Temperature Fallacies

So I have an ongoing debate with my *significant* other about whether Chicago is really colder than Washington, DC. Now I won't argue that Chicago, on average, is colder than Washington D.C., but is it really colder in a significant way. For example, is there really a difference between 50 and 55 degrees? In terms of global climate conditions, sure there is. In terms of actual day to day living in an urban area, I propose that there is no difference. At 50 degrees, you will be wearing the same clothes and doing the same things that you would be doing at 55 degrees. No difference.

("Significant Others" would make a great Lost episode title or an away message for when you are watching Lost e.g. "Spending time with my Siginificant Others." Hehehehe...some people will be hearing that ad nauseum on Wednesday.)

Let's break down the numbers:
Average Daily temperature in
Chicago:49.0 degrees
Washington DC: 53.8 degrees

Monthly Breakdown:

Average Annual Temperature:
Washington Average Annual Temperature (ºF)	53.8

Average Temperature by Month (ºF)
Jan.	Feb.	Mar.	Apr.	May.	Jun.	Jul.	Aug.	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
30.6	33.6	43.2	52.7	62.2	71.0	75.6	74.2	67.1	55.1	45.4	35.4

Average Annual Temperature:
Chicago Average Annual Temperature (ºF)	49.0

Average Temperature by Month (ºF)
Jan.	Feb.	Mar.	Apr.	May.	Jun.	Jul.	Aug.	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
21.0	25.4	37.2	48.6	58.9	68.6	73.2	71.7	64.4	52.8	40.0	26.6

As you can see, the only months that have temperature differences of more than 5 degrees are November through March meaning that Chicago's winter is colder. However, it's not like you are doing anything outside in the winter anyways. Whether it's 35 degrees or 20 degrees, it's still cold and you would prefer to be inside. Furthermore, no extra clothes are needed to make up that difference. Cold is cold.

I propose a new system of classifying the temperature:
Over 95:Go inside and crank the A/C.
65-95:Pleasant
40-65:Sweatshirt or light jacket weather
10-40:Bundle up, it's cold
10 or below: Stay inside and crank the heat. Use animals to warm you up if necessary.

By my new scale, DC and Chicago are classifed exactly the same. Therefore, there is no difference in teems of practical living when it comes to the temperature of the two cities. QED.