Does it snow in Illinois?
Does it snow in Illinois? The short answer is a resounding yes! Measurable snowfall can be seen in every county in Illinois during the winter.
Known as The Land of Lincoln, Prairie State, and The Inland Empire State, Illinois, the 25th-largest state by area and the sixth most populous in the U.S. states, also stands as the fifth state with the highest gross domestic product in the United States, housing important American metropolises such as Chicago, Rockford, Aurora, and Naperville.
The median household income in Illinois hovers around $68,428, while the per capita income reaches $37,306. On the other hand. The median household income of seniors (above 65 years old) is above $48.000.
Delving further into the economy of Illinois, we will realize the considerable economic diversity that it has. To cite one example, Chicago, the third-most populous city in the United States, is not only a nerve center for the world of finance and investment in Illinois but also a leading tourist attraction.
Beyond its imposing metropolitan areas and its enormous contribution to the economy of Illinois, there are other leading industries in the state, such as the transport/import industry, the agricultural industry, the mining industry, and the oil industry.
In this sense, no wonder Illinois is one of the busiest states in the Midwest of the United States, thanks to beautiful tourist attractions such as Shawnee National Forest, Lincoln's New Salem, Cahokia Mounds, and Starved Rock State Park; as well as the myriad of hidden tourist gems in cities like Rockford, Galena, Evanston, Springfield, and Chicago.
Snow in Illinois? ❄

Snowfall is a recurring weather phenomenon in Illinois. However, due to the spectrum of latitudinal locations that the state has, the accumulation of snow registered in southern Illinois is far from the levels reached in the north of the state.
Likewise, another meteorological factor to highlight is the Lake-effect snow. Some cities in Illinois, including Chicago, can experience sudden moderate and intense snowstorms during the winter because of Lake-effect snow.
On average, annual snowfall in Illinois effortlessly reaches 14 inches in accumulation in the south-central region. However, this level tends to be much higher as you travel into northern Illinois, where cities like Chicago can experience up to 34 inches of snow accumulation per season.
The climate of Illinois ⛅
General characteristics
According to the Köppen climate classification, counting types and subtypes, Illinois exhibits up three climate types throughout its territory: humid subtropical (Cfa), hot-summer humid continental (Dfa), and warm-summer humid continental (Dfb).
Due to such diversity, any general explication of the characteristics of Illinois's climate is useless since these aspects will depend exclusively on the prevailing climatological factors in each of the Illinois regions. However, as a summary, the following points can be highlighted:
- The north-central half of the state has a continental-type climate (Köppen Dfa and Dfb), while the south-central half exhibits a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa).
- In the region where continental-type weathers predominate, summers are relatively hot and humid, and winters are cold and snowy.
- In the region where temperate climates prevail, summers are hot and humid, and winters are mild and snowy, although not as much as in the north-central area.
- The state's average annual rainfall ranges from 48 inches in the far south to 35 inches in the far north.
- Annual snowfall generally exceeds 38 inches in accumulation in the northern counties of Illinois, while in the southern counties, it hardly exceeds 14 inches.
- Illinois is a relatively stormy state, with more days of thunderstorm activity per year than the United States average.
- Tornadoes are no stranger to the state of Illinois. On average, it receives at least 35 tornadoes a year.
Technical characteristics
Some of the following technical characteristics have been calculated by averaging climatological data for the following cities of Illinois: Chicago, Aurora, Naperville, Joliet, Rockford, and Springfield.
- Climate types (Köppen climate classification):
- Humid subtropical (Cfa.)
- Hot-summer humid continental (Dfa.)
- Warm-summer humid continental (Dfb.)
- Average maximum temperatures in winter: 37.96 °F (3.3 °C.)
- Average maximum temperatures in spring: 65.13 °F (20.95 °C.)
- Average maximum temperatures in fall: 55.58 °F (13.1 °C.)
- Average maximum temperatures in summer: 80.08 °F (26.7 °C.)
- Average minimum temperatures in winter: 23.83 °F (-4.5 °C.)
- Average minimum temperatures in spring: 46.79 °F (8.2 °C.)
- Average minimum temperatures in fall: 39.50 °F (4.1 °C.)
- Average minimum temperatures in summer: 61.79 °F (16.5 °C.)
- Average monthly rainfall in winter: 1.30 inches (3.3 cm.)
- Average monthly rainfall in spring: 3.04 inches (7.7 cm.)
- Average monthly rainfall in fall: 2.38 inches (6 cm.)
- Average monthly rainfall in summer: 3.40 (8.6 cm.)
- Average monthly snowfall in winter: 3.13 (7.95 cm.)
- Average monthly snowfall in spring: 0.52 (1.3 cm.)
- Average monthly snowfall in fall: 1.01 (2.5 cm.)
- Annual precipitation range: 48-35 inches (121.92-88.9 cm.)
- Hottest region: south end.
- Highest record temperature: 117 °F / 47.2 °C (July 14, 1954. East St. Louis, St Clair County.)
- Coldest region: far north.
- Lowest record temperature: -38 °F / -38.8 °C (January 31, 2019. Mount Carroll, Carroll County.)
- Snowiest month: January.
When does it snow in Illinois? 🌨

Does it snow in Illinois in October?
Yes, it might snow in October. From this month, measurable snowfall is possible in Urbana (Champaign County), Monmouth (Warren County), Wheaton (DuPage County), Galesburg (Knox County), Carthage (Hancock County), and Fairfield (Wayne County).
Does it snow in Illinois in November?
Yes, it does! Regarding October, November snowfall is much more intense and frequent in Illinois, so it's not unusual to see measurable snowfall in every county in Illinois this month.
Does it snow in Illinois in December?
Yes, it does! Once winter sets in, snowfall increases four to tenfold in intensity and frequency across the vast area of Illinois, easily surpassing the four-inch average snowpack in at least 13 counties.
In 2017, Chicago, the Windy City, experienced its last White Christmas. A magical day in which city dwellers enjoyed up to 2 inches of snow.
Does it snow in Illinois in January?
Yes, it does! January is unquestionably the snowiest month of the year in Illinois, so it's no surprise that snowfall averages over two inches in accumulation in the southern and northern counties of Illinois.
Does it snow in Illinois in February?
Yes, it does! Although it is not the snowiest month of the year, the snowfall in February is still considerable (and even comparable to the January snowfalls in cities such as Fairfield and Geneva.)
Does it snow in Illinois in March?
Yes, it does! Once the winter ends, snowfall declines dramatically in most Illinois counties, hovering above 2 inches on average in just 11 counties.
Does it snow in Illinois in April?
Yes, it might snow in April. Despite being a spring month, April sees a few measurable and moderate snowfalls in most Illinois counties. However, in no case does the snow accumulation reach an inch on average.
Where does it snow in Illinois? 🌨
Below, we present a map of the territorial division of the state of Illinois in which the distribution of snowfall in the hundred-two counties that make up the state is roughly exemplified:
- In this case, the darker the blue color, the higher the average snow accumulation for the county in its snowiest month (January.)
- This map is not an exact definition but rather an approximation of the behavior of snowfall in Illinois since only its administrative centers are taken into account and not all the cities and towns that make up the county at the time of its creation.
How much does it snow in Illinois? 🌨
Next, we expose a comparison chart of the average snow accumulation throughout a sliding 31-day period (centered on the day in question) in the hundred-two county seats of Illinois:
County seat | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Woodstock | 5 | 4,5 | 2,5 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,4 | 4,8 |
Fairfield | 4,7 | 4,7 | 2,6 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,3 | 4,3 |
Carthage | 4,6 | 4 | 2,2 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,5 | 4,6 |
Taylorville | 4,5 | 3,8 | 1,8 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,8 | 3,7 |
Bloomington | 4,4 | 4,2 | 2 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,1 | 4,5 |
Oregon | 4,4 | 3,8 | 2 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,4 | 4,4 |
Belvidere | 4,3 | 3,7 | 2 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,1 | 4,1 |
Charleston | 4,3 | 3,5 | 1,5 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 | 3,6 |
Galesburg | 4,3 | 4 | 1,8 | 0,6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1 | 3,8 |
Dixon | 4,3 | 3,7 | 1,9 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,2 | 4,1 |
Shelbyville | 4,3 | 3,3 | 1,4 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 3,1 |
Toledo | 4,2 | 3,3 | 1,4 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 3 |
Sycamore | 4,2 | 3,9 | 2,2 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,1 | 4,1 |
Wheaton | 4,2 | 4,3 | 2,3 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1 | 3,7 |
Effingham | 4,2 | 3,2 | 1,3 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 2,9 |
Waukegan | 4,2 | 4,3 | 2,2 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,9 | 3,5 |
Hillsboro | 4,2 | 3,5 | 1,4 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 | 3 |
Sullivan | 4,2 | 3,5 | 1,5 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 3,4 |
Toulon | 4,2 | 3,9 | 1,8 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,9 | 3,7 |
Freeport | 4,2 | 3,7 | 2 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,4 | 4,4 |
Rockford | 4,2 | 3,6 | 1,9 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,2 | 4,2 |
Clinton | 4,1 | 3,8 | 1,7 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,8 | 3,8 |
Cambridge | 4,1 | 3,9 | 1,7 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,9 | 3,8 |
Newton | 4,1 | 3,2 | 1,2 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 2,7 |
Decatur | 4,1 | 3,5 | 1,6 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 | 3,4 |
Eureka | 4,1 | 3,7 | 1,7 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,9 | 3,8 |
Mount Carroll | 4 | 3,4 | 1,6 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,2 | 4 |
Tuscola | 4 | 3,4 | 1,4 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 | 3,5 |
Geneva | 4 | 4 | 2,1 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3,6 |
Carlinville | 4 | 3,2 | 1,4 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,8 | 3 |
Lacon | 4 | 3,6 | 1,7 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,9 | 3,3 |
Monticello | 4 | 3,7 | 1,6 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 | 3,6 |
Monmouth | 4 | 3,8 | 1,7 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 0,9 | 3,7 |
Princeton | 3,9 | 3,6 | 1,6 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,9 | 3,4 |
Urbana | 3,9 | 3,7 | 1,5 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 0,8 | 3,8 |
Galena | 3,9 | 3,5 | 1,8 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,4 | 4,2 |
Macomb | 3,9 | 3,6 | 1,5 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,9 | 3,5 |
Springfield | 3,9 | 3,3 | 1,6 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 | 3,3 |
Morrison | 3,9 | 3,4 | 1,6 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3,7 |
Paris | 3,8 | 3,2 | 1,4 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 2,9 |
Jerseyville | 3,8 | 3 | 1,1 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 | 2,7 |
Lincoln | 3,8 | 3,4 | 1,4 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,8 | 3,7 |
Petersburg | 3,8 | 3,4 | 1,5 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,8 | 3,3 |
Mount Sterling | 3,7 | 3,5 | 1,4 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,9 | 3,1 |
Marshall | 3,7 | 3,1 | 1,3 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 2,6 |
Paxton | 3,7 | 3,5 | 1,3 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 3,3 |
Yorkville | 3,7 | 3,8 | 1,9 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,8 | 3,3 |
Rock Island | 3,7 | 3,4 | 1,5 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,8 | 3,5 |
Danville | 3,7 | 3,5 | 1,4 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 2,7 |
Greenville | 3,6 | 3 | 1 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 2,1 |
Hardin | 3,6 | 2,9 | 1,1 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 | 2,6 |
Virginia | 3,6 | 3,3 | 1,5 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,8 | 3 |
Louisville | 3,6 | 3,1 | 1 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2,2 |
Vandalia | 3,6 | 3 | 1 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2,1 |
Lewistown | 3,6 | 3,4 | 1,4 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,8 | 3,2 |
Carrollton | 3,6 | 3,1 | 1,2 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 | 2,7 |
Kankakee | 3,6 | 3,7 | 1,6 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 2,8 |
Aledo | 3,6 | 3,4 | 1,5 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,8 | 3,4 |
Peoria | 3,6 | 3,2 | 1,2 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,8 | 3,3 |
Pittsfield | 3,6 | 3,4 | 1,3 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,8 | 2,9 |
Rushville | 3,6 | 3,4 | 1,4 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,8 | 3,1 |
Belleville | 3,6 | 3 | 1,1 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 2,3 |
Pekin | 3,6 | 3,2 | 1,2 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,8 | 3,2 |
Joliet | 3,6 | 3,8 | 1,9 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 | 3 |
Edwardsville | 3,5 | 2,9 | 1 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 2 |
Havana | 3,5 | 3,2 | 1,2 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 | 2,9 |
Waterloo | 3,5 | 3 | 1,1 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 2,4 |
Jacksonville | 3,5 | 3,2 | 1,5 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 2,7 |
Hennepin | 3,5 | 3,2 | 1,2 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 | 2,9 |
Olney | 3,5 | 2,9 | 0,9 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 2,4 |
Jonesboro | 3,5 | 3,8 | 1,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2,5 |
Robinson | 3,4 | 2,8 | 1 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 2,3 |
Pontiac | 3,4 | 3,3 | 1,2 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 2,5 |
Watseka | 3,3 | 3,3 | 1,2 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2,5 |
Mount Vernon | 3,3 | 3,2 | 1 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 2,2 |
Ottawa | 3,3 | 3,2 | 1,3 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 | 2,9 |
Winchester | 3,3 | 3 | 1,2 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 | 2,6 |
Carlyle | 3,2 | 2,9 | 0,9 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2 |
Morris | 3,2 | 3,3 | 1,3 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 2,7 |
Oquawka | 3,2 | 3,1 | 1,1 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 | 3 |
Murphysboro | 3,2 | 3,3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2,4 |
Lawrenceville | 3,1 | 2,7 | 0,8 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2,2 |
Nashville | 3,1 | 2,9 | 0,9 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2,1 |
Chicago | 3 | 3,2 | 1,2 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2 |
Albion | 3 | 2,7 | 0,7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2,2 |
Benton | 3 | 3,1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2,2 |
McLeansboro | 3 | 3 | 0,9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2,2 |
Salem | 3 | 2,6 | 0,8 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 1,9 |
Pinckneyville | 3 | 3 | 0,9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2,2 |
Chester | 3 | 3,1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2,1 |
Vienna | 2,9 | 3,2 | 0,8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2,1 |
Shawneetown | 2,8 | 3 | 0,8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2,1 |
Elizabethtown | 2,8 | 3,1 | 0,8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2,1 |
Golconda | 2,8 | 3 | 0,8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2,1 |
Harrisburg | 2,8 | 3 | 0,8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 2,2 |
Mount Carmel | 2,8 | 2,6 | 0,7 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2 |
Carmi | 2,8 | 2,6 | 0,7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2 |
Marion | 2,8 | 3 | 0,9 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2,1 |
Quincy | 2,6 | 2,5 | 0,9 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 | 2,3 |
Metropolis | 2,6 | 2,6 | 0,7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2 |
Cairo | 2,5 | 2,3 | 0,6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 | 1,9 |
Mound City | 2,5 | 2,4 | 0,6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 | 1,9 |
The numbers shown in the table above represent inches.
Related post → Does it snow in USA? | Does it snow in Chicago?
Source → WeatherSpark.