Chicago weather in march

majortom71 · Post #1 » by **majortom71** » Tue Jan 13, 2015 5:33 pm

Hi guys,
I just dropped by to ask about what kind of weather I should expect when I visit Chicago sometime in mid march?
I've been to Chicago before but during summer and early fall so I did not experience any cold weather.
Can March be very cold and any early predictions for this year? Should I bring winter gear just in case?

Thanks for any help!

umfan83 · Post #2 » by **umfan83** » Tue Jan 13, 2015 6:24 pm

Extremely unpredictable. March is a month of slow transition from winter to spring. Last year we had temps in the negatives in mid-march and a few days later it was 55. I'd guess the average high temp that time of year is around 45, but could be anywhere from -5 to 75. A few years ago on St. Patricks Day it was close to 80, so maybe you'll get lucky.

ingvald · Post #3 » by **ingvald** » Tue Jan 13, 2015 6:38 pm

What umfan said. I probably wouldn't pack full blown winter gear but bring stuff you can layer if its cold.

panthermark · Post #4 » by **panthermark** » Tue Jan 13, 2015 6:44 pm

March sucks...

We have no clue what the weather could be.
Early March could still be bitterly cold (and windy).
Late March could be in the low 40's, but could easily have 6 inches of snow drop overnight.
And don't forget the possible ice storms. In the midwest, most of our ice storms come at the end of winter.

musiqsoulchild · Post #5 » by **musiqsoulchild** » Tue Jan 13, 2015 6:48 pm

How about we talk about some Chicago weather in May?

Last week sucked, btw.

majortom71 · Post #6 » by **majortom71** » Tue Jan 13, 2015 7:44 pm

Thanks for all the feedback.
I guess I won't be packing my swimming trunks :lol:

I'll take my Florida winter gear and if it's crazy cold I'll purchase some additional items, which I'll never use again unless I travel north :lol:

I don't have a choice of going another time, my cousin in Chicago is least busy during March so it's going to be March.
I don't mind cold weather and snow, I've just been told how brutal Chi town weather can be.

Anyway, thanks again!

umfan83 · Post #7 » by **umfan83** » Wed Jan 14, 2015 7:18 pm

majortom71 wrote:Thanks for all the feedback.
I guess I won't be packing my swimming trunks
I'll take my Florida winter gear and if it's crazy cold I'll purchase some additional items, which I'll never use again unless I travel north
I don't have a choice of going another time, my cousin in Chicago is least busy during March so it's going to be March.
I don't mind cold weather and snow, I've just been told how brutal Chi town weather can be.

Anyway, thanks again!

I will say that March is one of my favorite months in Chicago. People basically hunker down and hibernate from January to early March. When the weather begins to turn, the city starts to come alive, even though the temps are still so cold that anyone south of Nashville would refuse to do anything in. In addition to that, you have St. Patrick's day which is widely celeb celebrated with parades and drinking. Everyone goes to the bar or has a party on March 17th. You also have the NCAA Tournament, and with Chicago being a breeding ground for 20-something Big Ten grads, the bars are packed and out and about. A week prior, the Big Ten Tournament is in Chicago this year as well.

I think Chicago is the best Spring/Summer city and part of the reason is because we earn our Spring/Summer with the brutal winters. So when the weather turns, the city is electric and people want to do EVERYTHING.

DanTown8587 · Post #8 » by **DanTown8587** » Wed Jan 14, 2015 8:09 pm

Not right

panthermark · Post #9 » by **panthermark** » Wed Jan 14, 2015 8:26 pm

DanTown8587 wrote:March 17th (St Pats) the last five years high temps

2014 - 68
2013 - 59 (low 39)
2012 - 87
2011 - 67
2010 - 77

I think I know where you got that information from...(weather underground), and I believe you were looking at the wrong column for the last two years. Those numbers are for the month, not for the day....it is just that the monthly highs were around St Patty's day prior to the last few years.

http://www.wunderground.com/history/air ... story.html
March 17th:
2014 - high of 40 and a low of 20
2013 - high of 35 and a low of 26
2012 - high of 82 and a low of 58
2011 - high of 67 and a low of 48
2010 - high of 63 and a low of 42

Check out March 13th over that same time span. Except for 2012 (77), the highs are 39, 33, 77, 41, and 45 and the lows kinda sucked.

Basically, March is all over the map. Add in some Chicago wind, and it could really suck. Or if is sunny and not windy, it could be great.