Carleton College
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“Very hot and very cold. The in-between period is short.” It’s beautiful in the fall when the leaves are falling, the air is crisp, and it smells like apples. But that lasts for about 15–20 days. Then the snow comes. There’s about a half-month of gorgeous spring weather, then come the mosquito nets and air conditioning.

No matter where you are in Minnesota, it’s freezing in the winter. By the time February rolls around, it gets so cold that it can’t even snow; everything evaporates before it reaches the ground. Adding to the arctic temperatures is some of the most vicious wind you’ll ever feel. They call Chicago the Windy City, but nothing can compare to the 50-below-zero wind chill as you walk across the Baldspot to your first period class. As far as clothing goes, bring lots of it. Long underwear, hats, gloves, scarves, boots, ear muffs, coats, snow pants, anti-freeze, sleds and sled dogs, and body fat are all things that are essential to winter survival. Don’t let it scare you, though; the first 40 degree day feels like 80. Carls come out of their shells and toss around Frisbees in shorts and Birkenstocks, pasty white skin be damned. Then June brings the dense mosquito breeding humidity. The weather underlines just how great a school Carleton really is. Students from all over come here despite the weather. It’s a testament to the quality of the school.

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Weather at Carleton College

altshulb

Cognitive Science '13

4.2

A-

Chapstick, Sunscreen, Bugspray

Carleton is in Minnesota. Campus is bound to get all kinds of weather, including snow (duh), rain, sunshine, and wind. As long as you are prepared with layers for warmth when necessary, the weather is not a major issue. Carleton students enjoy the outdoors regardless of the temperature. Facilities does a good job of keeping sidewalks clear, so mobility is not a hassle in winter months. Dependble boots will go a long way, though.

Oct 17, 2011

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Weather at Carleton College

skyauror211

Language Studies and Linguistics '12

3.1

B-

COLD. but in a Good Way.

Since Carleton is in Minnesota, we have extremely cold winters. But we, to a large extent, embrace them. There's a lot of sledding/snowball fights/snow-building at the beginning of winter term. After the novelty wears off, people tend to stay inside a lot more until it finally warms up during Spring term. The cold is a good bonding experience for everyone here. And the other seasons are lovely!

Oct 13, 2011

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Weather at Carleton College

griffinawilliams

Geology and Earth Science '12

4.6

A

Cold, Windy, and Sunny

Beautiful fall and spring. Nice winter if you suck it up and stop complaining about the cold. It's quite sunny even in the winter.

Oct 12, 2011

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