Illinois State Water Survey
Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Illinois State Climatologist Office

Jim Angel, state climatologist

Chances of a White Christmas in Illinois

Jim Angel, state climatologist

 

Chances of a white Christmas

Here we calculated the chances of having measureable snow on the ground on December 25, a so-called white Christmas, for the period 1971 to 2000 (click to enlarge).

The chances of seeing a white Christmas are the smallest in southern Illinois, 10-30 percent chance. The odds are a little better across central Illinois with a 20-40 percent chance. Naturally, the best odds are in northern Illinois with a 30 to 50 percent chance.

 

Table 1. Chances of a White Christmas at Selected Locations with Reliable Records.
Location 1971-2000 2001-2007
Rockford 43% 29%
Chicago (Midway) 47% 29%
Chicago (O'Hare) 37% 29%
Peoria 40% 14%
Springfield 37% 14%
Champaign-Urbana 33% 14%
Bloomington-Normal 38% 14%
Galesburg 33% 0%
Jacksonville 33% 29%
Belleville 20% 14%
Mt. Vernon 17% 14%
Anna 20% 14%

Note that percentages can vary a lot between nearby sites, depending on how individual snow events occurred. To have a guaranteed white Christmas in the Midwest, you have to travel to Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, or northern Michigan.