Saturday marked the official start of meteorological spring, signaling the end of winter—even though it might not feel like it yet.
This past winter in Chicago was one of the least snowy in history. Between December and February, the city recorded only 11.9 inches of snow, making it the lowest snowfall since 1936-37. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), this winter ranked as the 10th least snowy since snowfall records began in the late 1880s. It is also the only winter in the 21st century to make it into the top 10 list of lowest snowfalls.
In contrast, Southern Illinois and parts of Missouri received above-average snowfall this season, explained Kevin Birke, an NWS meteorologist who analyzed this winter’s weather patterns.
Why So Little Snow?
Most of this winter’s major snowstorms stayed south of Chicago, leaving the city with below-average snowfall. However, the snow total does not include the nearly 3 inches that fell in late November.
The lowest snowfall in Chicago’s history happened in 1930-31, when only 5.7 inches of snow fell. The snowiest winter ever recorded was 1978-79, with a massive 80.6 inches of snow.
This winter’s snowfall was nearly 18 inches below the city’s average of 29.6 inches. Along with less snow, precipitation (rain and melted snow) was also low at 4.43 inches, which is 1.64 inches below average.
Cold Temperatures Despite Less Snow
Even though there was less snow, temperatures were still within a normal winter range. The average temperature was 27.3°F, which is about one degree lower than Chicago’s typical winter average.
While the last week of February saw near-record warmth, it wasn’t enough to balance out the multiple cold snaps and arctic blasts that hit the city earlier in the season.
The city also experienced slightly lower-than-normal temperatures overall:
- The average high temperature was 34.1°F (about 0.5 degrees below normal).
- The average low temperature was 20.5°F (about 1.1 degrees lower than usual).
“We definitely had our share of cold weather compared to last year,” said Birke.
Looking Ahead: Spring Weather in Chicago
As Chicago moves into spring, severe weather could become a concern. Birke said there is no immediate threat, but showers and thunderstorms are expected on Tuesday night.
For March, temperatures and precipitation may rise above average, so Chicagoans should be prepared for a warmer and wetter month ahead.
