UPDATED: February 20, 2023

February retail sales are out Thursday. The debate has been raging on whether weak spending this winter can be blamed on the brutal weather. We may have some thoughts on this precise question in a post later this week. But for now, given that one of us lives in Chiberia, we thought we would show just how bad this winter has been.

Average Daily Minimum Temperature by Year

Using average minimum temperature as a measure, this is the second worst winter in Chicago since the data began in 1958. Only the winter of 1962-1963 was worse. Yes, the weather today in Chicago is absolutely beautiful. Let’s hope it stays that way!

You can also see global warming in this chart. Just check out how many of the post 2000 years are on the right side versus left side of the chart.