Tips on acclimating to the winters (Chicago, Elgin: houses, campers, move)

[BarbaraK]

Originally Posted by css9450

I dunno, here at the office we were keeping count of sunny vs. cloudy days this past (2009) January and February. Other than a couple snowy nights or mornings, we saw the sun every day for over 20 days straight at one point. Maybe its cloudier near the lake?

I get my statistics from one of the national weather services. Look up cloudy versus sunny days for the most accurate information.

[Janinele]

Originally Posted by Drover

^^ And don't forget your Snuggie!

lol - I have to second that! got one and love it!

[Pear Martini]

I am almost done with my associates degree and looking to transfer somewhere that is the opposite of where I am now. I would like to know how long winter is in Chicago and when does it start warming up?

How long is Summer?

I grew up in Boston, and I don't know if I could handle a winter longer or colder than a Boston winter.

Thanks for your input

[grapico]

About the same, Boston gets more snow. Most years it doesn't snow until 1st week of December or so.
The peak cold day is Jan 19/20 then gradually starts climbing out of the bottom of the winter. I'd say Dec1-Mar 15th. March is generally the doozy, could be nice, could be cold, never know. This fall through Thanksgiving was very nice.

[Pear Martini]

How long would you say summer is?

[chet everett]

We generally get some hot days in May, put we can get some days under 50 too. By June that becomes all but impossible,mandate the heat lasts through September.

[Pear Martini]

So, you would say summer lasts from June-the end of September?

Is summer 75+?

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by Pear Martini

So, you would say summer lasts from June-the end of September?

Is summer 75+?

I am sure there are a handful of days at either end lower than 75, but hardly enough to worry about...

[grapico]

Average highs for non winter months.

March 47
April 59
May 71
June 81
July 85
August 82
Sep 75
Oct 63
Nov 48

On a typical summer day, humidity is usually moderately high and temperatures ordinarily reach anywhere between 78°F and 92°F (26°C to 33°C). Overnight temperatures in summer usually drop to around 65°F (18°C), but can sometimes remain well above 70°F (21°C)

Chicago has 4 distinct Seasons.

You can probably gauge that Thanksgiving and onward you should be prepared for winter weather at any time... then St. Patrick's day you are pretty much out of it.\

This year we got hit pretty hard early on, but since about the 2nd week of Dec it has been pretty mild and was 58 degrees on new years eve for example. Tomorrow (supposedly the coldest part of winter historically) is going to be 35 and rainy.

Chicago really doesn't get the big northeastern snowstorms of New England.I mean the snow here has been lower than a foot all winter several times.... but usually about 3 feet or so for the entire winter.

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by grapico

This year we got hit pretty hard early on, but since about the 2nd week of Dec it has been pretty mild and was 58 degrees on new years eve for example. Tomorrow (supposedly the coldest part of winter historically) is going to be 35 and rainy.

Pretty mild? Are you living in the same Chicago I'm living in? There were a couple mild days around New Year's Eve, but since about the beginning of December up until now it's been subfreezing nearly the whole time except for the odd day here and there.

And the forecast I saw for tomorrow, viewed just this afternoon on The Weather Channel, called for a high of 32 degrees and several inches of snow. And highs only in the teens from Wednesday onward. No "January Thaw" in sight.

Sure, we haven't seen any really extreme subzero days, but so far this winter in Chicago has been anything but "mild". Most days have been below normal by at least a few degrees. Plus, our total snowfall for the season so far has been a bit above average.