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Intercultural Student Programs Office
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Weather &
Packing Info for International/TCK's
New York weather
The weather in
Houghton can vary considerably between seasons. Students should
come to Houghton prepared for everything from very warm summer temperatures to
rain, snow, and occasional extreme cold in the winter.
Summer
Avg. highs: 70°-80°F (~ 21° - 27°C)
Avg. lows: 50°-55°F (~ 10° - 13°C)
Although most students do not stay in Houghton during summer vacation,
temperatures remain quite warm during the first month or two of
school. The summer months are also the rainiest, averaging 4
or more inches (10 cm) per month. |
Autumn
Avg. highs: 63°F (17°C) in early Oct.
40°F (4°C) by late Nov.
Avg. lows: 24° - 40°F (~ -4° - +4°C)
Fall in Western New York is beautiful! The maple, oak, and ash
trees turn brilliant colors of red, orange, and yellow in late
September. Temperatures also drop as we head toward winter, and
there is often a permanent blanket of snow on
the ground by the end of November. |
Winter
Avg. highs: ~30°F (-1°C)
Avg. lows: ~10°F (-12°C)
Winter in Houghton is a wonderland of cold and snow.
Students should be prepared for extreme cold, as temperatures can
drop to -20° F (-29°C) or even lower! Because of our proximity
to Lake Erie, Houghton also gets a significant amount of snow, averaging around 80 inches (200cm)
each winter. Ground snow cover often
lasts into March. It can also be quite windy during the winter
driving the wind chill temperatures even lower. |
Spring
Avg. highs: 40°F (17°C) in
March
65°F (4°C) in May
Avg. lows: 20° - 40°F (~ -7° - +4°C)
Spring starts muddy and ends beautiful. March and early April
can be quite wet as the snow melts and temperatures swing
between winter's leftovers and spring's warmth. By April daytime
highs start getting much warmer. Students staying for May
term will find gorgeous weather with high's in the 60's F (15° -
20°C) and lows close to 40° F (4°C). |
What to bring to Houghton
What you bring to Houghton will depend partially on how you are getting
here. If you are arriving by air directly from
living overseas we suggest you wait to get many of the items
below after you arrive at Houghton (especially the larger ones).
Nearly all of the items on this list can be easily obtained
around Houghton during the ISPO shopping trip your first week on campus.
The list below offers recommendations and does not constitute a list of required
items.
NOTE:
Your dorm room will already be provided with: a twin-size bed, a
desk, 2 shelves, a dresser with drawers, and some closet space.
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Important items |
Personal Stuff - bring with or buy here
- Alarm clock
- Book bag/backpack
- Personal hygiene/toiletries - shampoo, soap, toothpaste, medications, basic first aid, etc.
- Clothes (see below)
- Linens - standard-sized twin sheets, pillow, blankets, towels, washcloths, etc.
- Personal memorabilia - music, decorations from home, and other personal souvenirs or mementos
- Photos from home
- Umbrella & rain gear
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School/Room Stuff - best to buy here
- Bath tote (bucket or tray to carry toiletries to shower)
- Cleaning supplies - dish soap, dust cloth, etc.
- Desk Supplies - markers, scissors, tape, calculator. paperclips, etc.
- Extension cord and/or power strip
- Laundry supplies - detergent, laundry basket or hamper, etc.
- School supplies - pen, paper, notebooks, binders, etc.
- Telephone (land-line phone and/or cell)
- Waste basket
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Optional (but useful) items |
Personal Stuff - bring with or buy here
- Bathrobe
- Books in your other language(s)
- Flashlight
- Sleeping bag
- Stuff to sell at our international bazaar
- Snacks from home that you can't find in the US
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School/Room Stuff - best to buy here
- Cooking utensils - plate, cup, fork, spoon, storage
containers, etc. (optional - for cooking meals in the dorm
kitchen)
- Desk Lamp
- Dry erase board or bulletin board
- Storage - such as plastic crates, bookshelves, cheap bins, etc.
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Clothing Suggestions
Houghton has
4 distinct seasons and the clothing you bring here should
reflect these variations. In addition to your regular, everyday
clothes (shirts, pants, socks, underwear, etc.) here are a few
clothing tips you will want to keep in mind.
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Athletic clothes - Even if you are not the typical "athlete" it
is still a good idea to bring some running shoes, gym shorts, an
old t-shirt, etc. There are lots of fun, active events to
participate in around campus such as a spontaneous game of
Ultimate Frisbee, a hike in the woods, a dorm game of capture
the flag, or Houghton intramurals.
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Dress clothes - Each year there are a few banquets and other
semi-formal events where it would be good to have a nice outfit
to wear (nice skirt or dress, a suit & tie, dress shoes, etc.)
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Rain gear - While we don't get Indonesian monsoons, we do get a
moderate amount of rain here, especially during the summer. It's
a good idea to bring a rain jacket, poncho, or umbrella.
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"Normal" clothes - Houghton students typically wear casual,
everyday, street clothes. T-shirts, jeans, sweaters, shorts,
hoodies, sandals, tennis shoes, and fleeces are probably the
most commonly worn items around campus.
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Ethnic outfits - If you have ethnic or cultural clothes it is a
GREAT idea to bring an outfit or two for special occasions - you
don't need many. We
have several events throughout the year when students are
encouraged to dress ethnically or when you will have the chance
to wear an outfit from your home country.
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Winter clothes - See below for more information on winter
clothing...
Winter Clothes
There is a Russian phrase that states “there is no such thing as bad
weather, only bad clothing.” This is a useful phrase to remember
when preparing for New York winters. While many people grow to
love the cold and snowy winters at Houghton, it is very
important to be prepared with proper winter clothing. See the
weather section above for more on winter weather.
For those of you coming from very warm climates, New York
winters can be quite a shock.
However, with adequate preparation you can be prepared to face
the exciting winter weather with the confidence of a Russian
babushka. Here are a few suggestions for important winter
clothing items.
NOTE: If you do not own these items and they are hard to come
by where you live, never fear; we will have a winter clothing
shopping trip before your
first New York winter begins.
- Layers - Dressing in layers is THE key to enjoying the
winter weather. Wear layers that you can put on and take off as
you move between indoors and outside.
- Synthetic vs. Cotton - If you will be doing anything outside in the winter for an extended
period of time, especially sports activities, be sure to
wear synthetic (non-cotton) or wool clothes instead of cotton. Cotton does not
shed moisture and therefore keeps your body wetter (and colder) during the
winter. This is especially important for the
layer that is closest to your skin.
- Get warm socks - Wool is good, as are various synthetic
versions of wool.
- Winter boots
- Snow pants - Make sure they are waterproof
- Long underwear - A synthetic layer that fits close to your
skin and will wick away your body's moisture will do a lot to
keep you warm.
- Insulating layers
- Winter coat - Make sure it is a good warm coat that will
block the wind and keep you dry.
- Gloves/Mittens - It is a good idea to have 2-3 different
glove/mitten options depending on the temperature and your
activity level. Mittens will keep your hands warmer, although
gloves provide for more dexterity.
- Winter hat/tuque/beenie/toboggan/stocking cap - This one
goes by a lot of different names depending on where you are
from... Make sure it will keep your head warm and will cover
your ears.
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