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HOW DOES CHICAGO SNOW STACK UP?

Winter in Chicago is no doubt an acquired taste. Almost every winter features below-zero temperatures, at least one major (6” or more) snow storm, and typically one warm-up that gives people false hope for an early end to winter. Chicago has it rough, but what do residents of other Midwest cities have to endure every winter? Below are average snowfall totals for other Midwest cities. For reference, Chicago averages 38 inches of snow every winter.

Rockford, Illinois: 36”
Milwaukee, Wisconsin: 52.4”
Indianapolis, Indiana: 27”
Detroit, Michigan: 43.3”
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota: 45.3”
Cleveland, Ohio: 38.7”

Lake Michigan Snowbelt

Anybody who watched weather reports last winter surely remember the dire forecasts for portions of Indiana and southwestern Michigan, which fall inside of the Lake Michigan snowbelt. Storms with snow totals measured in feet are far more common in these areas than they are here in Chicago. Lake-effect snow tends to affect areas on the southeastern shores of a lake mostly, although a shift in wind direction means that Chicago isn’t total exempt from the wrath of lake-effect snow. Let’s take a look at some snow totals for cities within the snow belt.

Valparaiso, Indiana: 97.8”
South Bend, Indiana: 81.8”
Grand Rapids, Michigan: 64”

Stacking Up To The Rest Of The Nation

Looking at some of the above numbers make Chicago’s snowfall look like a piece of cake. But what happens when you wander outside of the Midwest? Chicago’s 38” seems high in comparison to some of the other most populous cities in the United States that receive regular snowfall.

New York City, New York: 28.1”
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 19.3”
Boston, Massachusetts: 41.8”
Baltimore, Maryland: 20.8”
Denver, Colorado: 61.7”

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