It doesn't really ever snow where I live, so please humor me...

 

Does the weather (i.e., winter weather) influence where you've decided to live?  There are some nice apartments a little South (South of Brooklyn, North of I-480) of downtown that we're interested in checking out but we aren't sure how winter weather will affect getting to work/school (MetroHealth for him and CWRU for me).  Did weather influence your decision on where you picked your home?

 

How well do the roads get cleared off before you leave for work?  Any advice for 2 people unaccustomed to harsh winter weather?

 

(We're also checking out the areas recommended in my other post but we're just keeping our options open at this point).

 

Thanks!

You'll get different answers from different people as "perception" is variable, as is personal experience with the snow.  People who don't take public transportation, for example, and who live with a garage at home, or both at home and at work, generally (I think) tend to think the winters are milder and not as big a problem as people who are out in it every day.  For example, I thought the weather was so bad here I couldn't stand it every day I lived here last winter.  I didn't have a car and had to walk a mile each way to the closest bus stop (I live in the suburbs) and nobody keeps their walks shoveled or de-iced in the burbs.  I did not have a particularly super-duper warm coat and/or boots and I was miserable.  But it was a worse winter than usual.

 

I now have a long down coat rated to -20 degrees.  Thinsulate, waterproof boots.  I wrap up my entire neck and face in scarves and hats and always wear gloves.  I also have a car and drive to a park and ride so my exposure is limited to waiting on the train platform and the short walk from my last train stop to my work building.  And I think winter has been a piece of cake so far, very tolerable.  When I do have to drive in it, I just go slow.  Now, a lot of people make fun of me for being so overly made up like an eskimo, but for me, it's necessary in order to make the winter weather tolerable.  I would plan to insulate yourself from it as much as you can until you're used to it.  There's nothing more miserable than ice cold, wet feet and icy cold ears IMO.

 

That being said, I would NEVER live in the way east part of town specifically because of the snow.  Lake, Ashtabula, Painesville area, those people are hammered really bad most of the year with worse whether than the rest of the city.  If it's slightly overcast downtown it can be pouring out there and sunny on the W side. The lake is a big factor in the changing weather in Cleveland and is one of the reasons I prefer living on the W or SW side of town.

 

That was a long answer, but my answer is yes, the weather has influenced where I decide to live in cleveland.

It hasn't affected my decision yet (I've only lived in 2 places, grew up in Medina, currently live in Lakewood).

 

But I would think long and hard before moving to the "snow belt" out in the far eastern suburbs.  Obviously I've never lived there, but they always seems to get significantly more snow than the rest of NEO.

 

As far as winter weather and road clearing, its definitely depends on the year, but there is usually no more than 5 days a year where your commute will be severly delayed by snow.  It is usually when the snow hits in the early morning/afternoon hours and they can't clear it all before rush hour starts. 

 

This has been a pretty mild winter so far (knock on wood).  There's only been one or two days that I had a bad commute. 

 

The worst year recently was, I think, 2004/5.  There was a terrible snow/rain/ice storm in late december that just buried the whole area in a 2 foot layer of heavy, wet snow.  It took me about 6 hours to shovel my driveway and I knocked the mirror off my car trying to get it unstuck.  That was a bad week.

 

As far as advice, just pay attention to the weather reports and plan ahead.  If it looks like we're gonna get hit hard, wake up early so you can give yourself plenty of time to get to work.  Driving in snow is a skill that can only be learned, so just be careful when driving.

Generally the further east and the further inland you live, the more likely your area will get Lake effect snow. Lake effect snow is what happens when warmer air flows across Lake Erie from the west (picking up moisture from the Lake along the way), and once that air comes into contact with the colder air inland, it results in extra snow - aka Lake Effect snow.

 

For example, I used to live in the Edgewater neighborhood which is the northwestern most neighborhood in the city. It might snow an inch in my neighborhood but for my co-workers in areas like Cleveland Heights, they'd get four inches of snow. In areas further east and south (Twinsburg, Chardon, etc) - they would get a foot of snow. That's one of the main reasons I prefer to live in the area of downtown and points west. I love the amenities on the east side but I'll pass on the extra snow.

 

In general the main roads get cleared pretty well - unlike where you're from, we're used to snow and the road crews have the equipment to deal with it. Getting to Metro from the area you mention shouldn't be too much trouble, even if you choose to take surface streets. CWRU will be a little more of a stretch but not impossible. If you took surface streets from there to CWRU, it could be done in 30 minutes in good weather/traffic; double that in bad weather - not ideal, but certainly less time than going from CWRU to the ex-urbs.

 

Rules of thumb:

1. Make sure your tires are in good shape. This is not a time for balding treads. Avoid rear-wheel drive cars unless they're heavy behemoths.

2. When the temps are in the mid-20s or lower, salt is less effective so keep that in mind when heading out.

3. Give yourself extra time to get where you need to go.

4. Consider RTA. or 5. Consider driving to a preferred Rapid station which will reduce the distance you're driving in bad weather.

6. Never hit your brakes on a bridge in temps lower than the upper 20s. Even with salt, bridge surfaces freeze before the road itself.

7. Consider taking a winter driving class http://www.carcontrol.com/wkycwinter2008.html

8. Pay attention to weather broadcasts, road condition sites: http://www.wkyc.com/travel/traffic/ These can save you a big headache.

9. Remember - everyone here is affected by bad weather, so don't get an ulcer if you're late. Chances are, so is your boss.

10. Always, always, always carry a cellphone in case of emergencies.

MayDay's recommendation of ditching a rear-wheel drive car is excellent.  Great for drag racing, not so great for Cleveland weather :) 

When on the highway:

 

1. Be extremely careful making lane changes if there is accumulated snow/ice between the lanes.

2. If you see a salt truck behind you, let it pass so it can clear the road. Keep in mind, though - your car is going to get sprayed with salt.

3. The usual distance you allow between your car and the car ahead will need to be increased.

4. Make sure you've brought gloves, a hat, warm clothes, etc. - if you have to call roadside assistance, it may take a while if they're helping others.

 

I have to say the best thing I've learned about winter driving in Cleveland is to learn the surface streets - at least the main routes. That can help you get around highway tie-ups, or if you're starting to white-knuckle it and need to take a breather. A lot of cities don't have the network of surface streets that Cleveland does, so take advantage of that. For example, from CWRU - you could take Carnegie (generally kept clear for the hospitals) to Ohio City and Lorain to West 25th - West 25th "becomes" Pearl Road and that ends up in your general area. You might average 25-30mph but better that than sitting on the highway if you ask me.

 

 

It doesn't really ever snow where I live, so please humor me...

 

Does the weather (i.e., winter weather) influence where you've decided to live?  There are some nice apartments a little South (South of Brooklyn, North of I-480) of downtown that we're interested in checking out but we aren't sure how winter weather will affect getting to work/school (MetroHealth for him and CWRU for me).  Did weather influence your decision on where you picked your home?

 

How well do the roads get cleared off before you leave for work?  Any advice for 2 people unaccustomed to harsh winter weather?

 

(We're also checking out the areas recommended in my other post but we're just keeping our options open at this point).

 

Thanks!

 

Greetings!

 

I grew up in Brooklyn and now live in Old Brooklyn, and haven't ever really had a problem getting places in inclement weather.  If you're looking in the Brooklyn (north of I-480), the City does an excellent job clearing the roads.  Parma and Parma Heights are good as well.

 

I don't live far from Metro, and the main roads on the way there (Pearl, State, Memphis, Ridge) are usually the first cleared.  On the way to CWRU, the highways are always treated well, as are the main east-west streets (Chester, Carnegie) in my experience.

 

you don't seem to be looking in that direction, but for my own personal experience, I always viewed anything East of I-271 to be snow belt-y and potentially ruinous to commuting

you don't seem to be looking in that direction, but for my own personal experience, I always viewed anything East of I-271 to be snow belt-y and potentially ruinous to commuting

 

I beg to differ.  I say East of Lee Road.  I seems like the snow amount/accumulation increases from my house to my parents.

I used to marvel at the the snow difference between one part of the Heights to the other when I lived east. Literally with in a few streets you would go from dusting to a few inches and within another mile a half a foot!

google away!

 

 

year by year historical maps

Thanks for the info everyone!  This is all really helpful in trying to narrow down areas to live in and learn about the practicalities of living in Cleveland.

I just wanted to thank everyone again for their advice on my 2 threads (this one and one on Detroit Shoreway).  We made a trip out to Cleveland last weekend and found a nice apt a little ways out of downtown but not too far and your advice was really helpful.

 

We really enjoyed our trip out there and are looking forward to moving this summer.  We were both really struck by how nice everyone was (I wasn't expecting otherwise... people aren't quite so kind where I am now).  I'll try to peek in once and awhile to see if I can help someone else as well.

Congrats!  So, what neighborhood did you decide on?

I just wanted to thank everyone again for their advice on my 2 threads (this one and one on Detroit Shoreway).  We made a trip out to Cleveland last weekend and found a nice apt a little ways out of downtown but not too far and your advice was really helpful.

 

We really enjoyed our trip out there and are looking forward to moving this summer.  We were both really struck by how nice everyone was (I wasn't expecting otherwise... people aren't quite so kind where I am now).  I'll try to peek in once and awhile to see if I can help someone else as well.

 

Well you came on one of the ugliest weekends (weather-wise). Since Sunday night, the we've had blue skies and the temperatures have been climbing into the low 70s. Thank god spring is here.

 

Glad you had a good time. In what city is your apartment?

We'll be in Parma.  It was chilly but the sun poked through a fair amount, so I can't complain too much.  Oh and it even snowed! In April!  :-o

Last year, the Indians home opener (April 6) was snowed out -- see video below. On April 3, 2007 it was 80 degrees. Two days later the high was 29 (my memory isn't that great -- I'm cheating with:  http://www.weather.gov/climate/getclimate.php?wfo=cle). We ended up with 1 foot of snow at Hopkins Airport and a narrow band of 2 feet from Lakewood eastward through downtown to the eastern suburbs. It was one of the worst April snowstorms I've seen here and I've lived in Greater Cleveland all my 40 years...

 

We'll be in Parma. 

 

I live close by to parma so if you want tips on shopping or eating on the SW side, you can private message me.

Feel free to contact me as well. My sister lives in Parma and I'm there a lot. She lives off Broadview, between Snow and Brookpark roads. That should get you some good geographical coverage since rockandroller lives just west of Parma and my sister lives in the northeast corner of Parma, which is a pretty big suburb.