It’s pretty warm and mild here from August through November. Then, on one fine day and without any warning whatsoever, a 15-minute blizzard leaves the earth white and the populace shell-shocked. From then on, until mid-April, the weather stays windy and cold, with snow and rain to match. The townsfolk usually refer to the resulting indoor floors as being "icky," and indeed, coming inside after walking outside for a bit will leave a small brook of brown water wherever you go. A very warm wardrobe is a necessity throughout the majority of the year. Bring coats, lots of coats: trench coats, winter coats, raincoats, overcoats. Hats: cloth, bear-skinned, fur, silk, bonnets. Suede mittens, fuzzy earmuffs, checkered scarves, socks with toe separators, electric blankets. Whatever you have, please bring for your own sake.
The heating inside is excellent, and once that front door closes, you can safely take a deep breath of air without actually seeing it turn white in front of you. Most people get used to the weather, even Southerners and Californians. Pack heavy, and come mentally prepared, and after your first winter, you’ll learn to ignore the cold weather and realize how much fun it is to have snow fights, slide down Memorial hill with your shirt waiting for you at the bottom, and how beautiful and romantic everything looks when the seasons change. The one downside of the arrival of the snow is the subsequent application of soy sauce on the school grounds. This pungent, borderline nauseating scent has become a characteristic of the cold weather. Although the soy sauce makes your shoes extremely sticky (and somewhat brown for those UGG wearers), it is an extremely effective and environmentally friendly alternative to salt.
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Weather at Amherst College
B+
Cold, Valley
beautiful at the start and end of each year. however, it can be very cold and snowy in the winter. amherst is in a valley, so in general the temperatures are a bit lower.
Oct 30, 2011
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Weather at Amherst College
wk15
Political Science and Government '15
3.5
B
Hit and Miss
New England definitely doesn't lack for gray, rainy days, and those can eventually get depressing. However, it doesn't get absurdly cold here, so you can get by wearing just a sweater or heavy flannel into late fall. Speaking of fall: Autumn in the Pioneer Valley is absolutely gorgeous. Wouldn't trade it for anything. Winter, though usually not brutally cold, is supposed to get very snowy at times.
Oct 15, 2011
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Weather at Amherst College
User rating for Amherst College - Weather is
3.5 out of 5
based on 18 user reviews.
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