Is UK weather as bad as many people say?

I think all of UK weather can be compared to late autumn or spring/early summer weather where I grew up, just a lot damper when it's cold.  The Adirondacks tend to have dry yet bitterly cold winters unless a huge Northeaster comes in.

When I lived in New York City, I loved the winters.  Not as cold as where I grew up, and when it snowed, it was usually on the weekends (weird but true fact about New York winters).

Winters are hard on me here, but I've only lived in garden flats, so the dampness is probably worse than higher flats.  Plus, my inlaws had two loos.  One ("ours") was outside.  I hated using it.

Spring is really lovely here.  Summers are nice, but if it gets hot, it tends to get pretty bad because many places aren't equipped for hot weather.  I am not talking about air-conditioning, but windows that open in businesses or rails that can withstand heat above say 90f.  This past summer we went on a bus which felt like riding around in a greenhouse despite the little windows being open.  

Autumns can't really compare for me as I am used to stuff people sometimes travel thousands of miles to see each year (and where they put the time "peak colour" happens on the local news).  Autumn here can be very nice though.  It's just hard to know what to wear.

 Three showers a day was normal.

Yeah. I used to sleep on the floor because it was too hot to sleep in a bed.

And I used to spend a lot of time dunking my head under cold water.

Every summer at least one New York City newspaper usually has a photo of an egg frying on the sidewalk.

OK, Britain lovers, there is a bit of a summer.

 

I grew up in Houston, Texas.

If that's what someone defines as 'summer', they can have it!

I found that heat unbearable.  In fact, I left as soon as I could.

Denver could get roasting, too.

I can remember going for runs in Cheesman Park at 7PM after work and having to wring sweat out of my clothes.

I can't say I miss that.  Does that qualify me as a 'Britain lover'?  It's nice to love where you live.

And I used to spend a lot of time dunking my head under cold water.

LOL! I lived in the tropics, and I don't think we even had to do that! 

My definition of summer is weather warm/hot enough to go to the beach. I'm a beach freak, and I'd be très désolée if I couldn't spend time with my toes in the sand! Last summer I didn't have very many beach days at all, but there were still a few. And that's all that matters. 

You sound like the opposite of me and my hubby.  I'm trying to convince him to move back to the States.  And as he says he can generally be happy anywhere but I so badly miss home.  It would be a complete culture shock for him having only ever visted to come home with me and be with my family.   I'll tell him your story though.  About how a man so loved his wife (well soon to be) that he moved oceans for her.  Thanks! hehe

Hi BuckeyeJenn

What is it about moving to America that your husband does not like? Would he be willing to live in America for a few years? Maybe you could explain to him how important it is to your sense of well being(your emotional health) that you get to spend time in America.  That is a big part of why I'm willing to move to a country that I know nothing about.I know going home and spending time with her family means the world to my Mrs. She is a very good woman and she is my baby.That is why I'm doing this for her.What ever the two of you decide I wish you both the best!!

P.S. Is there a area of America your husband might be more keen to live? Worth a thought and btw,me agreeing to live in a different region of America(If we return) is what helped seal the agreement with my Mrs.

No, it's not even as bad as it is made out to be.

I am a Cali kid and the weather here is like a wetter Sonoma County.
I jumped off from Boston, in comparison the weather here is the best on the planet.

Except for this winter it runs around 40 degrees in day in winter to 75 in the summer.
It rains, but not nearly as much as everyone whinges about and it's mostly just a weak drizzle. Nothing at all like the 3 month deluge I used to get in Santa Rosa Ca. every year.

Jump on in, the water is fine! 

So, it sounds like we will be fine coming from foggy, wet, rainy SF.

Yes. Rain here is overrated. It rains often, but usually just a light drizzle you can wait out.

Not like the torrential downpours you got in NYC.

Yes. Rain here is overrated. It rains often, but usually just a light drizzle you can wait out.

Yeah, I think the main issue isn't so much the amount of rain, but the type/pattern of rain. London only gets about 1-2 inches of rain a month, but it is consistent over the year - you can get as much rain, or even more, in the summer compared to the winter.  We don't really get shorts burst of rain (or thunderstorms) and then sunshine afterwards, it's more like complete grey cloud cover all day, with on and off drizzle or consistent rain all day with no sign of letting up (which can be depressing for those who are used to more sunshine). There are also quite a few days with complete cloud cover (either white or grey cloud), but no rain at all.

So, it sounds like we will be fine coming from foggy, wet, rainy SF.

Yup, most days SF is exactly what it reminds me of.

It seems to rain more in winter than in summer here in Yorkshire. The River Ouse seems to flood every winter.

So, it sounds like we will be fine coming from foggy, wet, rainy SF.

I'm an SF girl and every time anyone asks me how I can stand the weather here I just tell them that it really doesn't seem all that different to me just a tiny bit wetter.... Obviously with the snow exception and this is the first time in over six years that I've experienced this much snow here.

The River Ouse seems to flood every winter.

I was thinking today must be one of those days!  Is it at the doors of the Kings Arms today?! 

I was thinking today must be one of those days!  Is it at the doors of the Kings Arms today?! 

Don't know. Don't usually pass that way,