More snow in Chicago than Barrow Alaska? It doesn't seem that is true.

Arctic climates often get surprisingly little snow. Barrow, Alaska, for example, gets less snow than Chicago in an average year, despite having winters that average 39°F (22°C) colder.  

The Straight Dope Nov 19 2002

Does Barrow Alaska really get less snow than Chicago Illinois?  Not in the last 15 years.  Data source

Since 1982, to Mar 15 2015, usually Barrow gets more now. (but look at the recent changes!)

What about recent snowfall, when Chicago had record snowfall? (2014)

The data shows Barrow almost always has more snow than Chicago.

Let's look at another period, just to be sure it's not an anomaly.

Well then what about the decade before that?  Maybe snow changed since then?  

Yes, in that period Barrow did get less snow than Chicago! The Dope article was using old sources for the claim.

It sure seems to have changed.  A lot.

But to be sure, let's check the 2002 hydrological year data.

In 2002 the average snow expected (Normal) is almost exactly the same!  But Barrow still got more snow than Chicago.  In fact, most years of the last two decades shows Barrow, AK gets more snow. 

So the "fact" of the matter is fuzzy.  Here are some graphs showing 1999 (Jan) -2015 (Jan) monthly snow totals, and seasonal.  Which should make everything clear. usually, in the last few decades, Barrow gets more snow than Chicago. (click any image to enlarge)

Of course it's probable that the 2002 article was only talking about "snow in Meteorological winter", which is Dec-Jan-Feb, in which case Chicago certainly can get much more snow than Barrow.  But the real issue was about "Can it get too cold to snow?".

That's the straighter dope right there.

All data from NOAA Online Weather Data 

accessed March 1st 2015 

used with permission