When does winter end?

[Drover]

All you need to know is that, according to some, the 2 to 3 degree average difference between the Chicago area and central Illinois apparently makes the difference between weather Nirvana and Weather Hell.

Despite what some would have you believe, there is very little difference. In the Midwest, climate changes are quite gradual as you change lattitude. Illinois is 400 miles long and the climate differences between the northern and southern ends of the state are pretty noticeable. The differences as measured in 100-mile increments are not quite as obvious.

[llama214]

Being one that has lived in central Illinois almost all of my life, and visiting Chicago frequentely, I think I know what I am talking about. Chicago is always colder and snowier than downstate. Why does that suprise so many!? It really shouldn't. In the summer it is always more uncomfortable because of the amount of people, and the energy that they require. That should be obvious too! I have never been to Chicago during the fall or spring and thought that it was either of the two. Maybe by upstate standards it was a beautiful fall day, but it would not be accepted in other areas. It is always hot, or cold. It is impossible for you to understand this concept, living in Chicago for your entire life. Come down here for a weekend this Easter. Find a nice park, nestled against some clear lake, and then tell me that you have a decent spring and summer.

This isn't some competition. My goodness. They are coming from southern California. I doubt, unless they are moving here for a job, that they will find the central or southern Illinois area that great since the lifestyles are nothing alike. I was only pointing out that just because it is only 100 miles south, the weather pattern is more tame and subtle than the extremes you have. Go ahead and tell people that it isn't. But that is just simply not the case.

[Drover]

Look pal. I've probably spent a lot more time in your neck of the woods than you have up here. I have family all over the C-U area and I visit them regularly. I myself lived in Charleston and Mattoon for 5 years. We could sit here and compare anecdotal stories all day. But our anecdotes are irrelevent; hard data is the best and most accurate way to compare respective climates.

You can posit all the theories you want about how and why it's soooo much colder up here in the winters and soooooo much hotter up here in the summers. The data just doesn't bear out your claims. In winter it's about 2-3 degrees cooler on average in the Chicago area than it is in your part of the state. Summers are, again, 2-3 degrees cooler on average up here despite your persistent claim that it's so much hotter up here. Same goes for spring and fall.

Furthermore, Chicago's "official" temperature is measured at O'Hare airport, which on any given winter day is 5 to 10 degrees colder than downtown and on any given summer day is about 5 to 10 degrees warmer than downtown; Lake Michigan has a warming effect in winter and a cooling effect in summer. Consequently, on any given winter day one can expect downtown Chicago to actually be slightly warmer than B-N, and on any given summer day one can expect downtown Chicago to be 5 to 10 degrees cooler than B-N. There is little doubt that the heat created by energy consumption, plus absorption and release of solar heat by paved surfaces, affects the temperature in the area. However, you greatly overestimate the effect it has on temperature here. The hard data just plain doesn't support your claim.

I'm not interested in an "our weather is better than your weather" debate, especially since the difference between the two regions is negligible. As for which area has better weather, you're entitled to your own opinion. You are not, however, entitled to your own facts.

[Mel2882]

I am coming from the LA area. I am moving to Chicago. I could really care less what the differences are between Chicago and a few hours south. Really. In a nutshell, either way it's going to be cold for me in the winter, and more humid in the summer. I get that. So you guys can stop arguing.

[markablue]

Originally Posted by Mel2882

I am coming from the LA area. I am moving to Chicago. I could really care less what the differences are between Chicago and a few hours south. Really. In a nutshell, either way it's going to be cold for me in the winter, and more humid in the summer. I get that. So you guys can stop arguing.

Agreed. Since it looks like your question has been answered, I will now close this thread. Good luck with your move.