Not as cold as you think. That is a myth. I am not a global warming advocate primarily because I believe weather temps, rainfall, snow amounts etc. go in cycles. However I have noticed that the average degree days have dropped in the area over the years. So to address your concerns it is probably not as cold here now as it was when you were here. Perhaps you simply caught a bad winter when you were here. I see much more severe weather in New Jersey than here in the winter. You guys make the national news with your weather we do not. :)