Overview & Graphics

Winter 2021-22: Temperatures for winter 2021-2022 were near the long term average as a rather mild December was offset by below normal temps in January and February. Snowfall departures varied considerably across the area, highlighted by a notable lack of snow across far northern Illinois.

February 2022: Temperatures were slightly below normal across the area in February. An active storm track from central Illinois into Indiana resulted in a major disparity in precipitation and snowfall across the area. Closer to the Wisconsin line, drier conditions from last year continued while well-above normal precipitation was common farther south.

Winter 2021-2022 Overview	February 2022 Overview

At Chicago, the average high temperature for the winter season
was 36.6 degrees, which is 2.0 degrees above the 1991 to 2020
average. The average low temperature was 20.8 degrees, which is
0.8 degrees below normal. The mean temperature for the season was
28.7 degrees, which is 0.6 degrees above normal.

A total of 5.73 inches of precipitation was recorded during this
past winter, which is 0.34 inches below normal. There was a total
of 28.6 inches of snow recorded at Chicago, which is 1.0 inch
below normal.

Records established or tied during the winter months:

December:
* Record daily maximum temperature of 66 degrees on the 15th.
* Record daily highest minimum temperature of 50 degrees on the
  15th.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 66 degrees on the 16th.

**6th warmest December on record since 1871 with a mean average
 temperature of 38.0 degrees.

January: None.

February:
* Record daily highest minimum temperature of 41 degrees on the 16th.



At Rockford, the average high temperature for the winter season
was 34.9 degrees, which is 2.6 degrees above the 1991 to 2020
average. The average low temperature was 16.3 degrees, which is
1.2 degrees below normal. The mean temperature for the season was
25.6 degrees, which is 0.7 degrees above normal.

A total of 4.05 inches of precipitation was recorded during this
past winter, which is 1.11 inches below normal. There was a total
of 15.7 inches of snow recorded at Rockford, which is 13.1 inches
below normal.

Records established or tied during the winter months:

December:
* Record daily maximum temperature of 69 degrees on the 15th.
* Record daily highest minimum temperature of 50 degrees on the
  15th.
* Record daily maximum temperature of 68 degrees on the 16th.
* Tied daily maximum temperature of 55 degrees on the 24th.

**4th warmest December on record since 1905 with a mean average
 temperature of 34.9 degrees.

January: None.

February: None.

Latest Seasonal Climate Report:   Chicago   |   Rockford  
 

At Chicago, the average high temperature was 35.3 degrees, which
is 0.4 degrees below normal. The average low temperature was 19.5
degrees, which is 2.3 degrees below normal. The average
temperature for the month was 27.4 degrees, which is 1.4 degrees
below normal. During the month of February, 2.59 inches of
precipitation were recorded, which is 0.62 of an inch above
normal. 12.8 inches of snow were recorded, which is 2.1 inches
above normal.

There was one daily record for Chicago during the month of
February 2022:

* Record daily highest minimum temperature of 41 degrees on the 16th.


At Rockford, the average high temperature was 33.7 degrees, which
is 0.3 degrees above normal. The average low temperature was 16.3
degrees, which is 1.5 degrees below normal. The average
temperature for the month was 25.0 degrees, which is 0.6 degrees
below normal. During the month of February, 1.07 inches of
precipitation were recorded, which is 0.56 of an inch below
normal. 3.3 inches of snow were recorded, which is 5.2 inches
below normal.

There were no records set during the month of February 2022 for
Rockford.

Latest Monthly Climate Report:   Chicago   |   Rockford  

Events

• Winter 2021-2022: Event listing

• December 28, 2021: First accumulating snow of the season is the latest first for Chicago

• January 1, 2022: Snow event of 2 to 6 inches across much of the area; insight into challenging forecast

• January 8, 2022: Widespread freezing drizzle brings glaze to much of the area

• January 22-24, 2022: Two clippers each produce upwards of 3-5 inches of snow in quick succession

• January 28, 2022: Lake effect snow event brings localized over 6" totals in northeast IL

• February 1-3, 2022: Winter storm brings 10+" to much of the area along and south of I-80 and an impressive gradient across the Chicago metro

• February 16-17, 2022: Winter storm provides burst of heavy snowfall following heavy rain the night before

• February 18, 2022: Snow squall impacts far northern and north-central Illinois

• February 22, 2022: Overnight thunderstorms bring accumulating small hail followed by freezing rain and drizzle in northern Illinois

• February 24-25, 2022: Wintry system brings up to 5 inches of snow for parts of northern Illinois

NWS Chicago Science and Past Events Page