🇺🇸 Saint Paul vs 🇺🇸 Chicago

Saint Paul is Minneapolis's twin city on the Mississippi River, the state capital, and home to the famous Winter Carnival celebrating rather than suffering through the extreme cold. The Mississippi River valley location means significant river fog and cold air pooling in the valley while the bluffs above stay clearer. St. Paul gets slightly colder winters than Minneapolis due to its more eastern and valley-bottom position.

Humid continental — cold harsh winters, hot humid summers, severe storms

Chicago lives up to its Windy City nickname. Lake Michigan creates its own microclimate — cooler summers and heavier lake-effect snow in winter. Summers are warm but brief; winters are among the harshest of any major American city.