Chicago is known for its deep-dish pizza, skyline, and sports fans who live and die with their teams, but also for its brutally cold winters. If you ever have stepped outside on a January morning in Chicago, you know exactly how cold it can get. But what makes this city feel like a frozen tundra for months? The temperature is not enough to make the place tough, the wind factor, lake-effect, and pattern of cold air all play a role. Let's take a further look at how Chicago gets colder and why their winters hit them differently compared to other cities around the world.

Cold Air From Canada Blasts Chicago Every Winter

The Polar Vortex Drops Frigid Air Over The City

One of the biggest reasons why Chicago gets that cold is due to the polar vortex. It is a massive mass of cold air that stays over the Arctic, but when winter comes, parts of it shift south, and places like Chicago get hit with bitterly cold temperatures. In fact, the temperature can drop below zero degrees Fahrenheit during periods of maximum polar vortex. Worst of all, it can persist for days, making even little excursions outside intolerable.

Why Chicago Has No Natural Barriers To Block The Cold

Some cities are protected by mountains or forests that block the extreme weather. Chicago does not have such luxury. The city is in the Midwest with flat land and has nothing to stop the cold air from Canada from rushing into the city. The winds blow through the city without anything to slow them down, making the temperatures feel even worse than what the thermometer says.

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Lake Michigan Makes Chicago Winters Even More Unpredictable

The Lake Effect Can Bring More Snow And Colder Air

Lake Michigan is one of the defining features of Chicago, but it also gives the city monstrous winters. It sometimes drops temperatures instantaneously and has sudden periods of heavy snowfall. Cold air moves over this relatively warmer water and picks up moisture, which freezes into snow as it approaches land. This is why neighborhoods near the lake have more intense winter conditions than those farther inland.

Chicago’s Wind Makes The Cold Feel Even Worse

Why The Wind Chill In Chicago Can Be Brutal

Chicago is famously called the Windy City, and although the name originally had more to do with politics than weather, the wind here is no joke. The cold air combined with strong gusts makes winter temperatures feel even lower. This is what people refer to as wind chill. For example, if the temperature is 10°F, the wind chill can make it feel like it is well below zero. The wind rips through coats, scarves, and gloves, making outdoor activities miserable.

Skyscrapers Create A Wind Tunnel Effect In The City

The buildings in downtown Chicago are so tall that the wind feels more powerful. When it's squeezed between skyscrapers, it can wail like a banshee, giving guests a severe wallop that makes the street difficult to walk on. Stabilizing oneself while trying to push through the chilly air is a familiar sight. If your scarf or hat has ever been blown away as you were strolling around the Loop, you know exactly what I mean. 

How Chicago’s Cold Winters Compare To Other Cities

Chicago Vs. Other Cold Cities Like New York And Minneapolis

Chicago is certainly not the only city that gets brutal winters, but how does it compare? New York certainly gets cold, but it never gets as brutally cold with the wind chill factor as Chicago. Minneapolis tends to be colder overall, but it also has fewer extreme wind gusts. The winters of Chicago are cold, with severe snowfall, and relentless wind, which combines to make the city one of the toughest cities in the US.

Why Chicago Winters Feel Worse Than They Actually Are

Chicago is not any kinder in winters even if the thermometer is not showing a new record-breaking high. The main reasons behind the harsh winds and lake effect plus long days full of cloud, which contributes to the bitter feeling of the lack of sunlight with shorter daylight, make days dragged out, while by March time, people get tired of all this waiting.

How To Survive The Freezing Winters In Chicago

There Are Winter Activities To Make The Cold More Bearable

The cold is indeed a bit harsh, but still, there is a lot that can be done in Chicago in winter. Enjoying ice skating at Millennium Park, visiting indoor conservatories, and warming up with deep-dish pizza is just a great way to take the season head-on. There's nothing to do about the cold, but it is much easier to endure when one learns to enjoy it.

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Chicago’s Location And Lake Michigan Impact The City’s Cold Conditions

The winters of Chicago are as unforgiving as they are special. It proves that the city is not like any other, not with such bitter cold and such powerful winds that have been exacerbated by lake effect. Even so, people learned to deal with it. Whether it is bundling up for the cold or finding ways to enjoy the season, people here know how to handle the icy months. So next time you feel the freezing air hit your face, just remember-it is all part of its geography and the Chicago experience.