Chicago, Illinois – A colder, storm-driven pattern is forming across eastern and northern Illinois as December begins, prompting a December Snow Alert while winter in Chicago turns increasingly active. While it’s too early to determine exactly how many inches of snow could fall, one thing is certain: Illinois is positioned for an above-average amount, especially outside its far western counties where storm tracks often shift eastward.
According to the Climate Prediction Center, below-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation are favored across northeastern and central Illinois through December. According to the National Weather Service in Chicago, this setup commonly supports several early-winter storm windows, including clippers, Great Lakes systems, and lake-enhanced snow that can boost totals along the lakeshore from Cook to Lake counties.
According to IDOT, travel hazards will likely increase along I-90, I-94, I-55, and the Eisenhower and Kennedy expressways as colder mornings promote black ice and quick bursts of heavier snow reduce visibility. Lake-effect snow bands may briefly intensify near the city and north suburbs when winds turn northwest. Drivers should carry winter kits, charge devices, and allow extra travel time during cold snaps.
Holiday parades, shopping districts, and school events across Chicago, Naperville, Joliet, and Waukegan may face delays if systems track close enough to deepen snowfall across the region. Residents should dress in layers, protect outdoor pipes, and prepare for brief outages if wetter snow mixes with gusty winds.
Though exact totals remain unclear this early, long-range trends strongly support a colder, storm-supportive pattern — raising confidence that Illinois is headed for a snowy December, especially across the Chicago metro and northeastern corridor.
