Chicago looks radically different during its four seasons. Spring, Summer, and Autumn have sunshine, longer days, green grass, and magnificent colors. However, in Winter, there’s little sunlight, bone-chilling cold, snow, ice, and wind. From November through March, we can expect extreme weather. Our city, which is located on the shores of Lake Michigan, has golden beaches in summertime, and mostly freezing, windy conditions in winter.
When I was asked to write about what it is like to live in this severe wintry weather, Chicago was having an Arctic blast of sub-zero temperatures, so it was easy for me to try to capture the feeling! The cold here is recorded in two ways: the temperature and the wind-chill factor. Chicago’s coldest temperature reached -27F (-33C) in 1985, and in 1983 its coldest wind-chill factor was -82F (-66C). Last year we experienced a Polar Vortex in January with a wind-chill factor of -40F (-40C). That was bitterly cold! Schools often close when it is that cold, because of the risk of children getting frostbite or hypothermia in a matter of mere minutes. When we hear that the weather is going up to 20F (-7C), we think it feels like a heat-wave! Schools don’t usually close for snow, unless it reaches more than eight inches deep. The deepest snowfall I’ve seen here was twenty-three inches, and that was quite an experience!
How do we cope with this? At the first snowfall of the year, some people marvel at how beautiful it looks – so peaceful, white, and fluffy, but after a few months, we long for the beauty of a warm, sunny springtime around the corner. People learn to dress in several layers, covering everything except their eyes, but even one’s eyelashes can have icicles hanging on them! Vanity is not as important as protecting oneself from the elements, so warm hooded coats and heavy boots, hats, scarves, and double-lined gloves are the order of the day. Even some little dogs wear booties to keep the ice from getting between their toes! As soon as frigid weather or heavy snow is predicted on the news, the lines are long in the stores, with people stocking up on staples: everything from canned goods, batteries and lip-balm, to shovels, rock salt, and snow-blowers. All travel is very much affected by the wintry weather here. More than 280 snow plows are deployed by the city to clear the main streets. The wind gusts make it difficult to clear such heavy wet snow, so work is done all day and night to keep the city moving. Then mountains of frozen snow-piles decorate the sides of the streets and parking lots, and remain there until the next thaw! Airlines cancel flights, planes need to be de-iced, and stranded passengers may have to sleep at the airport. Traffic accidents and injuries multiply at this time of the year, and falling blocks of ice from the tops of high buildings become hazardous to pedestrians.
With many exciting winter activities available for entertainment, people enjoy living here, in spite of the climate. Wonderful people live in Chicago! I’ve seen this harsh weather bring out the best in them. The city provides hundreds of warming centers for the homeless and those affected by power-outages. People show kindness to elderly neighbors by clearing snow off their paths and sidewalks, running errands, and helping with their transportation. Winter certainly gives us the opportunity to practice compassion, kindness, and patience. If we remember to keep a positive attitude and a good sense of humor, we really can enjoy this weather, while looking forward to spring!
Doreen Whitney rsm
US Province
