How bad is the snow? (Chicago, Jacksonville: home, living in, groceries)

[Lucasjj]

I understand that the winters can be a harsh, but how bad is the snow? If you are living in the city, and relying on public transportation, is it really a problem, or is it just the cold and wind that makes it so rough?

[jessiegirl_98]

It depends. Some years, it's not so bad. Some years, it's pretty bad (pretty bad being relative to where you are coming from.....it'll probably seem really bad from Jacksonville!!!).
If you are relying on the el only, you will be much less impacted than if you are also relying on buses, as the el is a train and the bus still has to run through the poorly plowed streets!

[Drover]

The buses have no problems running through the poorly plowed streets. They're heavy enough that they can just plow right through.

If anything the biggest hassle in winter is owning a car and having it parked on the street. You have to deal with getting plowed in. Or maybe you'll be unlucky enough to live on one of the main thoroughfares where parking is simply not allowed from November through April. But no matter where you live and no matter how wide-open parking is, you have to deal with anti-social a-hole neighbors who believe it is their God-given right to "reserve" their parking space once they have left it by putting lawn chairs or buckets or something, which they will continue to do until the snow melts down to 1/4 of an inch. Move their stuff to park if you must; just don't plan on having all of your windows intact when you return.

[NativeOrange]

It's really not that bad. The only problem is it can get pretty cold sometimes when they have a cold snap from Canada, but in recent years that hasn't very often. Usually it is around the upper twenties or thirties during winter and the avg. snowfall is around 60 inches a year. Last winter was pretty bad snow-wise but the years before that were a little below avg. so it really isn't nothing to worry about. Chicago's winters are very over exaggerated.

[long101]

Im not a winter person so I think it gets pretty bad. Being in Chicago I walk pretty much everywhere and by the time I get home or to work the bottom of my pants are soaked and Im just in a bad mood cuz I never put enough layers on to keep me warm

[cd771]

I've been living in the city nearly 16 years and have never owned a car so I always have relied on public transportation. I don't think its that bad. The cold is worse then the snow to me. You can use peapod to deliver groceries so you don't have to go to the store when its cold and snowy outside. It helps during the winter.

[lincolnparker]

last year i remember we got over 10 inches in one day

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by pittsteelers247

during winter and the avg. snowfall is around 60 inches a year.

We average 38", not 60". Last year was one of the snowiest winters on record, and we still didnt even hit 60". This isnt Denver.

[raleightransplant]

I think I'm in the minority here, but I'm looking forward to seeing some snow. I figure if it's gonna be cold anyway... I've been in the south for a while now, and actually miss snow.

That said, I know it starts to get old when February and March come around. I would imagine Chicago doesn't really see lake effect like Buffalo or Cleveland since the city is west of the lake. Maybe if there is some reverse weather pattern that moves east to west off the lake?

[Lookout Kid]

Snow is two different things in an urban area. The fresh snowfall can be quite beautiful and white, and it can be a lot of fun if you're not in a hurry. But the snow that's left after a few days in a city environment is gray, nasty, salty, and often slushy. And the last snow to melt tends to resemble burnt tires by the time it finally goes away.

I say this because Chicago is not a place that tends to keep snow cover all winter long. It snows, it melts, it snows again, it melts again. Sometimes we'll keep in around for a few weeks in the dead of winter, but much of it turns to slush. I truly hate the walk down sidewalks covered in grey salty slush puddles. Or the perilous walk when this slush freezes again into an uneven icy surface.

My advice? In addition to your cold weather jacket (you know, the huge one that looks ridiculous that you can wear the three or four times a year that it gets below zero), get a good pair of waterproof boots that can take abuse by salty water.