<p>At the risk of sounding like a complete idiot, I have a question about the weather. How do students get to class if there's a blizzard outside?</p>
<p>(I come from a place where seventy degrees is "chilly.")</p>
<p>if the blizzard is severe enough, classes will get canceled (there were cases when classes were held but you were not penalized if you didn’t attend). the same goes if the temperature drops too low.</p>
<p>Thanks. 
That’s good to know.
Wow, now I have to go to Chicago (or someone cold) just to know what it feels like to have a snow day!</p>
<p>They don’t have a lot of snow days. Days when it snows, sure, but days when class is cancelled – very rare. And I haven’t heard of a “cold” day in the five years my kids have been attending. -20F obviously isn’t cold enough for that. So don’t get your hopes up.</p>
<p>Bottom line: It doesn’t snow THAT much in Chicago, and ever since a mayor lost an election because of a poor snow removal effort in 1979 the city has dealt with snowstorms pretty efficiently. All first years and most second-years live on campus within a few blocks of their classrooms, and almost everyone lives within a mile or two of campus. Shuttlebuses serve most student areas. Getting to class isn’t a problem. (Feeling warm and dry while you do it is another question.)</p>
<p>Tropical S has not complained too loudly in his two winters in Chicago (I guess the cold takes your breath away). We’ll see how it works now that he’s moved 2 blocks north of campus. The shuttle stops right in front of his apartment and, I don’t know how it is arranged, the service where they call you before it gets to your place has been reinstated.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t get my hopes up, as previous posters have said. This past year, there was one 12" snowstorm, and everything was business as usual. Twelve inches is pretty hefty, even by Chicago standards, so if that didn’t cancel class, I don’t think much would. As long as the CTA is still running, I think we’d still be on for class. However, my boss at my campus job was letting employees who drive leave early if they wanted. And if you have a professor who drives in from the suburbs, they might cancel their classes.</p>
<p>As for how you get to class if there’s a blizzard: you just sort of wear as many layers as necessary and go for it. Taking the bus instead of walking is what most people seem to do, as the buses are more crowded when it snows.</p>
<p>Snow isn’t the main issue in Hyde Park, usually. The frigid, strong wind is. Very intense, and can be well well below 0, such as -20 t0 -30; I was in -40 in Chicago once; froze nose hairs at each breath, causes eyes to get very cold, and can be a danger to ears and hands/feet. Walking for 5-10 minutes in this can be difficult without extensive body gear and coverage.</p>
<p>The snow is cleared from the paths between 6 and 7 am (at least the ones that you can see in the webcams). No matter how inclement the weather you can always see people walking after 7 am.</p>
<p>Pollutionconcern:</p>
<p>I think low temps in Chicago regularly reach 0, and even -5 to -10, but in 20+ years of living in Chicago (in the distant past) I never experienced temperatures of -20 (let alone -40). Maybe you are talking about windchill, which is different from temperature readings.</p>
<p>If you are going to be walking outside in Chicago in the winter for a distance further than car-to-door, you definitely need a hat and gloves. I personally would also want a scarf for my face. And I have indeed experienced frozen nose hairs, watering eyes, and that particular deep headachey chill in my forehead and nose-bridge. Refreshing!</p>
<p>The wind is also pretty much a non-issue if you want it to be. Granted, I’ve lived all my life in the Midwest, but I’ve never let the wind stop me from doing what I wanted to do. Just put on extra layers and walk faster. Also, not every winter is that bad. This past winter was peanuts. I only remember significant snowfall twice, and only one nasty cold spell. Hopefully this winter will be easy too.</p>
<p>Interesting memake. I never knew you could get “brain freeze” ("punz</p>