Don’t Expect A White Christmas This Year For Illinois

There's a reason that a song titled White Christmas exists. Here in Illinois and throughout the Midwest, we always dream of waking up on Christmas morning to see snow on the ground while opening presents. It's just so magical and Christmassy.

With highs staying in the low 30s and upper 20s over the next few days, plus a slight chance of snow in the immediate forecast, looking ahead to Christmas day makes it hard to think we'll have a white Christmas in Illinois. We can't fully rule out a white Christmas; in fact, there's a small chance we may see one every year.

You're Saying There's A Chance

Yes, I'm saying there's a chance of a white Christmas this year. A small, teeny tiny chance, but a chance nonetheless. Since 1991, NOAA and the National Weather Service have kept the data as to which past Christmas days have been white and the others green.

That data helps them tell us the "general" chance of having a white Christmas every year. The post below is from the National Weather Service of Des Moines last year, but no weather service social media page in Illinois posted this map so this is what we're working with.

A Small Chance For A White Christmas

If you check out NOAA's website with a map of the entire country, you can see (just like Illinois) that your chance of a white Christmas depends on where you live.

The Quad Cities that live north of Interstate 80 have a 40-50% chance of a white Christmas. The Quad Cities metro and those south of I-80 have a 30-40% chance. I made my own map.

We'll know for sure if we'll have a white Christmas as we get closer to Wednesday, Dec 25th, but I wouldn't hold your breath.

The Christmas Eve forecast from FOX 32 out of Chicago includes rain with a high of 40°, which isn't the best for snow. Maybe some slick roads but that's about it. NWS of Chicago will have all of those details on the Christmas Eve and Christmas forecast as we get closer.