Christmas Weather Forecast for Chicago
Sorry, snow lovers: Christmas in Chicago this year won’t exactly be white, but it will likely be gray and rainy, the NBC 5 Storm Team said.
“No real good opportunity to see snow over the next ten days,” NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Kristen Kirchhaine said.
Forecast for Christmas Week
The forecast for Christmas week across the Chicago area also called for warmer temperatures and cloudy skies, Kirchhaine said.
“We’re not going to see much in the way of sunshine,” she added.
Monday’s high temperature was expected to be 43 degrees, with wind gusts as high as 25 mph. The rest of the week would see high temperatures in the upper 40s and low 50s, with a high of 51 degrees called for Christmas.
Christmas Eve Wednesday, and Christmas Day Thursday, will see drizzle and fog too.
Gray Christmas Ahead
“While we won’t see any snow, thick clouds will make for a decidedly gray Christmas,” the National Weather Service wrote in a post on X. After forecasts called for temperatures in the mid-50s on Christmas Day, the NWS said that was trending downward since the Chicago area will be positioned north of a warm front.
Dreaming of a gray Christmas? We’ll be positioned north of a warm front, leading to periods of drizzle and fog. Our temperature forecast is optimistic with highs in the 40s to low 50s, though we may need to trend them downward into the upper 30s as we get closer. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/TEFTWHndpx
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) December 22, 2025
Historic Christmas Weather in Chicago
The warmest Christmas in the Chicago area was recorded in 1982, when Chicago’s O’Hare Airport hit 64 degrees. The coldest Christmas came the following year, Kirchhaine said, with a high temperature that day of -5.
In 1950, Chicago had both the wettest and the snowiest Christmas, with 5.1 inches of snow recorded.
End of Freezing Temperatures
The upcoming warmer temperatures come after freezing cold temperatures, with wind chills as low as -30 at times and rounds of heavy snow hit the Chicago area for weeks, beginning Thanksgiving weekend.
Now that the season is officially winter—which started Sunday—the forecast for the next 10 days looks milder.
Sunday was also the shortest day of the year, which means later sunset times, even if just by a couple seconds.
“Once we hit that first day of winter, days start to get just a bit longer,” Kirchhaine said.
Increasing Daylight Hours
Monday, there will be two more seconds of sunlight, and Tuesday there will be six.
By Wednesday, the Chicago area will see 11 more seconds of daytime, followed by 15 seconds Thursday and 19 seconds Friday.
“We get about a minute more daylight for the week once you add this up,” Kirchhaine said.
The Winter Solstice will take place at approximately 9:03 AM this morning! Today will feature 9 hours, 7 minutes, and 44 seconds of daylight in Chicago. We’ll start adding a few seconds of daylight tomorrow as we begin our journey toward the Summer Solstice! #ILwx #INwx
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) December 21, 2025
Conclusion
In conclusion, this Christmas in Chicago will be a gray and rainy one, with no snow in sight. The warmer temperatures and cloudy skies will make for a unique holiday season. As the days get longer, we can expect more daylight hours, but for now, it’s time to bundle up and enjoy the festive season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will it snow on Christmas in Chicago?
A: Unfortunately, no, it will not snow on Christmas in Chicago this year. The forecast calls for gray and rainy weather.
Q: What will the high temperature be on Christmas Day?
A: The high temperature on Christmas Day is expected to be around 51 degrees.
Q: How much daylight will we gain in the next week?
A: We will gain about a minute more daylight for the week, with increasing daylight hours starting from Monday.
Q: What was the warmest Christmas in Chicago’s history?
A: The warmest Christmas in Chicago’s history was recorded in 1982, with a high temperature of 64 degrees at O’Hare Airport.
