Is Chicago Colder Than Boston?

The age-old debate concerning which city is colder, Chicago or Boston, always seems to come up during winter. While both cities are in the northeastern and midwestern United States and experience rough winters, do they feel equally cold? Chicago is known to be "windy," and Boston is close to the Atlantic Ocean, so each has a set of climate characteristics that make their winters cold in different ways. In this article, we’ll dive into the details of each city’s climate to understand how they compare in terms of temperature, wind, and snow.

The Basics Of Chicago’s Winter Weather And How It Affects The City

Chicago is often defined as the "Windy City" due to its famous, biting winds that blow off Lake Michigan. These winds go a long way toward adding to the overall winter weather in the city and serving to make any particular temperature feel far colder than its actual reading. In fact, during these months, wind chill in Chicago tends to push down the effective temperatures to far below zero on numerous occasions, when the actual reading might have risen above the freeze point. Winter in Chicago lasts long, with cold temperatures starting in November and usually persisting well into March, though the peak chill is generally felt throughout January and February.

During winter, the average temperature in Chicago is about 26°F (-3°C), though quite a few strong cold snaps may bring the temperature in the city well below zero. The city sees a lot of snow, with an average annual snowfall of 36 inches. Lake-effect snow situations where cold air passes over the relatively warmer waters of Lake Michigan-Chicago can have a lot of sudden, heavy snowstorms.

Finally, there is the factor of the wind chill factor, which is very important in the city. The perceived temperature can go way lower on extremely windy days, making it difficult for residents and visitors to keep themselves warm even when fully wrapped up. The wind in Chicago is something people get used to, but it provides for a grueling experience in winter, especially when combined with freezing temperatures.

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Boston's Winter Weather And How It Stacks Up Against Chicago's Chill

While Boston has its share of cold in the winter months, it is usually somewhat milder compared to Chicago, especially considering the wind chill. Its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean does modify Boston's climate; hence, throughout winter, the city usually enjoys more moderate temperatures. The ocean regulates the temperature so it doesn't go down as low compared to more inland cities, such as Chicago.

The average temperature in Boston winters hovers around 32°F (0°C), which is above freezing but still cold enough to produce snow. Snow indeed is a part of Boston's winter, and the city sees an average of about 43 inches of snowfall each year, a bit more than what Chicago gets annually. However, Boston's snow tends to be lighter, falling in smaller, lighter amounts, with more frequent snow showers that don't tend to accumulate as quickly as they do in Chicago. However, in contrast to those actual blizzards moving across the Midwestern states, it would appear Boston keeps more of the regular snow lighter for the most part through the year's season of winter.

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How Wind Chill Makes Chicago's Winters Feel Colder Than Boston's

Perhaps one of the most significant factors contributing to the feeling of cold in Chicago is the wind chill factor. As noted, the wind off Lake Michigan can make even a mildly cold temperature feel dangerously chilly. Downtown Chicago, for example, has its notorious "wind tunnels," in which winds are funneled between skyscrapers, further increasing the chill. This makes the winters in Chicago colder than what the thermometer says.

While Boston certainly can and does experience wind chills, especially near the waterfront, its proximity to the Atlantic means that it does not always see the same severity or duration of wind as Chicago. A more favorable characteristic of Boston's climate is its coastline's ability to somewhat dampen the wind chill factor for a broader tolerability of winter. While Boston is, of course, windy and quite stormy at times, the wind chills don't stay as bad for as long, and the winters are milder in general compared to Chicago.

Snowfall And Lake Effect: What Makes Chicago's Storms Worse?

Although it may snow more in Boston than in Chicago, on average, the latter is subjected to heavier and more intense snowstorms, courtesy of the lake effect. The lake effect occurs when cold air moves over the relatively warmer waters of Lake Michigan, picking up moisture and causing snow to fall over the city. It can result in snowstorms that suddenly become very intense, with sometimes several inches of snow being dumped in an extremely short period. Snowstorms, on the other hand, are more consistent but less extreme in Boston. Snows last throughout the winter in the city, though the accumulations tend to be less compared to the heavy snowfalls that could occur in Chicago. Also, blizzards and nor'easters generally do not have that great an effect on Boston, usually bearing lighter accumulations of snow over longer periods, rather than the heavy lake-effect storms for which Chicago is well known. If snow is affecting your home as well you can try the services of Deep Cleaning Chicago and never worry about it again.

What Chicagoans And Bostonians Say About Their Winter Weather

Both cities have their peculiar ways of sustaining the winter cold. The city of Chicago, for one thing, is familiar with its continually blowing winds and freezing temperatures; they know just how to bundle up for it. From multiple layers of clothes to heavy jackets, scarves, and gloves, they prepare well in advance to meet and greet the cold weather. For Chicagoans, though they have to endure weather most would consider bitterly cold, winter usually makes up some part of its identity; citizens brag about having braved a bad weather pattern. On the other hand, Bostonians are more adapted to lighter snow and milder cold temperatures associated with their respective winters. While Boston certainly experiences powerful winter storms, it's not unusual for Boston residents to see snow more often than people in Chicago but to experience less heavy snowfall. Overall, the city does seem to place a lot of emphasis on plowing and clearing sidewalks of ice rather than the extremely cold temperatures.

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Which Is Colder—Chicago Or Boston?

While similar in many ways, Chicago also typically experiences cold temperatures, heavy snow, and wind during its winters compared to Boston. The winters of Chicago appear to remain a bit colder overall than Boston. Chicago feels much colder than Boston with the constant winds howling across Lake Michigan and many instances of a wind chill factor. Boston, in turn, enjoys milder temperatures because of the ocean's moderating influence, though it also has its problems during the winter months.Ultimately, which city is the coldest depends on how you would define "cold." Take into consideration the wind and lake-effect snow, and it would probably feel a whole lot colder in Chicago. However, if by the overall average of the temperature and consistency of snow, Boston might be the chillier one.