12 Things No One Tells You About Surviving A Boston Winter

Boston’s winters are the stuff of legends. One of the first things out-of-staters say when you tell them you live here is: “oh, I couldn’t do the winters.” We, however, know that not only can we survive a Boston winter, but we can have a ton of fun doing it. As long as we know what to expect, that is. Here are 12 things that no one tells you about surviving your first – or any – winter in Boston:

Flickr/Robbie Shade

Well, actually two reasons. The first is that some years we receive a ridiculous amount of snow. The second is that we love to discuss the weather (or complain about it) either in person or via social media.

How would you like to wake up to that sight? If anyone asks you, "what are winters like in Boston," just show 'em the above photo.

Flickr/ Laura ´

...It does whatever the heck it wants, when it wants, and leaves a big mess behind. In Boston, winter can kick in anytime from November onwards and it may well snow through April. We've learned to expect the unexpected during winters in Boston.

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Flickr/Mike Simonds

It's dark when you get up, and it's dark when you emerge from work or school at the end of the day. For most of December, the sunset is usually a few minutes before or after 4:15 p.m. That kind of darkness means just one thing: A Boston winter is heaven for night owls.

Don't worry if you prefer daylight. By the end of January, the sun usually begins setting a little later and, by then, we're so much closer to the warm days of spring.

Flickr/Tiago Henriques

C'mon. Is there anything better than a beautifully sunny day in the dead of winter in Boston? There's just something about the shine of that winter sun.

Flickr/Johannus

Some years we're lucky and scrape by with just a few snowfalls. Others? Well...we still talk about them to this day.

Flickr/Paul Sableman

Messy, cold, and gross. Ugh. And it looks pretty blah, too, doesn't it? Just one of the downsides of winter in Boston, Massachusetts.

Flickr/John Hilliard

If we let the weather hold us back, we'd never accomplish anything. We don't let a little snow, ice, and cold stop us from whatever we have planned.

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Flickr/Johannus

Otherwise it poses a hazard for you and other drivers. It might take some extra time, but it could save the lives of others on the road.

Flickr/DanielCon

Shoveling burns a ton of calories, which is great if you've got a giant mug of cocoa topped with marshmallowy goodness waiting for your inside. However, the effort of shoveling can be dangerous. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2015, there were 158,000 people who sought medical help for snow shoveling injuries.

Flickr/John Hilliard

The Space Saver Wars have begun again. Grab a chair, or use your vacuum. Just don't let all of that hard work go to waste. It's totally legal to claim the space you shoveled out in the first 48 hours after a snow emergency. Well, unless you're in the South End, where they're now banned.

Flickr/steve_l

It cuts right through clothing to your bones. Dress in layers before heading outside.

Flickr/John Ames

Go ice skating, view some Christmas lights, or bundle up and go for a stroll. Don't worry if you prefer staying indoors on those brutal winter days in Boston. You have plenty to do indoors, too.

Flickr/ashokboghani

Fortunately, our smartphones come equipped with some pretty fancy cameras because we need them during a Boston winter. There are so many gorgeous scenes just waiting to be photographed.

Flickr/James

How do you feel about winter in Boston? Do you love the crisp weather and snow, or is it the price you pay for living in such a great city? Let us know in the comments on the Only In Boston Facebook page.