The remnants of Sunday's 1.8-inch snowfall, Nov. 27, 2023. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)
Chicago dodged the worst of the season’s first snowstorm on Sunday, but the 1.8 inches of accumulation measured at O’Hare International Airport still beat the averages.
According to the National Weather Service, Dec. 7 is the average date for the city to record its first 1-inch snowfall, based on the 30-year period of 1991 to 2020.
It was just two years ago at this time that Chicago was on its way to a near-record snow drought, experiencing its first-ever astronomical fall with no snow accumulation.
Here are the official snowfall totals through 4 pm (likely storm totals with snow winding down):
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) November 26, 2023
Chicago O'hare: 1.8"
Rockford Airport: 1.5"
Romeoville NWS: 1.9"
Parts of central and western Illinois got socked much harder by the storm system, which covered swatchs of the Plains and Midwest.
24-hour snowfall totals as of Sunday morning showing the first measurable snow for much of central IL.
— Illinois State Climatologist (@ILClimatologist) November 27, 2023
Peoria's 4.1" was the 9th highest single-day November total on record, and the highest since 2015. #ilwx pic.twitter.com/BLYDnrFS8r
The first winter storm track of the season was captured by VIIRS Day Night Band overnight as light from the full moon illuminated fresh snow from Kansas to Wisconsin. Classically cool satellite imagery. #KSwx #IAwx #ILwx #WIwx pic.twitter.com/bj92AuUQ9H
— UW-Madison CIMSS (@UWCIMSS) November 27, 2023
The holiday dusting was welcomed by some, but others weren’t ready for the wintry blast.
Chicago weather has begun!here comes the snow!! pic.twitter.com/vgmMnU6Qrs
— issa kosova (@IssaKosova) November 26, 2023
I’m not ready for this yet! Snow in Chicago outside our 18th floor windows at @WGNRadio pic.twitter.com/Va6Uv0S6Vx
— Andy_Masur1 (@Andy_Masur1) November 26, 2023
The early snowfall isn’t necessarily a harbinger of things to come. In fact, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center's outlook for winter 2023-24 is leaning toward a much drier than average winter for parts of the Great Lakes, including Chicago.
Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 | [email protected]
