Here’s How Long It’s Been Since We Had A White Christmas In Illinois

ILLINOIS — The last time Illinois had at least an inch of snow on the ground on Christmas Day was in 2022, when 1 inch of snow was recorded in Chicago, according to a report looking at the historical odds of a white Christmas.

We have had a white Christmas 56 times since 1884, according to the report earlier this month from The Weather Channel.

If you were hoping for a White Christmas in 2024, the odds are stacked against you. The National Weather Service forecasts warmer temperatures and rain — which will likely melt any remaining snow from last week. High temperatures will be in the 40s all week, and will even peak in the 50s on Friday.

The Weather Channel report is based on data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including data on the probability of a white Christmas. NOAA’s projection is based on three-decade averages in snow accumulation, temperatures and other climatological data. Historically, Chicago has a 41 percent chance of a white Christmas.

AccuWeather said in a Christmas forecast released Tuesday that more people will see a white Christmas this year than last, especially in the Rockies and Great Lakes states that have seen lake effect snow this season, but most won’t see the snow pile up.

For Illinois, there doesn't seem to be a great chance for a white Christmas, and AccuWeather gave the Chicago area a "medium" probability for a white Christmas.

Some areas of the interior Northeast and Appalachians have received snow over the past week, and it could still be on the ground Christmas Day if cold weather sticks around.

“The cold sticks with us at the start of Christmas week, but then it warms up as we head towards the middle of the week on Christmas,” Pastelok said in the forecast discussion.

“A stormy pattern setting up over the Pacific Northwest will also deliver the gift of a white Christmas to the areas near the mountains that typically have snow on the ground for the holidays,” he said. “It's some of these lower spots, [such as] interior Washington, maybe not much [snow] there because temperatures are not really that cold,” Pastelok added.

On average, only about 38 percent of the Lower 48 states experience snow on the ground on Christmas Day, according to NOAA data. Last year, just 18 percent of these states had a white Christmas, marking the lowest percentage since record-keeping began in 2003. In contrast, in 2022, approximately 53 percent of the continental U.S. enjoyed a white Christmas, the highest percentage since 2009.