White Christmas?: Strong Storm System Could Hit Chicago Area Next Week

The Chicago area has seen little snow so far this winter but that could all change real soon -- just in time for the holidays.

A storm forecast to develop over the lower Mississippi Valley on Tuesday is likely to strengthen dramatically as it heads northwest toward the eastern Great Lakes on Christmas Eve, according to an Accuweather.com press release.

Rain is likely on Tuesday and will turn to a rain/snow mix on Christmas Eve, according to the Northwest Herald. Snow during part of the storm is likely in the Upper Midwest, including the Chicago area, with anywhere between one to 12 inches of snow expected, Accuweather.com reports.

Depending on how much the storm intensifies, gusty winds will continue and may increase and become very strong over the Midwest on Christmas Day, according to Accuweather.com.

“Unfortunately, we are looking at a pretty potentstorm system coming into Dec. 23 through Dec. 25,” Accuweather.com meteorologist Ben Knoll told the Northwest Herald. “There will likely be an impact on all three days.”

Travel Conditions for Holidays

Accuweather.com recommends travelers hit the road before the worst of the storm.

“There is a risk of getting stuck on the road or at an airport terminal especially in the Midwest and Northeast on Christmas Eve into Christmas Day,” according to Accuweather.com.

The Illinois Tollway is expecting 17.6 million travelers to hit the road between Dec. 22 and Jan. 4. The heaviest travel day is expected to be Tuesday, Dec. 23, when 1.6 million are expected on Illinois Tollways.

Travel conditions are expected to improve for much of the area later Christmas Day and Friday.

Historic Probability of White Christmas

The historic probability of the Chicago area seeing a white Christmas is between 41 to 50 percent, according to a NOAA National Climatic Data Center press release. A white Christmas is defined as at least one inch of snow on the ground.

The map below looks at the historic probability of snow on Christmas for states throughout the United States, according to climate data gathered between 1981 and 2010.

So far this year snow has been sparse for the Chicago area. Last year, the Chicago area had recorded 8.4 inches of snow and the average snowfall by this point in December is three inches, according to the Chicago Tribune.