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Probably because Chicago is the bigger city so it gets more attention. When the extremes occur for Chicago, it's highlighted more than most other cities, especially Denver which is not nearly the size of Chicago in virtually anything. When you have some days where highs barely get to the teens, and usually a couple days throughout the season it doesn't get above 10 degrees, and you have lows in the single digits or below single digits that same night plus the wind chill, people will point out that. I don't know for sure. But I believe cold snaps last longer in the Midwest than they do in Denver.
Why does every chi denver comparison thread end up with better weather being denver.
Denver has earlier snowfalls and subzero temps and also they go away later.
Denvers temperatures have wild swings which keeps one from adjusting to the weather.
Why is chicago weather always blown out of proportion?
People that move here (Denver) from the Midwest always say that Denver's winters are milder. We get breaks from the cold, our snow does not stick around and get hard and dirty (generally).
I've never experienced a Chicago winter, but I'm on my fifth Denver winter (which does last over half the year), and I'm a Cali boy and handle it just fine. We had 6" today, and 4.5" Thursday. It's beautiful, but it is always a PITA to drive in (I don't know how well CHI keeps up its roads, they do a terrible job here IMO). It's safe to say that by Tuesday or Wednesday you'll be able to see brown grass again.
If you look at the temps of each city, Chicago's average temps are much colder than Denver, for instance, the average high in January in Denver is like 43, in Chicago it is like 29.
b/c denver is a lottt sunnier than Chicago in the winter, and averages a 44 high in January (which melts snow quickly), whereas Chicago is 30?
Average highs for Denver Dec/Jan/Feb = 44/43/47
Chicago = 35/29/36 ...
Quite a difference actually...plus you can actually go ski.
Chicago will also normally go about 6-7 weeks straight every year where the temp NEVER gets above freezing. This doesn't happen in Denver plus again, it's much sunnier.
I like Chicago a lot, but the weather is most certainly not a strong point.
I'm in Denver with my family until after christmas. There is about 5-6 inches on the ground..however, the sun is shinning, and the snow is starting to melt already. Denver still has a warmer climate and isnt as blistering cold as the midwest (including chicago). Chicago gets less snow..however, it is colder throughout the year than Denver is. Also, don't forget about the humidity that makes chicagos winters even worst.
Yeah ok.
I'm here in my 50 degree temps with no snow in the 7 day
That is normal, the snow doesn't really start til early-mid Dec anyway, hence why the 2" snow signs say Dec 1-April 1st. then continues through the end of March and often some still in April (like this year). It isn't the snow that is the issue, lots of people LIKE white snow. It's the lack of sun and freezing temps (esp daytime) Chicago winters are definitely significantly colder, more brutal cold days, and quite a bit less sunny days.
But Denver is considered a "better" climate due to periodic breaks from the cold due to its sunny weather and significantly higher day time highs in the winter.
Location: Pittsburgh (via Chicago, via Pittsburgh)
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i personally don't want it to be 50 one day and 23 the next. I like regular 4 seasons. just like many people do. it was snowing significantly in denver in october. no thanks. if that's your cup of tea, cool. but this is citydata, opinions and preferances aren't allowed. We must officially dub one city to have better weather in general and officially apply it to everyone. keep on fightin'!!!
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