The winter season will begin in Chicago on October 31st Monday. A storm system is expected to pass through the region on Monday, bringing with it a chance of rain showers. In the winter season, Chicago gets an average of 28.1 inches of snowfall and has an average temperature of 26.4°F, but the wind from Lake Michigan can sometimes make it feel like it’s colder than Siberia.
Chicago Will Be Breezy and Chilly On Monday
Chicago may see its first snowfall of the season if the forecasted showers coincide with temperatures that are significantly lower than average, with highs barely reaching 40 degrees. The National Weather Service reports that the average date for the first snowfall in Chicago is October 31. According to NWS, the earliest date on which the city saw even a dusting of snow was September 25.
The latest date on which snowfall was observed was December 5th, 1999. when it came to snowfall, the year before was unprecedented. According to data, the latest date of the first measurable snowfall on record was December 28, 2021. This is the amount of snow that would be considered “measurable” by the National Weather Service. January is the coldest month in Chicago, closely followed by February and December.
A humid continental climate with distinct four seasons characterizes Chicago’s weather. The city experiences hot and humid summers and cold, snowy winters. Because of the urban heat island effect, the city’s nighttime and wintertime temperatures are consistently lower than those of the surrounding countryside. Also, the lake’s effect causes the summers to be milder and the winters to be warmer and snowier in Chicago because of the city’s proximity to Lake Michigan.
In Chicago, the first snowfall of the winter season typically occurs in November. Highs in the city reach 49.6 degrees Fahrenheit (9.8 degrees Celsius), while lows dip to 35.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.7 degrees Celsius) (1.8 degrees Celsius). The city experiences snow for four snowfall days per year, with an average snow depth of 1.42 inches (36 millimeters).
The Winter Season With ‘Thunder Snow’
According to O’Hare International Airport records even a dusting of snow on Monday, that will put Chicago two weeks ahead of “schedule” for the first snowfall of the season. If you’re worried that we might see snow accumulations on Monday, keep in mind that Chicago didn’t get its first dusting of the white stuff until November 12 last year. Monday should see no accumulation due to the combination of above-freezing temperatures and warm ground temperatures.
Lake-effect snow and rain showers are possible in Porter and LaPorte counties in northwest Indiana as a result of northwesterly winds over Lake Michigan’s surface. A more severe weather event will occur in those areas because the winds will cool the air and drive moisture there. It’s possible that the shores of Lake Michigan will experience “thundersnow,” and that some minor flooding will occur there as a result of the winds. Chicago which is Known as the “windy city,” is often associated with a cold climate.
