We know that Chicago has some pretty rough winters, but how rough can they get? Just how cold are Chicago winters? We did some digging and came up with a complete list of Chicago winter record breaking statistics to help you be prepared or even thankful once winter arrives.
- Earliest recorded snow – September 25, 1928 and the same day 1944
- Earliest measurable snowfall (>.1") – October 12, 2006
- Latest measurable snowfall – May 11, 1966
- Longest winter – November 27, 1978 to March 13, 1979
- Most accumulation in a 24 hour period – 23 inches January 26-27, 1967
- Most accumulation all season – 89.7 inches, winter of 1978-79
- Lowest recorded temperature – negative 27 degrees Fahrenheit, January 20, 1985
- Coldest wind chill – negative 82 degrees Fahrenheit, December 24, 1983
- Most below freezing days in a row – 43 days, winter of 1976-77
Here are Chicago’s ten biggest snowstorms:
- 23.0 inches Jan 26-27, 1967
- 21.6 inches Jan 1-3, 1999
- 21.2 inches Feb. 1-2, 2011
- 20.3 inches Jan 13-14, 1979
- 19.2 inches Mar 25-26, 1930
- 16.2 inches Mar 7-8, 1931
- 15.0 inches Dec 17-20, 1929
- 14.9 inches Jan 30, 1939
- 14.9 inches Jan 6-7, 1918
- 14.3 inches Mar 25-26, 1970
Looking at all those extremes you might start to wonder what was the worst winter on record. "Worst" is of course not a measurable unit, until the invention of the Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index. The AWSSI takes into account things like high and low temperatures, snowfall, length of season and other factors to assign a score to each season and compare them. According to the AWSSI the worst winter was the winter of 1978-79, followed by 1977-1978 and 2013-2014. AWSSI has only analyzed winters going back to the 1950s. Records in general only go back about 130 years so it’s possible there were even more intense winters that we don’t have data for.
During the second worst storm in Chicago history in 1999 there were 850 snow removal trucks on the streets. Typical heavy storms use about 240 snow removal vehicles. It seems that Chicago is well prepared for the worst.
Why is a Chicago Snow Removal Contractor telling you about the weather?
Because at Brancato Snow and Ice Management, we don’t just react to winter storms and snow, we carefully plan and prepare. We spend a lot of time researching past weather events and preparing for all possible scenarios and snow emergencies that may be delivered by Mother Nature in the future. We also strongly believe in communication with our customers. We update customers before, during and after the storm. And we keep this blog to help you be educated and prepared – whether you’re our customer or not.
To learn about Brancato’s emergency response plan to Chicago winter storms, please contact us.