sunny days.

[Grizzly Addams]

Originally Posted by atew

I've lived here 20 years and born/raised in Wisconsin not far from the metro. The weather has a nice mix of sunny days and storms, some years you will get a month or two of drought, some years a mild winter, and some years a nasty snowy winter. There's usually a couple weeks in January that is 15-20 below and your car won't start. I love the lakes and fall here, but hate the long winters. The cold season starts in October some time and doesn't begin to warm up until April. March is always a wild card. Could be 40-50 one day, and get 3 feet of snow the next week.

Depends on your definition of cold. I would say that November and March are wild card, but for the most part still bearable. Dec-Feb are really the only winter months, where being outside isn't enjoyable.

[mr roboto]

Originally Posted by Staggerlee666

I have lived here for over a year. i don't think I have seen the sun come up even once. Most of us develop vitamin D deficiencies, our skin becomes translucent and our vision degrades rapidly. Most people who live here year round are basically blind because of the lack of sunshine. True story.

It's called Mole Transformation Disorder.