Snow compared with previous seasons
In Chicago, snow seasons are followed from July to the following June. The area can normally expect 38.4 inches, according to the National Weather Service. During the 2024-25 season, the acreage has accumulated just 17.6 inches.
Chicago was warmer than average during the 2023-24 season, meaning snow was also rare during that time. Only 22.2 inches of snow fell at O’Hare International Airport, which is the city’s official recording site.
The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center expects a La Niña weather phenomenon to affect winter conditions across most of the country. For Chicago and the rest of Illinois, that could mean a colder, wetter winter.
The 10 biggest snowfalls in Chicago since 1886 – and how the Tribune covered them
“There is a lot of variability between La Niña years,” warned Trent Ford, Illinois state climatologist. “Depending on what other weather conditions are operating and what tends to play a larger role during the winter, we could still see many different variations from what La Niña actually brings.”
The most snow Chicago ever received in a season was 89.7 inches in 1978-79. The least – 9.8 inches – occurred in 1920-21.
Here’s a look at how our current snowfall compares to previous seasons.
Data is updated through June 30, 2025.
Sources: National Weather Service Chicago; Tribune archives and reports
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