Written by Andrew Belsky/Chelsea Demarris
Indiana weather is notorious for its instability, and IU is right in the eye of that proverbial storm. Summers are usually humid and hot, so plan ahead for lots of water breaks while you're moving in during what may be the sweatiest time of the year. Winters are as cold and dry as the summers are hot and wet, so be prepared for sub-zero wind chills, ice, and snow. Spring is somewhat rainy, but very beautiful, especially when the foliage on campus is reborn and the perpetually grey skies of winter finally clear. The crowning glory of Indiana weather is the fall season. Tourists come from hundreds of miles away to visit nearby Brown County (where Hoosier National Forest is located) to watch the turning of the leaves. Bring your camera and an appreciation for nature at its finest once the summer clears out and milder temperatures set in. You won't find many extremes here, but there are defined seasons with distinct characteristics.
To be comfortable, you'll need a variety of clothes, and most students find that it works best to dress in layers all the time. Custodians try to adjust classroom temperatures to suit the scholars, but it ends up being freezing when it's hot outside and boiling when the weather's cold. You may put on two sweaters and a heavy coat, gloves, a scarf, and a hat one morning just to get to class-but once you're there, you may find the heat of the classroom unbearable. No matter which season, remember the saying, "If you don't like the weather in Indiana, wait five minutes, and it'll change!"