Whats up with the NE weather? Why still so cold and rainy??

[Texas2Florida]

I just relocated to the northeast...I'm being told by all the locals that the weather isnt usually this crappy. 2 weeks ago the trees were all still bare like the dead of winter, they are just starting to bud, but the leaves are reddish brown like in fall. What gives? I thought this was supposed to be a nice time of year, not Seattle weather.

[Stephanie]

Where in the Northeast?

You're in colder weather. Here in southern New Jersey, the cherry blossoms have bloomed and faded. The leaves on the maples, oak, etc. are opening. I'm considered Mid Atlantic and this is normal for my area. If you're in NY, CT, MA or further north, you MAY be seeing buds on the trees now. Azaleas, rhododendrons don't bloom until early May here. April is a rainy month, you know, "April showers bring May flowers". It still can snow in the Northeast, especially early in April, but there's still snow on Mt. Washington.

Many of the tree's buds are the same color (or so it seems) of the leaves when they change color in the fall.

In all, give yourself a chance to get used to the different climate you are in. It is a nice time of the year, just slower than Texas to warm up.