Ready to break some records this winter, Chicago? The first chance is coming up Thursday, which could be the coldest Jan. 8 on record if temperatures dip below -11, the record set in 1942 according to the National Weather Service.
Meteorologists are predicting that overnight temperatures between Wednesday and Thursday could range from -9 to -13 thanks to an Arctic high pressure air system, according to Amy Seeley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. It likely will be the latest in a string of cold-weather indignities that signal to Chicagoans that yes, winter is finally here. Last year's winter approached or broke multiple records in Chicago for frigid temperatures, total subzero days and cumulative snowfall.
Some Chicago residents say Chiberia 2014 prepared them for winter life here.
Karl Castaneda got his first taste of living in a city where it snows when he moved to Chicago from Miami last year. But he wasn't prepared for the blasts of cold that hit the city in the first few months of 2014. Last winter, Chicago experienced a record-setting 23 subzero days, according to the National Weather Service.
"Obviously last year was a bit of an outlier, winter-wise, but my expectations were just to see snow, since I had only seen snow a handful of times before I moved here," said Castaneda, 25, of Logan Square. "In Miami, on the coldest of days it's still 65 degrees."
This week, as he's re-learning how to walk on icy streets-after almost falling three times after leaving the house Monday morning-Castaneda said he's relieved to see that the cold isn't quite as bad as he remembered.
"December, things were pretty mild, it almost felt like we were living on borrowed time. But now that it's actually snowing, it's like I know what this is, I can deal with it," he said.
He can say that a year after his first winter - a season that offered plenty of lessons: Always layer before going outside, invest in quality boots and coats, budget extra time when leaving the house to don all that gear and account for transportation delays. And resist the urge to stay in bed all weekend.
"I still like walking around in the snow, I guess for the novelty of it, and I live right across the street from Humboldt Park, so I go out there when it's all snowy," he said. "And I try to make the most of game nights or other stuff like that."
For Alicia Gonzalez, 39, of Evanston, the first step to getting through winter after she moved to Chicago last year from Mexico City was to get a long jacket.
"People said get a jacket, one that covers your butt," she said. "We had jackets, but they went only to the waist, and that really doesn't work."
And David Safier, 28, of River North, learned he needed to wear more than a wool coat after he moved from the Cleveland area, where he said temperatures don't always reach Chicago's lows, and prepare for doubled commute times.
"I drive to work, and seeing cars stalled out because it was so cold on the highway, I'd never seen anything like that," he said. But this year, "I knew it was coming. I've got a puffy coat. I bought a bunch of cheap gloves because I always lose them."
With Chicago starting off the New Year with several inches of snow and its first real cold-blast of the season, according to meteorologists, and temperatures predicted to dip close to (but not as low as) last year's lows, RedEye wants to help you be ready this time around. We compiled a list of tips on how to do anything from winter-proofing your apartment to combating Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Home
"People think if they live in a drafty apartment, there's nothing they can do about it," said Kristen Pratt, program coordinator for the Chicago Conservation Corps, an environmental service volunteer organization, which has distributed weather kits to Chicago homes. "But by sealing up those little air leaks [around windows and doors] you can do a lot to make yourself more comfortable and lower your energy bill." Her tips for weather-proofing your apartment:
- Buy foam or plastic strips at the hardware store that can seal up cracks in door and window frames.
- Keep some of the cold out of your pad with one of those window insulation kits - the ones you use your hair dryer to shrink the film into place.
- Ask your gas company (if you live in the city, it's probably Peoples Gas) to give you a pre-programmable thermostat and pipe insulation, which the company gives to customers for free. Set your thermostat to 68 degrees when you're home, and 60 when you're not.
Dog
Dogs get cold, too, but unlike people, most need to face the elements even on the worst days to get exercise, according to Miguel Gomez, founder of Lake Shore Pet Club. His advice on taking care of your furry friend in the winter includes:
- Get a water-resistant coat that fits your dog snugly, but not so tight that he or she can't run around.
- Get your dog protective paw covers, particularly if he or she is a smaller breed, to protect him or her from ice on the sidewalks and the salt used to melt the ice.
- Trim the hair that hangs down your dog's leg over and in between the paw pads. "Snow tends to get up in there and start to freeze, and it's like walking around with a wet glove on for half an hour," Gomez said.
- Remember that dogs are susceptible to frostbite, just like people; if you see your dog shivering excessively while on a walk, turn back.
Commute
For Drivers
Cars need special treatment in the winter months, according to a fact sheet published by DMV.org, a website that offers advice on driving and car maintenance.
The basics:
- Adjust your car's coolant system, which protects the engine from corrosion. The coolant to water ratio should be 60 percent coolant to 40 percent water.
- Car batteries don't work as well in the winter, so check your battery cables for cracks.
- Two words: snow tires. They can help if you know you'll be driving to parts of the city or suburbs that don't get snow plowed reliably.
- Be wary of your car door lock freezing in the winter and breaking your key. If you're not sure, use glycerine or warm water to de-ice the car.
For Public Transit Riders
Check out these mobile apps that can help CTA riders plan their commute - to avoid waiting in the cold for a bus:
- HopStop
- Moovit
- Roll with Me, for tracking CTA wheelchair accessibility
- CycleFinder, for Divvy users looking to shorten their commutes between CTA stops and their final destinations.
For Bicyclists
It's possible to bike through most of winter safely and comfortably with the right gear. Some suggestions from the local advocacy group Active Transportation Alliance:
- Outfit your bike with a fender.
- Wear layers of gloves, a windbreaker and a balaclava to protect yourself from the wind.
- Get a Divvy bikeshare membership--that way you can use a bike to commute one way, but don't have to be committed to taking your bike home if the weather takes a turn for the worse during the day.
- Ride where the streets have been plowed. ClearStreets, the city's plow tracking app, is one way to do it.
Social Life
It's harder to motivate yourself to leave your apartment when it's cold outside, but that doesn't mean your social life must suffer. Karla Zimmerman, a Chicago-based travel writer, recommends people get off the beaten path to meet each other for coffee, drinks or gallery-walking at these (free!) indoor attractions:
- DePaul Art Museum in Lincoln Park, 935 W. Fullerton Ave.
- Gage Gallery at Roosevelt University, 18 S. Michigan Ave.
- The Museum of Contemporary Photography, 600 S. Michigan Ave.
- The National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th Street
- The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, 2320 W. Chicago Ave.
- The Whistler in Logan Square, which has bands and DJs at night with no cover charge, 2421 N. Milwaukee Ave.
- Lincoln Park Conservatory and Gardens, 2391 N. Stockton Drive, and the Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave.
Mood
It's normal to feel stress, anxiety and depression in the winter, according to Jeff Greeson, professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania. "A lot of people do notice a dip in their mood with less light, even if it's subclinical," or, in other words, not severe enough to warrant a medical diagnosis, he said. But how do you beat back those negative feelings?
Other ideas:
- Exercising, even when you don't feel like it, can elevate mood. Even if your workouts are shorter or less frequent in the winter because of the cold, every little bit counts.
- Take the time to go out and get some sunlight every day, or invest in a special light therapy lamp that mimics the sun.
- Meditate. "If we're not 100 percent present, we are probably spending time worrying about getting somewhere or not getting somewhere," Greeson said.
- If you feel your symptoms getting worse, not better, find a therapist.
Workout
"Force yourself to stay in that 'keep moving' mentality, because that's when you're not going to get sluggish, get tired, get depressed, which can be a ruthless cycle," said Anthony Bonazzo, a Chicago-based certified personal trainer. His tips for getting your workout on in the winter:
- If you typically workout outside, don't stop for the weather, unless it's extremely cold. Layer up, and shorten your workouts. "If you're used to running 10 miles outside, do five or even two instead," Bonazzo said.
- Eat your vegetables. That way you're sticking to a healthy diet even when you can't make it out for a run.
- Set goals, or sign up for a springtime race. That way, you have something to work toward and can't slack off.
- Look for affordable boot camps and drop-in workout classes at fitness centers. Groupon and LivingSocial often have deals at local gyms that are cheaper than a yearlong membership.
- Find a public park in your community with an indoor fitness center or swimming pool. Some memberships are as low as $10 a month, according to the park district.
- Supplement your diet with vitamin D--a nutrient that many people get through exposure to sunlight but don't get enough of in the winter, when they're rarely outside and bundled up from head to toe when they are.