Weather in Late March (Chicago, Joliet: to live, deal, metro area)

[coldwine]

Originally Posted by jessiegirl_98

My anniversary is on March 21st. The last 5 years, I have had to wear a winter coat. This talks about weather in April, but it suggest how unpredictable the weather at that time of year is.

WGN Weather Center Blog: March 2005 Archives

And if you go to this weather.com link Average Weather for Chicago, IL - Temperature and Precipitation
You will see that the average temperature in March is:
Average high: 47
Average low: 32
Could it be higher or lower? Sure. But this is the average. And if you are going to an event in a dress, yes, that is chilly weather indeed.

Now, if you want to break it down by daily averages, here you go:
Daily Averages for Chicago, IL (60657) - weather.com
You will see that even on March 31, the average high is 53 and the average low is 37, with a mean of 45.

According to Wunderground:
Day: High/Low
18: 46/24
19: 61/36
20: 42/30
21: 70/37
22: 64/45
23: 52/45
24: 64/48
25: 78/50
26: 78/66
27: 73/44
28: 52/44
29: 62/46
30: 55/46
31: 64/45
There was no snow, and this I remember. The wind was balmy and mild, and it was rainy. My kind of weather.

No, this is not cold winter weather and it certainly isn't cold winter weather for evening dresses; I'd challenge any woman on this board over this issue, because I'm almost dressed up in the evening for various events.

You can wear 4inch stilettos and a good dress. Just bring a coat. That's sensible advice for the overwhelming majority of states in the US in March.

[coldwine]

Let's take a look at some other cities, hmm?

1. Chicago:
   Day: High/Low
   18: 46/24
   19: 61/36
   20: 42/30
   21: 70/37
   22: 64/45
   23: 52/45
   24: 64/48
   25: 78/50
   26: 78/66
   27: 73/44
   28: 52/44
   29: 62/46
   30: 55/46
   31: 64/45

1. Manhattan:
   Day: High/Low
   18: 39/27
   19: 43/30
   20: 50/33
   21: 40/26
   22: 67/40
   23: 61/51
   24: 54/24
   25: 54/38
   26: 54/39
   27: 78/50
   28: 65/45
   29: 57/38
   30: 68/39
   31: 60/43

1. San Francisco:
   Day: High/Low
   18: 61/51
   19: 61/48
   20: 57/49
   21: 62/46
   22: 69/47
   23: 70/47
   24: 64/49
   25: 60/51
   26: 61/47
   27: 56/46
   28: 62/43
   29: 71/44
   30: 66/47
   31: 64/46

And just for kicks...

1. Dallas:
   Day: High/Low
   18: 73/60
   19: 73/64
   20: 75/63
   21: 77/66
   22: 73/64
   23: 75/64
   24: 80/63
   25: 77/66
   26: 72/61
   27: 79/60
   28: 81/66
   29: 75/64
   30: 73/62
   31: 71/54

Dallas is the only summery city in March, and Chicago is the closest second by being warmer than both Manhattan and San Fran. What I think I'd like to point out from this data is that the majority of cities in northern climes have the same weather patterns in March: Cold, rainy, brief warm snaps (although Chicago was downright warm, Manhattan was cold and San Fran is never warm, even in the 60's).

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Last year it was 70 degrees on 3/21/07. You wore a winter coat? I know youre a Floridian and all, but cmon.

Well the low was 37 that day. It was below 50 until about noon and below 40 until about 9 am. So in the morning she very well could have worn a winter jacket since it was below 40 between Midnight and 7am.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by coldwine

Last year the lowest temp for the last two weeks of March was 42. The high was 78, and most days were in the 60's/70's. Chilly winter weather indeed.

It is not like that every year.

[aragx6]

I'd bring two options just in case. Or you could do some shopping while here... you can never go wrong with that.

[emmie3g]

Thanks for all your info! What about the second part of my question..do women and children still wear more holiday type dresses with velvet and dark colors at the end of march or do you switch to more spring type fabrics and add a sweater and/or coat??
Michele

[aragx6]

I have no idea. I'm not sure there's a hard and fast rule about that sort of thing...

[hokiehigh]

I can't wait for March if we have those temps! I moved here from Charlotte and it was freezing there on St. Patrick's day last year. Even in April I remember having to still wear a coat. Kind of odd.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by hokiehigh

I can't wait for March if we have those temps! I moved here from Charlotte and it was freezing there on St. Patrick's day last year. Even in April I remember having to still wear a coat. Kind of odd.

Thats odd. Charlotte is quite a bit warmer than Chicago. On St. Patricks Day Ive been to the parade in Chicago some years w/o a coat, other years in a winter coat. It all depends. March and April are rollercoaster rides. One day it will be 75, the next 40. May is like that early on as well, but late May is usually about as gorgeous as it gets in this big world of ours.

[cdc3217]

I can't believe I'm taking a stab at fashion advice...

Since Easter is early this year, I'd say you're more likely going to fit in with spring dresses, paired with a coat, maybe light tights for the girls (I have boys, so someone else please feel free to help out!)

Late March 50's feel colder than fall 50's to me...which sounds silly to the empiricists on the board I'm sure.