snow | Illinois State Climatologist

January 13, 2026January 16, 2026

2025 Was Warm and Dry in Illinois

Illinois was both warmer and wetter than the 1991–2020 normal in 2025. The statewide average annual temperature was 53.6 degrees, 1.0 degree above normal and the 18^th warmest year on record statewide. Statewide average total precipitation in 2025 was 32.94 inches, 7.8 inches below normal and the 23^rd driest year on record statewide.

Summary figure of 2025 weather in Illinois. It was the 18th warmest and 23rd driest year on record in Illinois. Some of the more noteworthy weather events included multiple heavy rain and flooding events in Chicago, a very large dust storm in central and northeast Illinois in May, and the 2nd driest year on record and driest since 1894 in Champaign-Urbana.

Another Very Warm Year in Illinois

The past year was very warm in Illinois, especially outside of climatological winter. March led the way with average temperatures that were over 6 degrees warmer than normal, and July, September, and October were all at least 2 degrees warmer than normal. Meanwhile, January and December were both 2 degrees colder than normal statewide, and below normal temperatures in February, May, and August as well (Figure 1).

**Figure 1**. Plot shows 2025 statewide monthly average temperature (black line) and temperature departures from the 1991–2020 normal (red and blue bars).

Average temperatures in Illinois last year ranged from the high 40s in northern Illinois to the high 50s in southern Illinois, between 1 and 3 degrees above normal (Figure 2). The year 2025 was the 15^th warmest on record in Chicago, and the 20^th warmest on record in Peoria. The warmest point in the state last year was Bean Ridge in Alexander County with an average temperature of 60.5 degrees. The coolest point in the state was Stockton in Jo Daviess County with an average temperature of 48 degrees.

**Figure 2**. Maps show 2025 annual average temperature (left) and average temperature departures from the 1991–2020 normal (right).

Although 2025 was not nearly as warm statewide as 2024, the average temperature in Illinois last year was still well above the 20^th century average. Last year was indeed another data point in a clear warming trend in Illinois, indicative of our changing climate (Figure 3). Models project continued warming in Illinois throughout the rest of this century, as summarized in the 2021 Illinois Climate Assessment and 2023 National Climate Assessment.

**Figure 3**. Illinois statewide annual average temperatures between 1895 and 2025 and the upward trend indicating warming and Illinois’ changing climate. Statewide climate data are available at NOAA’s Climate at a Glance.

Table 1 shows the number of daily weather records broken at Illinois Cooperative Observer stations in each month of 2025. A brief but intense cold spell in February broke 64 daily low maximum temperature records and 36 daily low minimum temperature records. Our very mild, if not warm, March broke 77 daily high maximum temperature and 41 daily high minimum temperature records. Meanwhile, intense June humidity broke to 102 daily high minimum temperature records, and storms in July broke 90 daily precipitation records statewide. Overall, 679 high daily record temperatures were broken last year, 418 low daily record temperatures were broken, and 435 daily precipitation records were broken.

Daily	High Maximum Temperature	High Minimum Temperature	Low Maximum Temperature	Low Minimum Temperature	High Precipitation
January	9	28	27	13	21
February	24	16	64	36	24
March	77	41	0	0	33
April	12	5	3	0	73
May	39	8	32	1	50
June	14	102	2	1	46
July	1	23	4	0	90
August	3	29	24	44	17
September	65	3	6	17	12
October	27	10	0	1	48
November	42	13	5	3	12
December	43	45	69	66	9
Total	356	323	236	182	435

Table 1. Table shows the number of daily local weather records in 2025 by month and variable.

Overall, the statewide average annual temperature was 53.6 degrees, 1.0 degree above normal and the 18th warmest year on record statewide.

2025 Precipitation

Calendar year 2025 was very dry in Illinois, as all but 2 months last year were drier than normal (Figure 4). Only April and July were wetter than normal statewide. Some of the more extreme precipitation months included the 6^th driest August on record statewide (1.74 inches), the 11^th driest September on record (1.36 inches), and the 9^th wettest July on record (6.23 inches).

**Figure 4**. 2025 monthly total precipitation as a departure from the 1991–2020 normal.

As is seemingly a perennial occurrence, June and July brought multiple rounds of extremely heavy rainfall in Illinois. Most of far southern Illinois had 8 to 10 inches of precipitation in June, following an extremely wet late spring in the region. Following the very wet month of June, parts of Fayette County in south-central Illinois experienced more than 12 inches of rain in a single day. Never to be outdone, the Chicagoland was subsequently impacted by extremely heavy rainfall in July, Including over 5 inches of rain in less than 90 minutes around the United Center on the west side.

For the fourth consecutive year Illinois fell back into drought in the late summer and fall as each of the last five months of the year were at least 0.75 inches drier than normal statewide. Total precipitation in August and September statewide was only 3.1 inches, less than 50% of normal and the third driest August to September period on record in Illinois. Once again, the region’s largest rivers approached low stage, including along the Illinois, Mississippi, and Ohio Rivers, causing some moderate challenges to shipping. The dry fall weather was beneficial to harvest, but depleted moisture throughout the soil and caused near-record low flow conditions in several Illinois streams including the Sangamon and Vermilion Rivers. Dry conditions persisted through the rest of fall and into the first month of winter, causing a significant expansion of moderate to extreme drought across Illinois.

Figure 5 shows the spatial variability of 2025 precipitation in more detail. Total precipitation last year ranged from nearly 60 inches in far southern Illinois to less than 30 inches in east-central Illinois. Much of southern and southeast Illinois were 1 to 5 inches wetter than normal in 2025, while most of central and northern Illinois were 1 to 10 inches drier than normal (Figure 5).

**Figure 5**. Maps show (left) total precipitation and (right) precipitation departures in 2025.

A CoCoRaHS citizen science observer in Metropolis in Massac County had 67.09 inches of precipitation in 2025, making the birth of Superman the wettest point in the state for two consecutive years. Meanwhile, two other CoCoRaHS observer in Savoy in Champaign County and White Heath in Piatt County had less than 22 inches of precipitation in 2025. Last year was the 2^nd driest year on record in Champaign-Urbana and the driest since 1894 with only 24.45 inches. 2025 was also a top 10 driest year on record in Peoria and Springfield, and the 12^th driest on record in Quincy.

Overall, Statewide average total precipitation in 2025 was 32.94 inches, 7.8 inches below normal and the 23rd driest year on record statewide.

2025 Severe Weather

Following the most tornadoes on record statewide in 2024, Illinois had another very active severe weather year… at least until July. Overall, the NOAA Storm Prediction Center reported a preliminary 146 tornadoes in 2025, but that total will likely decrease before the official count is released. Figure 6 shows the monthly frequency of tornadoes in 2025 compared to the 1995-2024 averages. March through June had well above average tornado frequency, followed by a large dropoff in tornadoes, and storms more generally, between August and November. It is likely the 2025 tornado total will be adjusted, but irrespective of changes, the year was another extremely active tornado year in Illinois.

**Figure 6**. Plot shows tornado frequency by month in 2025 (blue bars) compared to the 1995-2024 average (red bars).

The NOAA Storm Prediction Center also had 167 severe hail reports and 656 severe wind reports in Illinois in 2025. Some of the wind reports came from strong, non-thunderstorm winds that caused a dust storm in central and northern Illinois, including the city of Chicago in mid-May.

2025 Snowfall

Snowfall in calendar year 2025 was a tale of two very different seasons. As shown in Figure 7, most of the state had 3 to 18 inches below average snowfall between January and May last year, with the exception of a band of snowier weather in southern Illinois. However, multiple rounds of heavy snowfall in November and December gave much of central and northern Illinois 10 to 20 inches above average snowfall, somewhat evening out the lackluster spring snow (Figure 7). Overall, 2025 ended with snowfall deficits between 3 and 10 inches in northern Illinois, and snowfall surpluses between 3 and 15 inches in central and southern Illinois.

**Figure 7**. Maps of snowfall departures from normal across Illinois, showing departures from (left) January through May, (middle) September through December, and (right) the entire year of 2025.

While 2025 didn’t break any snowfall records for the state, it was considerably snowier than recent years. In fact, 2025 was the first year where the statewide average snowfall was above the 1991-2020 normal since 2021, and was the snowiest year in Illinois since 2019 (Figure 8).

**Figure 8**. Illinois statewide average snowfall each year between 1902 and 2025. The blue line shows annual snowfall totals and the red line shows the 5-year moving average ending in each year.

January 5, 2026January 13, 2026

Cool and Dry Start to Winter

The preliminary statewide average December temperature was 29.1 degrees, 2.5 degrees below the 1991–2020 average and tied for 53^rd coolest on record going back to 1895. The preliminary statewide average total December precipitation was 1.50 inches, 0.93 inches below the 1991–2020 average and the 29^th driest on record statewide.

Data are provisional and may change slightly over time.

Roller Coaster Temperatures

Day-to-day temperature variability in Illinois is highest in climatological winter, and December followed suit with huge dips and jumps in daily temperature, as shown in Figure 1 from Decatur. Daily average temperatures were 25 to 40 degrees below normal in the second week of the month and were 15 to 25 degrees above normal days around Christmas (Figure 1). Decatur broke its daily low temperature record with a -14-degree low on December 14^th and broke a daily high temperature record with a 69-degree high on December 28^th.

**Figure 1**. Daily December average temperature departures in Decatur.

When taken altogether, December average temperatures ranged from low 20s in northwest Illinois to low 40s in far southern Illinois. December was 1 to 5 degrees cooler than normal in the northern half of the state, and near to around 1 degree warmer than normal in southern Illinois (Figure 2). The warmest place in the state last month was Olmstead in Pulaski County with an average December temperature of 38.4 degrees. The coolest place in the state was Stockton in Jo Daviess County with an average December temperature of 22.3 degrees.

**Figure 2**. Maps of (left) December average temperature and (right) December average temperature departures from normal.

The extremely mid days last month broke 43 daily high maximum temperature records and 45 daily high minimum temperature records. Morrisonville in Christian County broke its all-time December high temperature record with a 72-degree high on December 29^th. Meanwhile the extreme cold mid-month broke 69 daily low maximum temperature records and 66 daily low minimum temperature records. Six places broke their all-time December low minimum temperature records, including -14 degrees in Decatur and -10

Overall, the preliminary statewide average December temperature was 29.1 degrees, 2.5 degrees below the 1991–2020 average and tied for 53rd coolest on record going back to 1895.

The Paradox of a Dry December with Plentiful Snow

December reminded us of the difference between total precipitation and total snowfall. Most folks think about snowfall as inches of accumulation, but for the climate and our water balance, the liquid water content of the snow that matters most. Case in point, northern and central Illinois had higher-than-normal snowfall last month, with totals ranging from 3 to 20 inches (Figure 3). Parts of central Illinois received over 400% of normal December snowfall, including 15.5 inches in Fisher and 12.8 inches in Bloomington. However, one inch of snowfall in Illinois usually yields between 0.05 inches and 0.10 inches of liquid water, meaning that even the highest snowfall totals last month equated to only around 1 to 2 inches of liquid precipitation.

**Figure 3**. Maps show (left) December snowfall totals and (right) December snowfall percent of normal in Illinois.

Overall, December total precipitation ranged from around 4 inches in northeast Illinois to less than half an inch in southwest Illinois (Figure 4). Most of the northern half of the state was near to slightly wetter than normal last month, while the southern half of the state was 1 to 3 inches drier than normal. Morrisonville had its driest December on record (going back to 1948) with only 0.60 inches last month.

Overall, the preliminary statewide average total December precipitation was 1.50 inches, 0.93 inches below the 1991–2020 average and the 29th driest on record statewide.

**Figure 4**. Maps show (left) December total precipitation and (right) December precipitation departure from normal.

Outlooks

Climate Prediction Center outlooks for January show an extension of colder-than-normal conditions from the northern Plains into much of northern Illinois and the Great Lakes region. January Outlooks show equal chances of above and below normal precipitation for the first month of 2026 (Figure 5).

December 3, 2025

Fall Ended and Winter Really Began in November

The preliminary statewide average November temperature was 43.6 degrees, 1.4 degrees above the 1991-2020 average and the 32^nd warmest November on record. The preliminary statewide average total November precipitation was 2.14 inches, 0.94 inches below the 1991-2020 average and the 45^th driest on record statewide.

Data are provisional and may change slightly over time.

Mild November with a Chilly End

November is the final month of meteorological fall, and as such represents a transition between fall and winter. Accordingly, November weather can bring tastes of both seasons, and last month followed suit. November daily average temperatures and temperature departures from normal in Rockford show most of the first two-thirds of the month had warmer than normal temperatures, including a few days that were 15 to 20 degrees warmer than normal (Figure 1). However, temperatures dropped into winter territory right around Thanksgiving, with averages 5 to 10 degrees below normal.

**Figure 1**. Daily November average temperature departures in Rockford.

November average temperatures ranged from the high 30s in northern Illinois to the high 40s in southern Illinois, which despite the late month cool down, was 1 to 3 degrees warmer than normal (Figure 2). Several stations saw high temperatures push into the high 70s and even low 80s in the middle of the month, including 80-degree highs in Cahokia Heights and Morrisonville. Meanwhile, the last week of the month brought some very low nighttime minimum temperatures, including 11 degrees in Rockford and 15 in Galesburg. The coldest point in the state last month was Stockton at 38 degrees, and the warmest point was Smithland Lock and Dam in Massac County at 49.1 degrees.

**Figure 2**. Maps of (left) November average temperature and (right) November average temperature departures from normal.

Overall, the preliminary statewide average November temperature was 43.6 degrees, 1.4 degrees above the 1991-2020 average and the 32^nd warmest November on record.

Mixed Bag of November Precipitation

September and October were both dry months across Illinois, especially in the northern half of the state. While November wasn’t a washout by any means, some of the drier areas of the state did get significantly more precipitation, in many forms. Total precipitation last month ranged from nearly 6 inches in central Illinois to less than 2 inches in east-central Illinois (Figure 3). Much of northern Illinois and parts of central Illinois were 1 to 4 inches wetter than normal, while most of southern Illinois was 1 to 3 inches drier than normal. Some of the more impressive November totals include 7.48 inches in Streator and 7.41 inches in Lombard.

**Figure 3**. Maps show (left) November total precipitation and (right) precipitation departure from normal across Illinois.

Overall, the preliminary statewide average total November precipitation was 2.14 inches, 0.94 inches below the 1991-2020 average and the 45^th driest on record statewide.

Early Snow Brings Hope for More

Snowfall in November is not a rare occurrence but certainly is not a mainstay in Illinois. This year, the northern half to two-thirds of the state experienced moderate to heavy snowfall in the final few days of the month. Earlier in November, unusually intense lake-effect snowfall accumulated in the eastern half of the state, stretching all the way down to Evansville, Indiana. November snowfall totals ranged from nearly 18 inches in far northeast Illinois to no measurable snowfall in much of southern Illinois. The two big rounds of snowfall last month made for a much snowier than average November for central and northern Illinois, as some places picked up 8 to 12 inches above normal snow.

Last month was a top 10 snowiest November on record in many places, including the sixth snowiest in Rockford (10.0 inches) and Moline (9.2 inches), the fifth snowiest in Champaign-Urban (8.4 inches), and the third snowiest in Springfield (8.9 inches).

**Figure 4**. Maps show (left) November total precipitation and (right) precipitation departure from normal across Illinois.

A Mild and Dry Fall in Illinois

Climatological fall includes September, October, and November, and — for my money — it is the best weather season Illinois has to offer. This fall’s average temperatures ranged from the low 50s in northern Illinois to the low 60s in southern Illinois, between 1 and 5 degrees warmer than normal (Figure 5a). It was a top 10 warmest fall in many places including the sixth warmest in Champaign-Urbana and Salem. Overall, the preliminary statewide average temperature in fall was 57.4 degrees, 2.8 degrees above the 1991-2020 normal and the eighth warmest fall on record in Illinois.

Fall season total precipitation ranged from over 14 inches in southern Illinois to less than 4 inches in east-central Illinois (Figure 5b). Only parts of southern Illinois were wetter than normal, while much of central and northern Illinois were 4 to 7 inches drier than average. Last season was a top 10 driest fall on record in Peoria (3.67 inches), Danville (3.81 inches), Decatur (4.73 inches), and Galesburg (4.43 inches). Overall, the preliminary statewide fall total precipitation was 6.28 inches, 3.41 inches below the 1991-2020 normal and 21^st driest fall on record in Illinois. Last season was also the sixth consecutive drier than normal fall in Illinois.

**Figure 5**. Maps show fall average temperatures and temperature departures from normal (top) and precipitation and precipitation departure from normal (bottom).

Outlooks

Welcome to winter! December brings in the coldest, snowiest season — although it feels like winter started in November this year. The newest Climate Prediction Center outlooks for the month of December show best chances of colder than normal temperatures with near normal precipitation. The final meteorological winter season outlooks are leaning into La Niña conditions in the Pacific Ocean, with best chances of colder and wetter than normal weather. Let winter rip!

**Figure 7**. Maps show (left) temperature and (right) precipitation outlooks for the month of December and the winter season (December through February).

January 3, 2020

Warm, Dry December Concludes a Cold, Wet Year

December temperatures were well above the long-term average across the state, breaking dozens of local daily maximum and minimum temperature records. The preliminary statewide December average temperature was 35.2 degrees, about 5 degrees above the 1981-2010 normal and the 18^th warmest on record. Preliminary data show December was drier than average for most of the state. The statewide average December precipitation total was 2.03 inches, 0.66 inches below the 30-year normal.

Data are provisional and may change slightly over time

Warm Weather

Temperatures during the first half of December were very close to average. This was followed by a brief period of well below average temperatures caused by cold air incursion from the north on the back of a strong upper atmosphere trough to our west. On December 20 the predominant wind direction changed to southwesterly, bringing warm, dry air into the region. Temperatures between December 20 and 29 ranged from 5 to 25 degrees above normal across the state. In total, 104 daily high maximum temperature records and 27 daily high minimum temperature records were broken over this time period, including a few dozen records on December 25. In fact, it was the warmest Christmas day at 68 stations across the state. As shown in the figure below, the daily average temperature in Decatur in Macon County on Christmas was nearly 20 degrees above the 30-year normal.

The station in Elgin (Kane County) broke its previous Christmas day high maximum record by 10 degrees. The highest temperature recorded in the state was 70 degrees on December 26 in Wayne County and again on December 29 in Pope County. The lowest temperature was -4 degrees on December 15 in Rock Island County.

A shift in the upper atmosphere and the passage of a cold front late in the month allowed temperatures to moderate. December average temperatures ranged from the low 30s in northern Illinois to the mid-40s in southern Illinois. Monthly average temperature departures ranged from 7 degrees above the long-term mean in northwestern Illinois to just over 1 degree above average in south-central Illinois.

The preliminary 2019 statewide average December temperature was 35.2 degrees, which was the 18th warmest December on record. December’s warm weather was an aberration in an otherwise colder than average 2019 in Illinois. Only three months this year–July, September, and December–exhibited a statewide average temperature above the 30-year normal.

Precipitation

December precipitation was below the long-term average for the entire state. Areas in far southern Illinois received 2 to 3 inches less than average in December, approximately 50 percent of normal December precipitation. The statewide average total December precipitation was 2.03 inches, approximately 0.66 inches below normal. This last month was the 50^th driest December on record in Illinois and marked the second straight month of below average statewide precipitation. Preexisting wetness and reduced evaporative demand, typical for this time of the year, have prevented impacts from the prolonged dry conditions. Despite two straight months of well below average precipitation, streamflow and soil moisture were both near normal across the state.

Snowfall totals this last month ranged from less than a tenth of an inch in far southern Illinois to over 10 inches in south-central Illinois. A strong system came through in mid-December and brought several inches of snow to an area spanning the St. Louis Metro East to the Champaign-Urbana area. The highest 24-hour snowfall total was 5.6 inches in Lovington (Moultrie County) on December 17, although CoCoRaHS observers in Mascoutah in St. Clair County and Columbia in Monroe County both recorded 7.5 inches on December 17.

The December snowfall glut in south-central Illinois turned into snowfall deficits of 8 to 10 inches in northern Illinois. This last month was only the 10th December with 1 inch or less of snowfall in Stockton (Jo Daviess County). Despite the small snowfall totals this last month, the seasonal total snowfall was above average for most of the state between interstates 80 and 64. A broad area between Peoria and the St. Louis metro east received over 4 inches of above average snowfall, whereas the Chicagoland region has so far this season experienced a snowfall deficit of 4 to 6 inches.

Outlooks

Short-term 8-14-day outlooks from the NOAA Climate Prediction Center show strongly elevated odds of both above normal precipitation and above normal temperature.

Thirty-day outlooks show elevated odds of wetter and warmer than normal conditions to persist throughout January in southern Illinois. Outlooks for January through March and March through May continue to show elevated odds of above normal precipitation for the entire state.