Chicago, IL – A colder and more active early-winter pattern is expected across Illinois from Nov. 29th through Dec. 5th, bringing widespread chances for accumulating snow, including in the Chicago metro and throughout much of the state.
According to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, temperatures will run below normal statewide, including Chicago, Springfield, Rockford, Champaign, Peoria, and southern Illinois. Highs in the upper 20s to low 30s and freezing overnight lows will support snow with each passing system.
NOAA’s precipitation outlook also shows a strong above-normal precipitation signal, indicating several storm systems may track through the Midwest. Chicago and northeast Illinois are positioned to see system snow with the potential for lake-enhanced snowfall depending on wind direction, especially early in the week.
Northern Illinois — including Rockford, Waukegan, Elgin, Aurora, and DeKalb — holds the strongest snow potential, with multiple rounds of accumulating snowfall likely.
Central Illinois — including Bloomington, Peoria, Lincoln, and Springfield — will also see snow, though some systems may begin as rain or a mix before colder air takes over. Light-to-moderate accumulation is possible.
Southern Illinois — including Carbondale, Marion, Belleville, and the I-64 corridor — may start with rain during some events but should transition to light snow as colder air deepens behind each passing system.
Forecasters emphasize that this pattern does not signal a single major blizzard but rather a multi-system early-winter setup, capable of producing slick roads, reduced visibility, and accumulating snow statewide.
As December begins, Illinois residents should prepare for the most winter-like stretch of the season.
