• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

How bad is chicago in the winter?

halik

halik

Lifer
Need to get some opinions on the climate... I've lived in michigan for about 10 years, but I'm not exactly a winter person.
 
Depends on the year, but Michigan is definitely worse if you ask me. You guys get a lot more snow.

Downtown Chi in the winter brings in a hefty windchill though with all the buildings on the lake.
 
If you're already used to Michigan, then I'd imagine Chicago wouldn't be much of a change or require much adjustment.

For someone like me, on the other hand, who's lived in the south for the past 25 years, winter in Chicago and New York nearly makes me cry when I go up to visit.
 
Much the same as Michigan. Snows about 4-5 times during the winter season, goes up to 8" deep in my location. Main highways are salted and plowed before the commute. Can go down to -15 F Windchill, just wear the necessary gear if you plan to stay outside for quite a while.
 
4-5 times during an entire winter in Chicago? That seems low. I lived there for 18 years and I remember more than 4-5 a season... or maybe it just never melted.
 
Whisper said:
If you're already used to Michigan, then I'd imagine Chicago wouldn't be much of a change or require much adjustment.

For someone like me, on the other hand, who's lived in the south for the past 25 years, winter in Chicago and New York nearly makes me cry when I go up to visit.
Click to expand...

I've lived in NYC through the winter and it wasn't terrible per se, though I think Chicago is way worse?
 
Lamont Burns said:
4-5 times during an entire winter in Chicago? That seems low. I lived there for 18 years and I remember more than 4-5 a season... or maybe it just never melted.
Click to expand...

I was basing it on how many times I plowed my driveway (22' x 75') during the winter season. 3" or more.

img0515w.jpg
 
not nearly as bad as the summer!!!!!

I'm about 40 miles NW of the city, usually get more snow where I'm at, and a few degrees cooler... usually only a few feet of snow per winter season, and it rarely accumulates much more than a foot.... Weather gets a bit chilly for 1 or 2 cold spells, otherwise It usually stays above 0F.
 
It really depends... could be shitty or could be mild. If you live in Michigan I can't imagine Chicago is going to show you something that will shock you. We get a lot less snow overall.

Summer is usually muggy as fuck.
 
The sh!ttiest part about Chicago winters is the length.

It can get cold and undesireable in October and even snow in may sometimes. Not to mention it can get pretty d@mn harsh at times, but it's the duration that I got sick of and eventually left.
 
Do you drive, cause the worst part about Chicago winters is the traffic. I have to drive to the burbs for work and I have had commutes of 3 hours(13 miles) before. Other than that Michigan winter is prolly the same or worse.
 
the worst that I experienced a few years ago was 2 solid weeks of -40 with wind chill. FUCK THAT.

But that is unusual. It really depends on the year, and to be honest, Chicago winters are "milder" than the poor saps in the neighboring areas. The wind does whip through those buildings something fierce, though.
 
jjsole said:
The sh!ttiest part about Chicago winters is the length.

It can get cold and undesireable in October and even snow in may sometimes. Not to mention it can get pretty d@mn harsh at times, but it's the duration that I got sick of and eventually left.
Click to expand...

this. knowing that you have to expect some cold from ~Octoberish-Juneish is torture.
 
Platypus said:
It really depends... could be shitty or could be mild. If you live in Michigan I can't imagine Chicago is going to show you something that will shock you. We get a lot less snow overall.

Summer is usually muggy as fuck.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

Summer is humid here, this is really a swamp that has been drained.
The windchill is also extreme, I think the openness of the land allows some super-cold wind to blow through. I'm talking -70f at times.
I've stood at bus stops and prayed for death.

One of the best places in the world though. Spring and Fall +the food more than make up for it.
 
Funny you created this thread. I've lived about 2 hours south of Chicago for the past 11 years and am moving to Livonia, MI next month. What are the winters like there?

I grew up in Florida and lived there for about 30 years. I've grown accustomted to the winters, but they are long. January is the worst where we usually get 2 or 3 weeks in single digits. By February it is very very slowly starting to creep back up into spring like weather, like a couple of degrees per week until we get to the end of March when it could be 60 or it could be 10. You just don't know.
 
jemcam said:
Funny you created this thread. I've lived about 2 hours south of Chicago for the past 11 years and am moving to Livonia, MI next month. What are the winters like there?

I grew up in Florida and lived there for about 30 years. I've grown accustomted to the winters, but they are long. January is the worst where we usually get 2 or 3 weeks in single digits. By February it is very very slowly starting to creep back up into spring like weather, like a couple of degrees per week until we get to the end of March when it could be 60 or it could be 10. You just don't know.
Click to expand...

Grew up in East Lansing, spent five years in Ann Arbor - winters in southern Michigan aren't bad because of the snow. They're not bad because of the cold. They're bad because for two-three months, the sky is gray.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top