A Warming Climate Has Altered the Snow Landscape
A warming climate has altered the snow landscape we’re accustomed to seeing around Chicago in January and February, likely making this winter the least-snowy in 88 years.
What is Meteorological Winter?
This climate data refers to "meteorological winter," which spans from Dec. 1 through the end of February. There is a difference between the amount of snow in a season (beginning Oct. 1), and the amount of snow specifically for winter, so let’s compare records for both.
Current Snowfall Totals
First off, we did have 2.9 inches of snow fall on Nov. 21. That total is not included in the "winter total" for Chicago. That brings us to 14.8 inches of snow for the season, and 11.9 inches of snow specifically for meteorological winter.
Our Chicago snow total this winter at O’Hare is 11.9 inches.
Winter’s Totals Breakdown
Here’s a breakdown of our winter’s totals first, which again, are the months of December, January, and February.
DECEMBER
2.4 inches of snow. The 29th least-snowy month of December and the lowest for the month since we had 1.2 inches in 2023.
JANUARY
4.6 inches of snow. The 35th least-snowy and the lowest for the month since 2018.
FEBRUARY
4.9” of snow. The 41st least-snowy and the lowest for the month since 2024 (1.2 inches).
Looking Ahead
We still have a few days to go in February, but it’s unlikely we see any more accumulating snow with highs expected in the 40s.
Conclusion
Chicago’s 11.9 inches of snow for winter 2024-’25 should tie as the 10th lowest amount of snow. Now let’s compare our 14.8 inches on the year so far (since Oct. 1). Keep in mind we still see an average of 5.5 inches in March and 1.3 inches in April, so we’re far from done with additional snow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this the least-snowy winter in Chicago’s history?
A: Yes, this winter is likely to be the least-snowy in 88 years.
Q: What is meteorological winter?
A: Meteorological winter refers to the period from December 1 to the end of February.
Q: How much snow has fallen in Chicago this season?
A: As of February, a total of 11.9 inches of snow has fallen in Chicago this season.
Q: How does this winter’s snowfall compare to past winters?
A: This winter is currently tied for the 5th lowest amount of snow since 1948-49.
