Winter Weather In Southern Illinois (Chicago, East St. Louis: how much, construction, live)

[CrochetCrazy]

I read about weather in STL. How about winter weather in say Marion/Benton
area? Does the Spring arrive early and "Old Man Winter" arrive late in southern Illinois? How much snow does Benton or the Marion/Mt. Vernon
areas get? When it does snow, is it just a little "dusting" of 2 -3 inches?
What are the normal temperatures in that area (Benton, IL) say in January?
Do the "cold snaps" hang around long?

I see charts on some of the towns, but it's nothing compared to getting it from the horses's mouth from someone who actually lives in this area and
experiences it first hand.

Thanks much for any help or information.

[jessiegirl_98]

I would say that all of Illinois really isn't too predictable. Some years there is NO snow (or a very light dusting), othertimes you won't be able to leave your house. I would say that spring does not arrive early and that winter stays late...not arrives late. Where are you moving from? It is really cold in the winter (more than a cold snap), but not so much more than the rest of the Midwest/Illinois. If you are moving from CA or FL or something, you will be in a for a rude awakening :-)

[CrochetCrazy]

Jessiegirl ~

I am from Northern Illinois - Chicago to be exact and want to re-locate to Southern Illinois and retire. My husband is 10 years younger so it will be
an early retirement for me. My father grew up in East St. Louis and
Carmi, IL and often talked life there with nostalgia and we thought it might be nice to relocate to.

I appreciate your honesty about the weather.

[Switch625]

If you don't like the weather, just wait a bit. It'll change.

[Manigault]

For the weather in StL; think of Chicago without the lake. That is, ugly weather without the leavening of a body of water. StL is hot as blazes in the summer and fridgid in winter! At least, in my exzperience.

[jessiegirl_98]

Originally Posted by CrochetCrazy

Jessiegirl ~

I am from Northern Illinois - Chicago to be exact and want to re-locate to Southern Illinois and retire. My husband is 10 years younger so it will be
an early retirement for me. My father grew up in East St. Louis and
Carmi, IL and often talked life there with nostalgia and we thought it might be nice to relocate to.

I appreciate your honesty about the weather.

Oh, if you are from Chicago then it won't be too much of a change. The big difference is that you don't get as much of the extreme wind that you get on the lake. Other than that, the temperature/snow fall isn't much different at all (grew up not too far from STL lived in Chicago for years)

[Juice13610]

The weather in southern Illinois (Marion-Mt Vernon) is very similar to that of St. Louis as they are only about 80 miles apart

[jak88]

There is no such thing as spring or fall in Illinois.

No matter where you go, heat or cold will follow. Nice days are rare.

[Paxtonian]

Nostalgia for East Saint Louis?
I guess anything's possible..

[Switch625]

Originally Posted by jak88

There is no such thing as spring or fall in Illinois.

No matter where you go, heat or cold will follow. Nice days are rare.

There are three seasons in Illinois. Winter, almost winter, and construction.