# So...I'm moving to Chicago. In the winter. During a pandemic **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 3, 2020, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058 "2020-12-03T01:22:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2020, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058/121 "2020-12-07T21:58:47Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > As you noted, our wind chills will be much more impactful, but I think a bigger thing is the skew of the lake effect on the “Chicago” averages. For example, Aurora, IL was a average low temp in January of 12.6 degrees. While the temperatures out in the suburbs (particularly the distant suburbs) are often colder in the winter than the temps in the Loop, we weather nerds in Chicagoland know that the Aurora readings tend to be on the cold side. The Aurora reporting station is at the Aurora airport, which is several miles west of Aurora, and is, IIRC, in a low part of the airport property. When overnight low temperatures are reported on the local newscasts here, the Aurora temperature is usually the coldest one. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2020, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058/122 "2020-12-07T22:37:29Z")
Plainfield, home of one of Chicago’s big dopplar sites and a bit further south, averages 16.1. Schaumburg a similar 16.0. I’d say your assessment of Aurora’s measuring site seems accurate (I just picked it as the most westerly suburb). ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2020, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058/123 "2020-12-07T22:41:52Z")
I had time now to do a little more googling, and found [a Chicago Tribune article](https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2000-12-26-0012290323-story.html) by Tom Skilling (chief meteorologist at WGN-TV, and a true weather nerd) about the Aurora temps: > [@](#): > > Aurora’s chilly nighttime temperatures, often colder by several degrees than other suburban locations, are a source of puzzlement to many—especially to Aurora residents whose thermometers do not register those low readings reported at Aurora Airport. Those low temperatures are due to the location of the thermometers. Bill Wontroba, electronic systems analyst at the [National Weather Service](https://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/weather/national-weather-service-ORGOV000357-topic.html), says the thermometers are regularly checked and are accurate. They’re located in a low setting at the far west end of the rural Aurora Airport, 10 miles west of downtown Aurora. On still nights, cold, dense air “drains” into that low spot. The equipment is there to support airport aviation operations, and the readings are not intended for other purposes. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2020, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058/124 "2020-12-08T02:45:23Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Never tried the table cloth windshield cover though sounds like a hassle tbt. Oddly enough I never seen them in use either up here. I don’t think it actually works all that great in all kinds of winter weather. Same here. I can’t think of a time I’ve ever seen or heard of someone using a covering over the windshield glass. I mean, I’ve thought about it when there’s a half inch of ice covering the entire car and doors are frozen shut with my scrapers inside but that happens, at most, a few times a year and never during a lot of years. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2020, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058/125 "2020-12-08T13:30:48Z")
Seconded on the shovel for the car, and you don’t necessarily just want a small collapsible one. I was SOOO glad we threw one into the trunk a few years ago on the way to a family wedding in Wisconsin - a blizzard started the next morning just before we headed back, and it took us nearly five hours to do what should have been a 90-minute drive! At one point I tried to turn off the expressway to find a bathroom, and we got stuck in a snowdrift. We would have literally been digging with our bare hands if not for that shovel. Couldn’t see the road at all; it was just coming down too fast. My SIL ended up having to stay with us for a couple of extra days because basically all flights out of O’Hare were cancelled. (She had flown into O’Hare because there were far more, and cheaper, flights than into Milwaukee.) That kind of snow isn’t the norm, but it does happen now and again. I now keep a small bag of ice melt in the car, too. I have heard that cat litter also works, but haven’t tried that. And can I tell you how much I love public transportation after a snow like that? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2020, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058/126 "2020-12-08T14:18:36Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > (I just picked [Aurora] as the most westerly suburb). Isn’t Aurora in Iowa? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058/129 "2020-12-11T16:59:35Z")
Well…put in an offer on another one in Oak Park. We’ll see how this goes ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2020, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058/130 "2020-12-12T22:54:32Z")
Good luck! Again any specifics of the neighborhood or section you want to know feel free to PM. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2020, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058/131 "2020-12-12T23:13:41Z")
they accepted my offer – woot! it’s in NW Oak park. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2020, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058/132 "2020-12-12T23:16:38Z")
Congrats and enjoy. That’s wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2020, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058/133 "2020-12-13T00:41:32Z")
> [@bdgr](#): > > they accepted my offer – woot! > > it’s in NW Oak park. Awesome! Nice area to live. Just to double check something and I certainly don’t want to rain on any parades. But I just wanted to make sure you know what you’re getting into regarding property taxes around there? ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2020, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058/134 "2020-12-13T02:01:38Z")
Yep. An unfortunate reality of that area. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2020, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058/135 "2020-12-13T02:05:59Z")
During the last big economic downturn, my wife and I were briefly fooled into thinking we could afford a place around there until we factored in the property taxes. Of course those taxes are steadily creeping up where we are in the NW side… ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2020, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058/136 "2020-12-13T02:16:35Z")
I think you will be very happy. Congrats! ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2020, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058/137 "2020-12-13T02:20:05Z")
Congratulations! I know a couple of people who live up in that corner of Oak Park (both of them just east of Harlem), and they both really like the neighborhood. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058/138 "2021-01-16T17:06:21Z")
If all goes well, will be moved in on the 1st of Feb. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058/139 "2021-01-16T17:15:52Z")
Good luck. My move is done but chaos continues. We’re getting both bathrooms redone professionally. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058/140 "2021-01-16T17:18:43Z")
I’ll make an offering of [Malört](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeppson%27s_Mal%C3%B6rt) to the weather gods for you. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058/141 "2021-01-16T17:34:29Z")
Will need to find an electrician and plumber once we get up there – if anyone knows anyone ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058/142 "2021-01-16T17:38:53Z")
I’ve used ABC for several plumbing (and HVAC) jobs over the past few years, and have been very happy with their service. They’re a fairly big company, and they serve the whole area; they also do electric, but I haven’t used them for that, so I can’t vouch for how well they do. > **[ABC Chicago Plumbing, Heat, Cooling & Electric | 24/7](https://www.4abc.com/services)** > > ABC is the team of local experts for all your home service jobs in the Chicago area! We offer plumbing, sewer, HVAC & electrical services 24/7! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058.md?page=8)