White Christmas 2024: An Early Look At Dec. 25 Snow Chances In IL

ILLINOIS — The probability of a white Christmas is historically around 35 percent in Chicago, according to a projection based on three-decade averages in snow accumulation, temperatures and other climatological data.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s white Christmas probability calculations represent exact science. But they don’t always match the reality on the ground, or what current forecasting models suggest for Illinois.

AccuWeather plans to release its full white Christmas forecast at mid-month, but said in a media advisory Thursday that despite bitterly cold air across much of the northern and eastern U.S. this week, a pattern change on the horizon could lead to milder temperatures with less snow on the ground before the holidays.

Right now, according to AccuWeather the best chances of seeing snow on Christmas morning are in the mountains and northern U.S. Big cities that have the greatest likelihood of a white Christmas are Denver, Chicago, Indianapolis, Boston and New York.

Chicago is actually the second most-likely city in the United States to have a white Christmas, according to historical probability. According to AccuWeather, the top spot goes to Denver with a 34 percent chance, and Chicago with a 33. 5 percent chance.

2022 was the most recent year that Chicagoans saw snow on the ground on Christmas Day, according to AccuWeather.

The milder Pacific air mass is expected to take over and even areas that have snow on the ground could see it melt away before Christmas, the private weather company said.

NOAA’s probability data also doesn’t account for the expected development of a La Niña climate pattern, which could make for a snowier-than-normal winter in some parts of the country.

The timing of the La Niña could make it more likely there will be an inch or more of snow on the ground on Christmas Day. Meteorologists at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center expected the colder, wetter climate pattern to develop late last winter, then said in a mid-November blog that chances are about 57 percent that La Niña will develop yet this year.

“This is late for La Niña to arrive, and it’s very likely to be a weak event at most,” according to NOAA’s ENSO Blog. “However, even a weak event can influence temperature, rain, and snow patterns across the world.”

It’s still early, but an extended December outlook from The Weather Channel and Atmospheric G2 said much of the country will be near or drier than average in December. Forecasters said the month started on a cold note in much of the country, but the last half of the month should be warmer for much of the Lower 48 states.

Christmas Day in Chicago is historically cold, with an average high of 34 degrees Fahrenheit and an average low of 21 degrees F. The record low for Christmas in Chicago is 64 degrees F., set in 1982, and the record high is -17 degrees F., set in 1983.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac said in its 2024 white Christmas forecast that chances are slim that most of the country will have snow on the ground on Dec. 25.