Tips on acclimating to the winters (Chicago, Naperville: condo, school districts, college)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
You know, it is so funny how weather is such a huge topic among Chicagoans. We can talk about it for days. I mean think about it. It's the weather! It changes all the time. But, for people like in S.Cal. They don't know what this is like. They don't relate to this constant weather conversational topic. It's just so not thought about because they are spoiled brats in their perfect weather and perfect everything...can you tell I live with someone who talks about his home Southern California and rubs it in my face every chance he gets???? LOL
Thats why I couldnt live anywhere like that (CA, AZ, NV, FL, etc). Its boring, no change hardly at all. Every day is a carbon copy of the one before it. Yawn. Sooner or later you start to wonder what month it is and if youre stuck in the Twilight Zone or not.
I find the weather here endlessly fascinating. I love the variety of weather, it keeps things interesting, and at times can throw you a curveball too. The ONLY thing I dont like about our weather is when you have something planned outside and a storm comes through. But then again, Im thankful for storms and the water they provide for our lush area. No water worries here, mate!
Thats why I couldnt live anywhere like that (CA, AZ, NV, FL, etc). Its boring, no change hardly at all. Every day is a carbon copy of the one before it. Yawn. Sooner or later you start to wonder what month it is and if youre stuck in the Twilight Zone or not.
I find the weather here endlessly fascinating. I love the variety of weather, it keeps things interesting, and at times can throw you a curveball too. The ONLY thing I dont like about our weather is when you have something planned outside and a storm comes through. But then again, Im thankful for storms and the water they provide for our lush area. No water worries here, mate!
Cheers! (lifting my glass in salute) Here, here on that one!
Im from LA, and when we go back to Chicago to visit my husband's family in the winter- here is what I do:
-I bring a wool pea coat and I bring leather boots
-I wear jeans
-I wear wool or cashmere sweaters all day around the house, and layer with a jacket for outside
-I put my scarf and gloves/mittens on like, 5 minutes before I go outside, including getting into a car. Don't wait until you are cold. Don't do it on the way out the door. Put on your jacket, scarf and gloves then do those last minute things like gather your purse, turn off the tv, etc.
-I actually sleep in pyjamas, long sleeve. The heater is on, of course- but the PJ's keep me warm when I am just watching TV and hanging out with the family, etc. before bed.
The biggest thing was bundling up BEFORE going outside. Sometimes I get so warm, I take my jacket off! I specifically remember doing this while walking around. I took off my jacket and wore only my thermal and scarf and it felt NICE. And it was, at most, 20 degrees outside! I was AMAZED!
I've lived in Chicago for 43 years and before that I went to jr. high/high school in Minnesota. The difference between winters in the two places is that no matter what blizzard they may have in MN, they seem to have the roads cleared quickly....someone told me it's because of the amount of equipment they have there versus here in Chicago. They expect a lot of snow up there and are prepared. Plus here in Chicago, it's wetter snow (more humidity) and can freeze into ice on the roads. That's the same black ice you have in Atlanta. I can drive in snow, but ice is scary. Over the decades here, it seems we no longer have spring starting in March. Winters are longer and longer without much sun. I wouldn't mind the cold temps, if we could just eliminate the gray skies and the wind chill factor! Last couple of winters have gone from like November (with very cold Decembers) all the way into April with temps in the 40's, rain and gray. Even last May didn't warm up over the 60's till later. I love the changing seasons, but lately it seems you have to look fast to see spring, summer -- though largely pleasant -- has a few weeks of high humidity, fall can be gorgeous or cold and gray, and winters last 5-6 months of the year. What do I do? I go to FL January through March or April. It's great down there that time year! Then I get my white Christmas (usually) but a short winter! (Who can imagine Christmas without a warm fire in the fireplace and snow on the ground?!) By the way, I taught high school for 32 years. By and large, the city of Chicago has a very poor public school system (parochial schools are better there) but the northwest suburbs has excellent public schools.
Wet snow is actually a result of temperatures being close to the 32 degree freezing mark near the surface at the time of the precipitation. The snow is wet because it is actually partially melted. These partially melted snowflakes often stick together, which leads to those really big snowflakes you sometimes see. Relative humidity tends to be fairly close to 100% any time precipitation is falling. Chicago gets both dry snow and wet snow, but wet snow more frequently than Minneapolis.
I'd say the phenomenon with cold, gray days lasting well into April/May is much more pronounced near the Lake. This was especially true this year, as the lake got colder than normal last winter. If I were you, I would plan to go out west as much as possible during those months, to places like Rockford and Aurora.
It is interesting that the nature of our winters explains our pot hole problems. In Minneapolis, the ground freezes over once (December) and thaws out once (March). In Saint Louis, the ground never really freezes over. However, in Chicago, the ground goes through freeze-thaw cycles all winter long depending on whether we are in a milder period or a colder period. This often leads to disastrous pot holes, especially if it is a wet winter like we had last year.
Hi SJaye,
I don't know if the cold, gray days are more pronounced at the lake, but will defer to your knowledge....I have a place on the lake by Navy Pier, but spend most of my time in my northwest suburban place, so my comment about little winter sun was based more on out here, in fact. I'm just about 40 minutes to Rockford, an hour and ten minutes to the city....in decent traffic, that is.
Yes, the pot hole problem truly is a problem. It was like dodging bullets last year on the major thoroughfares leading out of this area down to the South. (Of course, misappropriations in road funds doesn't help, either.....sigh....Chicago political scandals.....)
It's already November-like this past week or so....seems it is turning cold a bit earlier. I remember vividly the October of 2005, as I had just retired and was renting in the city for a few months to determine if I wanted to buy a place there. I was in one of those two-pipe buildings that only turns on the A/C and heat at predetermined dates. As they had turned off the A/C in October, I was SWELTERING in my apt (McClurg Court) which had south and west exposures! That was an incredibly mild October.
We live in Atlanta and are considering a move to Chicago because it seems to have everything that we're missing city-wise down South. The weather really scares me and I'm wondering what fellow warm climate transplants have done to get used to the cold. Don't mean to sound whiny but I really am nervous! What Atlanta lacks in city character is definitely made up for weather-wise...but I don't know if that's reason enough to stick around. We're fairly liberal, have lived in New York City for many years prior to living in Atlanta (hated the cold...) and would like to live in a close enough suburb to access the city on a regular basis. Let's hear the good, the bad and the ugly...'specially from those warm blooded beasts! Two kids too...schools in Chicago trump schools in Atlanta. Yet another reason to go!
Lock yourself in your apartment, turn off all the lights and slam down beers until it's june again. Seems to work for alotta people here.
Hi SJaye,
I don't know if the cold, gray days are more pronounced at the lake, but will defer to your knowledge....I have a place on the lake by Navy Pier, but spend most of my time in my northwest suburban place, so my comment about little winter sun was based more on out here, in fact. I'm just about 40 minutes to Rockford, an hour and ten minutes to the city....in decent traffic, that is.
Yes, the pot hole problem truly is a problem. It was like dodging bullets last year on the major thoroughfares leading out of this area down to the South. (Of course, misappropriations in road funds doesn't help, either.....sigh....Chicago political scandals.....)
It's already November-like this past week or so....seems it is turning cold a bit earlier. I remember vividly the October of 2005, as I had just retired and was renting in the city for a few months to determine if I wanted to buy a place there. I was in one of those two-pipe buildings that only turns on the A/C and heat at predetermined dates. As they had turned off the A/C in October, I was SWELTERING in my apt (McClurg Court) which had south and west exposures! That was an incredibly mild October.
Talk about "not the norm" weather!
Well average highs are still around 70 degrees right now - these mid 50's we've had the past week or so are much below normal.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $53,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
