Large Cities with Most Harsh Winters (degree, windchill, degrees, ground)

[NickMan7]

Compared to most large cities east and north of Denver, I wouldn't even place it in the top 20 (you name the city, I'll state the regions - it's so much easier). Below are some reasons why:

The unique thing about Denver is it's location EAST of the mountains. This plays a hugely fundamental role in determining the climate here. While we are certainly subject to arctic outbreaks and periods of snow, we also benefit from warming winds off the leeward (eastern) side of the mountains (this is called chinook for those who aren't familiar). These winds are also what give Denver 60º+ days in mid-January. High wind events are most common during the winter months with Denver's western suburbs and the Boulder area usually getting hit the hardest (sometimes reaching over 100mph). Chinook events (which create warmer temperatures) are FAR more common than snowstorms. This phenomenon is common in Montana, Wyoming and New Mexico, as well as Canadian cities east of the Rockies (especially Calgary).

Conversely, the mountains also play a role in giving us huge snowstorms; low pressure systems (with counter-clockwise flow) moving along the CO/NM border draw moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and hurdle it into the Front Range. The mountains act as a wall, forcing the clouds to drop their moisture on Denver and other communities along the Front Range. During these types of set-ups, locations east of the Continental Divide receive the most snow (Denver frequently reports more snow than most ski resorts during these storms). These storms mentioned above are rare and, on average, only happen every few years. Most of Denver's annual snowfall is supplied by, perhaps, a dozen snowfalls producing 6 inches of snow or less. Between storms, Denver almost always enjoys a thawing period where most, if not all, of the snow on the ground melts. Even when temperatures remain around freezing, Denver sees many hours of sunshine during winter days.

Now that my ranting about Denver is over, here are my reasons why other cities have much harsher winters:

- Most cities in the northern Great Plains, the Midwest and the Great Lakes have no physical barriers (i.e. mountain rainges) to frevent any type of front from intruding (arctic front, warm front, etc.). Likewise, they don't get the benefit of warming chinook winds.
- As most know, cities bordering the Great Lakes are sitting ducks for lake effect snowfall. In warmer winters (like in early 2007), the lakes don't freeze over causing massive amounts of lake effect snow that completely bury whole communities.
- Many of the cities in these regions also deal with cold front meets warm front in the middle of January leading to severe weather outbreaks ON TOP OF two feet of snow; which in turn results in tornadic activity, flooding rains and ice storms. [Denver almost never records a thunderstorm until at least mid-March, never sees a true ice storm and has certainly never seen tornadic development in January with snow on the ground.]

There are other reasons why Denver's winter weather is nowhere near as harsh as many cities within the regions described. If anyone, for whatever reason, wants more information, I'd be delighted to supply.

[CosmicWizard]

Jammie wrote:

Yea, Chicago isn't really called "the windy city" because of their climate. It was named that because of their windy politicians long ago.

Based on this criteria, the windiest city would have to be Washington DC...hands down, followed by the Capital cities of all 50 states.

[Jammie]

Originally Posted by NewAgeRedneck

Jammie wrote:

Yea, Chicago isn't really called "the windy city" because of their climate. It was named that because of their windy politicians long ago.

Based on this criteria, the windiest city would have to be Washington DC...hands down, followed by the Capital cities of all 50 states.

Yup, you've got a very good point there.

[Westyguy]

Denver has great weather! In the winter we get a good amount of snowfall,in the spring we have warm days usually in the 70's, in the summer we rarley get below 90(very very hot) and in the fall the temperature reaches around 60 50 40. We really get spoiled with all 4 seasons!!

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Westyguy

Denver has great weather!

Minus the obnoxiously late snowfalls in April and May. While the rest of the country is warming up, youre still shoveling at times.

[NickMan7]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Minus the obnoxiously late snowfalls in April and May. While the rest of the country is warming up, youre still shoveling at times.

That's not fair - we can get snow in June, too!

[leighland]

Chicago has hard winters but it's the best big city. So I dealt with the 10 degree days.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by leighland

Chicago has hard winters but it's the best big city. So I dealt with the 10 degree days.

Chicago has a handful of extremely cold days, which is strangely what people perceive our entire winter to be like. The rest of the year is just like most other cities' weather in the north. 1/2 cloudy, 1/2 sunny, in the upper 20s to 40s on average. We also have a few warm spells throughout the winter to break things up. Today is 50 degrees, weve hit 65 this winter also. Overall I dont think Chicago's winters are extraordinarily bad. Snowfall is around 36" for the year, which isnt horrible either.

[NickMan7]

63º in Denver yesterday, warmer in some suburbs. It's in the 50s right now. This afternoon is supposed to turn much cooler.

[Botev1912]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Today is 50 degrees, weve hit 65 this winter also. Overall I dont think Chicago's winters are extraordinarily bad. Snowfall is around 36" for the year, which isnt horrible either.

Today is 50 degrees, but tonight will be 0