White Christmas In IL? Long-Range Outlook Released By Weather Service

ILLINOIS — The Climate Prediction Center of the National Weather Service has released its 8-14 day outlook, which includes Christmas Day, and the chances for a white Christmas in Illinois are looking pretty slim.

For more than half the country, temperatures look to be above average, including in the Chicago area. According to the outlook, the Chicago area has a "leaning above" probability of above normal temperatures.

As for precipitation, the outlook puts the Chicago area in the "below normal" probability of precipitation.

According to the weather service, Chicago has a White Christmas about 41 percent of the time, which is defined by at least one inch of snow on the ground. The snowiest Christmas was back in 1950, when it snowed 5.1 inches on Christmas Day.

Right now, according to the weather service forecast, temperatures look to warm up through the weekend and into next week. Here's a look at forecast, per NWS:

• Dec. 13: Mostly sunny, with a high near 28. Wind chill values as low as -1. North northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.
• Dec. 14: Rain likely after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 41. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.
• Dec. 15: A 40 percent chance of rain, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44.
• Dec. 16: Rain likely, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49.
• Dec. 17: Mostly sunny, with a high near 38.
• Dec. 18: Partly sunny, with a high near 35.