Is Chicago Really the Coldest U.S. City? Unveiling the Facts
Is Chicago Really the Coldest U.S. City?
The city of Chicago is often portrayed as one of the coldest in the United States, but is this truly accurate?
Historical Cold Competitions
Once upon a time, Elie, Minnesota, located on the Canadian border, was often in the spotlight for its icy cold winters. This small city used to compete annually with locations in North Dakota for the title of coldest place in the US. However, changes in climate and global warming have likely altered the landscape of this competition.
As of now, other regions in the northern United States, particularly Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Dakotas, remain the coldest in winter. Even though Chicago borders a large body of water, which can moderate its temperatures year-round, it still cannot compete with cities in these regions for the title of coldest city.
Summer Conditions
Winter cold is Chicago's specialty, but what about the summer? When comparing summer temperatures, coastal cities like Seattle and Duluth, with average July highs near 75°F, usually hold the edge over Chicago. This means that while Chicago might have an advantage in summer, it is not a significant one when it comes to maintaining the title of coldest city.
The Global Perspective
If we widen our scope to the world, the title of coldest city is not even in contention for Chicago. Cities like Fairbanks, Alaska, or Grand Forks, North Dakota, with average monthly minimum temperatures as low as -16.9°F and -3.1°F respectively, reign supreme in the list of coldest places worldwide. Chicago trails far behind, with its January average high at a balmy 32°F, comparable to only some Canadian cities with average January highs of 11°F.
Rankings and Comparisons
When ranking U.S. cities by their lowest monthly temperature, Chicago falls to the 48th position. Despite this, it holds the title of the largest city within this category, making it a frequent subject of regional and national attention for its weather reports.
Many smaller cities across the northern U.S. are actually colder than Chicago. For instance, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Madison all experience colder temperatures, along with various cities in the Dakotas and the neighboring states of Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, and Iowa.
Personal Experience and Data Validation
Moving on to personal observations, cities like Minneapolis have a reputation for being significantly colder than Chicago. This is supported by various data sources, including those cited below. A quick Google search also reveals that Fairbanks, Alaska; Grand Forks, North Dakota; and Fargo, North Dakota, among others, are listed as the coldest cities in America.
My personal experience living in both cities further corroborates Minneapolis being noticeably colder than Chicago, which can be seen in the provided graphic and supported by the data from sources [1] and [2].
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Chicago is certainly one of the colder major cities in the United States, it does not hold the title of the coldest city in the country or globally. Other northern U.S. cities, as well as Alaska, have colder weather patterns and lower average temperatures. Whether you're planning a trip or just curious about the weather, understanding the true cold champions can be quite enlightening.