The days are becoming shorter and winter is right around the corner, and for people in Chicago, the upcoming seasons will have some similarities to what unfolded last winter. Meteorological winter starts on Friday, Dec. 1, followed by the beginning of astronomical winter a few weeks later on the solstice. This year, the solstice occurs...
Winter is right around the corner, and in Chicago, it may resemble what unfolded last winter in part thanks to the strengthening El Niño in the Pacific Ocean.
The days are becoming shorter and winter is right around the corner, and for people in Chicago, the upcoming seasons will have some similarities to what unfolded last winter. Despite the early arrival of cold air, it was one of the least-snowiest winters in Chicago history. Only 20.2 inches were measured throughout the season, far below the historical average of 38.4 inches. The 2023-24 season finished as the 11th least-snowiest winter in the city since reliable weather records began, dating back to the 1880s. It was also the lowest seasonal snowfall total since the 2011-12 season, when only 19.8 inches accumulated.
• The highest chance for accumulating snow will come during the second half of the season -- especially in February, a month Pastelok said could be"active and intense" across the United States.•"December should be mild overall across the Midwest," Pastelok said, adding that there will be just a couple of brief chilly periods. This could carry over into January with largely mild and dry conditions across the region, including Chicago.to dive southward across the central U.S.