[jtown,man]

Originally Posted by marothisu

Yeah, although those days in Chicago in January this year were some of the coldest temperatures ever recorded in the city's history. The coldest temperature ever recorded in the city was -27 and that was in 1985. The second coldest temperature ever recorded in the city was -23 which was in January of this year which is what you're talking about - 34 years later.

I had to do this - collect data on the recorded lows for December, January, and February for years 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. That is 351 total days. In those 351 days, the recorded low temperature was below 0 only 15 times or 4.3% of the time. The high temperature only failed to get above 0 once.

Recorded Lows
Below 0 degrees: 15 days | 4.3%
0 to 10 degrees: 46 days | 13.1%
11 to 20 degrees: 68 days | 19.4%
21 to 30 degrees: 124 days | 35.3%
31 to 40 degrees: 87 days | 24.8%
41 to 50 degrees: 9 days | 2.6%
51 to 60 degrees: 2 days | 0.6%
61 to 70 degrees: 0 days | 0%

Recorded Highs
Below 0 degrees: 1 day | 0.3%
0 to 10 degrees: 7 days | 2%
11 to 20 degrees: 28 days | 9%
21 to 30 degrees: 65 days | 18.5%
31 to 40 degrees: 118 days | 33.6%
41 to 50 degrees: 89 days | 25.4%
51 to 60 degrees: 32 days | 9.1%
61 to 70 degrees: 11 days | 3.1%

Fun fact: There have been 132 days with highs above 40 degrees versus 101 days with high temperatures at 30 degrees and below - which is a difference of an entire month. Interestingly, there's been more days above 60 degrees as a high in December, January, and February than there have been days at 10 degrees and below for high temperatures.


Here's the truth: Chicago is cold in the winter and you should have 2 sets of winter type of outerwear. Why? The Midwest weather wise for many months of the year is rather unpredictable. Although Chicago isn't as bad in this regard as other parts of the midwest, it's still unpredictable. I think you can see that above. You could easily have a 3 or 4 day stretch in January where the high temperatures are in the 40s or 50s and then a day later, the high is in the teens or low 20s. Here's another fun fact: in Januaries for 2016 thru 2019, there's been 37 days where the high temperature was between 41 and 60 degrees versus 22 days where the high temperature was at most 20 degrees. You are also in South Loop which is near the lake, and anything near the lake is windier which means a lower wind chill than say somewhere 5 miles west of the lake.

You should expect morning temperatures in the single digits or teens as a precaution with a very small possibility of negative temperatures (i.e. under 5% of days in the last few winters), but don't be surprised if it's 3 straight mornings of a low of 5 degrees and then the next day after the morning temperature is 33 degrees with a high in the 40s for a few days, then back down to the teens. Below 0 in the morning is not super common, but it can happen as you can see above. It won't happen much but you'll experience it a few times a year as a non wind chill temperature. But you know - low temperatures above 30 degrees have occurred over 10 percentage points higher than 10 degrees and below. Again - unpredictable.

It's unpredictable. Have at least 2 types of outerwear for the winter. One for cold but more moderate temperatures and one for very cold temperatures (like a parka as someone mentioned). And it's very possible that you'll randomly have a day or 2 of 60+ degrees and then BAM back down to the 20s or 30s the next day or even lower. Half of the battle is learning how to dress and once you figure that out, you'll be better off. Always check the weather forecast because having a few days of highs in the upper 40s in January in a row means nothing for a few days in the future.

Seriously, thank you for the data! I will show my girlfriend to calm her down a bit. Interesting tidbits there...

Alright alright, sorry guys for derailing the conversation to the weather. I am sure you guys get sick of people talking about it.