Historical Probability of a White Christmas

The map below is based on the statistical frequency of a white Christmas based on historical weather records.

 

 

 

Map shows the historical frequency of a White Christmas.  Map courtesy of the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC).

White Christmas Probability

  • The historical frequency of a white Christmas across northern Illinois and northwest Indiana averages  about 45% across much of the area, and 30% across east central Illinois.  A White Christmas (as defined by the National Climatic Data Center) is one with an inch or more of snow on the ground at 6 A.M. The official snow depth is taken once each day at 6 A.M. CST.   
  • The last White Christmas throughout our region was just last year, when 2 to 4 inches fell on Christmas Eve into Christmas day. 

What about this year? Check the latest 7-day forecast.

Christmas Normals and Records
  Normal high Normal low Record high Record low
Chicago 32 18

64 in 1982

-17 in 1983
Rockford 31 15

58 in 1982

-22 in 2000

 

Recent Christmas Weather
  Chicago, IL Rockford, IL  
Year High Low Snow depth High Low Snow depth Year
2010 31 20 5 32 22 8 2010
2009 43 21 1 40 16 2 2009
2008 24 0 6 24 -6 13 2008
2007 42 21 0 40 20 1 2007
2006 37 30 0 37 29 0 2006
2005 36 33 0 36 33 1 2005
2004 19 11 0 20 12 0 2004
2003 36 17 1 39 12 0 2003
2002 29 23 2 28 23 0 2002
2001 22 12 Missing 18 9 0 2001
2000 17 -7 12 7 -22 14  2000

 

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