The Worst Month: 12-Inch Poll

Which month is the worst month of all? We aim to settle the age-old debate once and for all in this week's 12-Inch Poll.

As I type this, it's approaching 50 degrees and it's raining in the Boston metro. It's mid-January. This makes zero sense. As you can probably gather, the main metric that will come into consideration as we debate which month is the worst is the weather. And since ROCK 92.9 is a Boston station heard throughout eastern New England, we'll be dealing with weather in that region.

That's not to say weather is the only thing being put on the scale to weigh. Holidays come into play, of course. With each month of the twelve, we'll weigh those pros and cons. Or, rather, I'll weigh what I believe to be the pros and cons below. You'll take a look at my notes, respond with your own, then cast your vote.

Over the years, my opinion on this subject has changed. November and all it's gloom-shortened days and bare-branched trees always sent me into enough of a death-spiral to write off the joys of Thanksgiving altogether. But times have changed. And--back to weather again--the climate has changed. January, long a celebration month for people like me who enjoy being outdoors in the New England winter, is now my frontrunner. This rain is really bumming me out. And these mild temperatures are making me downright anxious.

That's my take to start with. As I said above, I've put forth pros and cons for each month below. Thanks in advance for checking them out en route to your casting your vote. If all goes as planned, we should end up with a workable ranking of the months in New England, with the worst one of all sitting atop the heap. Or is it the bottom?

Pros: Winter sports, New Year's Day

Cons: Coldest month (usually), long as hell

Pros: February vacation (for some of us), convenience of having the shortest month during the cold of winter

Cons: Valentine's Day (for some of us), still winter

Pros: Spring break (for some of us), St. Patrick's Day is always a blast in Boston

Cons: Unpredictability (starts in winter, ends in spring, so much mud)

Pros: April vacation (for some of us), first full month of spring

Cons: Rain, more rain

Pros: Memorial Day weekend, typically one of the best weather months in New England

Cons: Nightmare for seasonal allergy sufferers

Pros: The kids are out of school! Yes!

Cons: The kids are out of school! Nooooo!

Pros: 4th of July weekend, a 31-day summer month

Cons: Hot, humid

Pros: Beach weather, vacation time

August: Hazy, hot, humid

Pros: Labor Day weekend, typically one of the best weather months in New England

Cons: Back-to-school, back to the work routine

Pros: Foliage, apple cider, crisp fall weather, Halloween

Cons: Raking your leaves, your neighbor's leafblower

Pros: Thanksgiving, only 30 days long

Cons: Fall back, shit weather (usually)

Pros: Holiday season, holiday vacation

Cons: Holiday season, holiday vacation