2025 Winter Forecast: How Snowy And Cold Will It Be In IL?

ILLINOIS — Cold and dry weather, mixed with snowy conditions, are expected this winter in Illinois, while much of the United States should also see moderate temps, according to a new 2025 winter forecast from The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

The publication released its seasonal outlook Aug. 28 and calls for the coming season to be "a calmer, gentler winter."

Skiers, snowboarders and other winter outdoor enthusiasts will have plenty of opportunities to play if they head to the Pacific Northwest, as well as parts of the Midwest stretching through the Ohio River valley into the Mid-Atlantic states, according to the forecast.

“This winter, temperatures will be up and snowfall down throughout most of the United States,” said Carol Connare, the Almanac’s editor-in-chief. “While there will still be plenty of chilly temperatures and snow for most slopes, the high heating costs associated with the season shouldn’t hit so hard. We’re predicting a temperate, uneventful winter — potentially a welcome reprieve from the extremes of recent years.”

Illinois is split between the Lower Lakes area in Region 6, while central and southern counties are the Ohio Valley in Region 7, which is expected to see a small band of snow — "'snow is a poor man’s fertilizer' for these agriculturally-heavy states," the Almanac states.

The Lower Lakes region includes Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, surrounding some of the Great Lakes. Here, winter will be warmer than normal in the east and colder than normal in the west, with coldest periods expected in early and late November, in early December, and from late January into early February.

This region will see below-normal precipitation and snowfall this winter, with most snow expected in late December, from late January into early February, and from late February into early March.

Region 7, which encompasses Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and West Virginia, will experience above-normal snowfall, except for the furthest eastern area, which will see below-normal amounts. The Ohio Valley will be colder than normal, especially in February, when 4-degree below-average temperatures are forecast.

The region will experience the coldest blasts of winter in late January through early February and in late February. The snowiest stretches are expected in late December, from late January into early February, in late February, and in mid-March.