I'd agree with everyone who says visit. When I first came here for college, I started taking loratadine for seasonal allergy issues I hadn't previously had, but I haven't taken it in over 15 years. And the winters are not intense. They're unpredictable (it can hardly get below 28 some years, and other years it can get in the negative temps). Honestly, after I bought a few pairs of long underwear, a parka, and some good snowboots, I haven't been bothered by going outside in winter that much, relative to other places (NJ, DE) that I've lived. People like to think winters are bad because we're close to Lake Erie and it's often cloudy for at least several hours during a majority of days, but we RARELY get lake effect snow. People like to say that if you don't like the weather in Pittsburgh, wait an hour. I've worn sunglasses and switched back and forth with an umbrella within an hour many times.