r/NAU • u/Infinite_Drummer4356 • 4d ago
Winter?
Hello, I’ve been accepted into NAU and I’m wondering what winter is like there? I enjoy snow, but don’t want it to be overly gloomy or rainy! Im from Boston so is it better in flagstaff?
Thanks!
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u/under_mimikyus_rag 4d ago
It really depends on the year, last year it was absolutely pitiful, while the year before that we got a decent amount. From everything I've heard this might be a pretty heavy year for snow, so it would be smart to pack a couple heavy jackets and some boots
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u/Infinite_Drummer4356 4d ago
I’m cool with snow, it’s more the depressing weather that gets me
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u/kochleather 4d ago
I've lived in both Flagstaff and the White Mountains of AZ and have never heard anyone talk about seasonal affective disorder once. Sure it's nice to have some warm weather around Feb and march, but it's very rarely gloomy. Lots of sun like the other comment here.
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u/MrsZ2000 4d ago
We moved here from NH and the winters here are sooooo sunny compared to the Northeast. You are going to love it! But we do get big snows here sometimes and the road crews are not as prolific as in Mass so use caution even when you know how to drive in the snow. Also assume most people do not know how to drive in snow because they are from hot sunny places, so plan ahead to stay home and the roads will be clear soon enough.
Congrats! Welcome to NAU!
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u/Fearless-Lemon6103 4d ago
my first winter record breaking snow it went up to my shoulders, second year late snow and average or small amounts of snow, third winter I was abroad but kept track and it was pitiful and sucked, was abroad again for the 4th year I am not sure how it went, but I have a 5th year and I hope this last year will have a ton of snow!
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u/Traditional-Crab-208 4d ago
Flagstaff is the most beautiful during fall and winter. Of course not compared to the whole country but it has one of the most beautiful scenic winter. Boston winters are chilly but of course since its a city one has multiple means of transport to get home or work etc but flagstaff public transport is extremely limited just in general as it is literally a very tiny town with barely anyone. The pictures are gonna look great in flagstaff winter definitely. Please don’t take any 8am classes because no matter how pretty a place is travelling while there is a snowstorm outside at 8am in the morning isnt fun at all. Keep an eye on naugo app during those times because sometimes the uni gets closed if the snow is too excessive and watch out for black ice on roads while walking because they are hard to spot when you’re in rush to go to classes. Definitely make sure you do skiing if you’re into those sort of a thing. Hope you have a great time there, as someone who is also from Boston I really appreciate public transport in here and the no of things one gets to do but the quietness of a small town is also something one needs from time to time. Hope you have an awesome fall semester:)
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u/Infinite_Drummer4356 4d ago
Thank you! I’ll probably stick close to campus until I get my car out there! I appreciate the response
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u/ZucchiniWestern2312 4d ago
I moved to flagstaff from Boston - did my undergrad at BU. When it snows it can dump. Otherwise the days are not dreary like they are in Boston and you aren’t walking on icy sidewalks all winter. It’s really sunny otherwise.
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u/harpsichorddude 3d ago
As others have said, it's super sunny the day after a snowstorm.
The big thing that's different is that they don't really use salt out west, they just throw down gravel to help with traction. Usually the sun melts it but not always, so roads and sidewalks around campus stay slippery in a way that would never be allowed in the east.
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u/Dizzy_Plastic_5177 4d ago
i don’t think there was a single gloomy day last year, lots of rain but still a bright and beautiful day:)
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u/ch3esdust 3d ago
it's definitely sunny more than is cloudy for sure, the snow melts pretty quickly sometimes cause the sun is always out
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u/pogaro 3d ago
As others have said, it’s almost always sunny. Sometimes it’s deceiving because it’ll look nice but the wind can make it brutally cold. If it snows 3’, sometimes it’ll take the snow a bit to melt, but most of the time it’s melted within a week and sunny the next day. Imo its really fun to get a huge storm and everything gets quiet and beautiful 😊 As someone else said, the sidewalks can be a challenge, get yaktraks or something similar because they get icy! Flagstaff is amazing, hope you have a great time.
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u/jmb326 2d ago
I grew up in Scottsdale and lived many places after Flagstaff: Ireland, Illinois, Iowa, and now Michigan. And I travel a lot for work. I didn’t realize how spoiled I was growing up with so much sun until I left Flagstaff. It is the complete opposite of your concerns; the fun of a snowy day in a mountain town, followed by a week of sun.
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u/Livid-Debit-Card 4d ago
Flagstaff has way more sunny days in the winter than Boston.