Why did Salinger set The Catcher in the Rye in the winter?

First, from
a plot point of view, it would make sense thatwould be in New York City between semesters, which
would be winter time: he is expelled from Pencey only after he fails all his courses. He is
living in a liminal or "in between" period in which the school is no longer
responsible for him and his parents are not yet expecting him.

Winter as a
season also reflects his frozen mood. Holden is stuck, not able to move on...